Posted by Alexander Halser in Software Updates on October 17, 2024
We have updated HelpXplain to version 1.8.4 build 1854. This update does not introduce any new functionality, but fixes a problem with text objects sometimes being cut off at the bottom. If you face this problem with existing Xplain files, please re-apply the font size for the text objects affected by this problem.
Furthermore, this update handles two occasional error messages better. One error has been fixed, the second is being properly reported.
All updates are available from our download page.
Posted by Alexander Halser in HelpXplain, Software Updates on August 16, 2024
We are glad to announce the immediate availability of SnipSVG 1.4 and an updated version of HelpXplain 1.8.4.
All updates are available from our download page.
Posted by Alexander Halser in HelpXplain, Software Updates, Utilities on May 14, 2024
We are glad to announce the immediate availability of SnipSVG 1.3 and an updated version of HelpXplain.
SnipSVG got new object alignment functions (similar to HelpXplain, which already had them for quite a while) and both apps implement improved clipboard handling: when copying images to the clipboard, some programs (Microsoft Outlook, for instance) do not place the actual image on the clipboard, but a HTML fragment with an embedded picture. Both, SnipSVG and HelpXplain can now read and paste this format.
In SnipSVG, we have implemented a list of default sizes for social media postings. This app is ideal to create this kind of images, but you had to know the typical sizes by heart. The new helper function sets the picture frame to a dedicated size, so that your social media postings look perfect.
As a result of a dedicated picture frame size, we realized that it would be a good idea to implement object alignment functions. Normally, you move objects around and resize them as you like, then simply auto-size the picture frame. For a dedicated frame size, however, it is helpful to have the reverse option and move/resize objects to the picture frame. The six new arrangement options are implemented in the Edit > Arrange menu.
All updates are available from our download page.
Posted by Alexander Halser in Software Updates on March 13, 2024
We are glad to announce the first update of SnipSVG, our new free screen capture and image editing tool for Windows and macOS!
SnipSVG uses SVG vector images as its primary format. SVG images can be used directly in HTML and many other applications. They give you the same sharp quality at all zoom settings, and unlike JPG or PNG images you can always edit all the elements of the image separately.
SnipSVG for Windows and macOS
Please download SnipSVG from the SnipSVG homepage.
Posted by Alexander Halser in Help+Manual, HelpXplain, Software Updates on March 11, 2024
We are glad to announce the release of HelpXplain 1.8.2 and Help+Manual 9.4.2. If your maintenance plan includes the release date (March 11, 2024), this is a free update. The quickest way to find out, is to start HelpXplain/Help+Manual and click Help > Check for Update.
All updates are available from our download page. Download and install the update over your existing version.
Posted by Alexander Halser in Documentation Authoring, Help+Manual, Utilities on February 21, 2024
We are glad to announce the official release of SnipSVG, our new free screen capture and image editing tool for Windows and macOS!
SnipSVG uses SVG vector images as its primary format. SVG images can be used directly in HTML and many other applications. They give you the same sharp quality at all zoom settings, and unlike JPG or PNG images you can always edit all the elements of the image separately.
SnipSVG for Windows and macOS
https://www.helpandmanual.com/snipsvg/
SnipSVG is already tightly integrated into Help+Manual and is designed as a replacement for the old image editor Impict. H+M version 9.4.1 understands the native .SNIPX file format, so you can use this image format in topics as you can use Impict’s .IPP file format. Older versions of Help+Manual can still use SVG and PNG images created by SnipSVG. By the way, SnipSVG is able to open .IPP images and convert them into its new vector format.
For detailed information about SnipSVG and Help+Manual, please refer to this documentation page. Here is a quick getting-started guide:
Please download SnipSVG from the SnipSVG homepage.
Posted by Alexander Halser in Help+Manual, HelpXplain, Software Updates on February 2, 2024
We are glad to announce the immediate availability of Help+Manual 9.4.1, an updated Translation Assistant and a small update to HelpXplain 1.8.1.
All updates are available from our download page.
Posted by Alexander Halser in HelpXplain on November 23, 2023
We are glad to announce the release of HelpXplain 1.8.0. If your maintenance plan for HelpXplain includes the release date (Nov 23, 2023), this is a free update. The quickest way to find out, is to start HelpXplain and click Help > Check for Update.
We have implemented a favorites tool, where you can store objects that you want to re-insert regularly. This is a very comfortable function to store customized objects and have them ready for insertion whenever you need them. Favorites are stored in a hidden Xplain file, which you can open and edit to modify your favorites list.
The second really convenient new function is a Format Painter. It works in the very same way as it does in Help+Manual, or in MS Office.
All updates are available from our download page. Download and install the update over your existing version of HelpXplain.
Posted by Alexander Halser in HelpXplain on October 21, 2023
We are glad to announce the release of HelpXplain 1.7.1. If your maintenance plan for HelpXplain includes the release date (October 21, 2023), this is a free update. The quickest way to find out, is to start HelpXplain and click Help > Check for Update.
This is a small update with just a couple of new features:
All updates are available from our download page. Download and install the update over your existing version of HelpXplain.
Posted by Alexander Halser in HelpXplain on July 2, 2023
We are glad to announce the release of HelpXplain 1.7. If your maintenance plan for HelpXplain includes the release date (July 2, 2023), this is a free update. The quickest way to find out, is to start HelpXplain and click Help > Check for Update.
We haven’t had many updates of HelpXplain in the last 2 years, it stood back behind Help+Manual and the Translation Assistant. That’s going to change, because we have several plans with HelpXplain.
For one thing, we are working on a new screenshot editor that’s going to replace Impict, which has been shipping with Help+Manual for many years. The new screenshot editor with seamless integration into Help+Manual will be based on the library of HelpXplain. The new save-as-SVG function (see below) is one leg of that journey.
Despite this is just a point update, there are several new features:
The really big news are new numbering tags with auto-numbering and callouts with support for multiple pointers. Internally, the numbering tags are treated like callouts and support multiple pointers as well:
Another new feature is a little bit hidden, but nonetheless an important one. HelpXplain can export a single slide in SVG format, in addition to PNG/JPEG/etc. SVG is a scalable vector graphic that you can use on any web page, including documentation created with Help+Manual. HelpXplain embeds all data from the slide and creates a single SVG file with no external dependencies. The beauty of SVG is that it freely scales, which means that the content of the picture scales to whatever resolution is required.
All updates are available from our download page. Download and install the update over your existing version of HelpXplain.