If you are also using our Help+Manual help and documentation authoring suite, SnipSVG is already fully integrated.

Of course, you can use SnipSVG with older versions of Help+Manual as well. Older versions do not understand the SnipX file format, but can display SVG files since version 7.

Help+Manual® 9.4.1 or higher is required for SnipX support

Support for SnipX and extended support for SVG were added to Help+Manual in version 9.4.1 Build 6625. Check in Help > About in Help+Manual® to make sure that you are running this version or higher. If you need to update just download and run the update installer from our website.

Inserting SnipX and SVG files in Help+Manual® topics

Both SnipX files and the SVG files created with SnipSVG can be inserted directly in Help+Manual® with the regular Insert Image tool. SnipX files will be exported as SVG images in the formats that support it when you publish your Help+Manual® project.

SnipSVG's dedicated Help+Manual® sharing tool

See Exporting Pictures for details on how you can share SnipX images directly to Help+Manual via the clipboard, even from an Apple Mac computer if you are running Help+Manual on Windows in a virtual machine.

SnipX and SVG in Microsoft CHM output

SnipX and SVG files can be exported either as SVG or as PNG in Microsoft CHM help files. On current systems SVG files can work in CHM. However, SVG may not be compatible in CHM on older systems. If you wish to ensure backwards compatibility, go to Project Explorer > Configuration Publishing > Microsoft HTML Help and activate the option Export SVG images as PNG. We generally recommend leaving this option on for CHM export.

Other places where you can use SnipX and SVG images

Both image types can also be used directly in Help+Manual® for image toggles (expanding pictures) and hyperlinks with images instead of text for the link.

Procedure

Just use the regular Image tool, Hyperlink tool or Toggle tool in Help+Manual® and insert your SnipX or SVG file in exactly the same way you would insert any other image.

Additional export features, also for cross-platform work

See Exporting Pictures for other ways to get your images from SnipSVG into Help+Manual® and other programs, also when you are using the Mac version of SnipSVG with Help+Manual® running in a virtual machine on your Mac. (This also works fine on Apple Silicon Macs running Windows 11 for ARM under Parallels!)

Exporting to Help+Manual® from the macOS version

If you run Windows in a virtual machine on your Mac you can use the Exporting Pictures function to copy directly to Help+Manual running in the Windows VM. Help+Manual now also runs perfectly in Windows 11 for ARM under Parallels on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2 and M3 so far).

SnipX vs. SVG in Help+Manual® projects

You can use both SnipX and SVG files created in SnipSVG directly in your Help+Manual® projects. In both cases all the elements in the files remain fully editable.

Bitmap image effects are permanent in SVG files

For security reasons, any image effects you apply to bitmap images in SnipSVG are permanent when you save directly or export as SVG. This prevents access to sensitive data in your SVG images through reverse engineering — for example by removing pixelation or blurring of information in screenshots. They remain editable in SnipX files, which are not used in published documents.

Shadows in SVGs are not displayed in Help+Manual® but they are exported correctly

Currently displaying the shadows in SVG files created with SnipSVG is only supported in Help+Manual® if you use the SnipX format. However, shadows in your SVG files will be there when the SVGs are exported from Help+Manual. So you can use both SVG files and SnipX files with shadows directly in Help+Manual® and the output will be the same in both cases. You just won't see the shadows in the Help+Manual editor.

Future features in SnipX files

However, SnipX images are going to have some attractive new features and capabilities in future updates of both SnipSVG and Help+Manual®, which you will then be able to use with your existing images directly if you have saved them in the SnipX format.