Best Software Documentation Tools for Visual Studio

The Help Generator offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed for creating CHM help files, web-based assistance, and printed user manuals. Its contemporary editing interface, influenced by Office aesthetics, is packed with features that enhance productivity and ensure high-quality results. You can utilize the WYSIWYG (HTML) Help Editor, which features a modern Windows fluent ribbon for seamless editing. With the Help Generator, you can create standard Windows help files, often referred to as CHM files or compiled HTML help, as well as online help for any Windows application. The accompanying add-in generates a detailed topic page for each form within your application, complete with a title, a screenshot featuring an image map, and sections dedicated to all controls. Notably, the pages produced by this add-in are automatically integrated with your application, providing immediate F1 support for context-sensitive help. Additionally, there are add-in versions compatible with Visual Studio .NET, Visual Basic 6, and Microsoft Access, making it a versatile option for different development environments. This flexibility allows developers to streamline the documentation process, ensuring that users have easy access to the information they need.

Effortlessly generate source code and API documentation, as well as general-purpose documentation in various formats and styles, using Doc-O-Matic, which ensures reliability and speed. By taking source code and comments, along with additional conceptual topics and external input, Doc-O-Matic produces comprehensive documentation from these components. Its single-source methodology allows for the creation of multiple output types from a single documentation base, enhancing efficiency. Among the outputs are HTML-based Help files such as HTML Help, Help 2, Help Viewer 2.x, and browser-based Web Help. Furthermore, Doc-O-Matic is capable of generating printable documentation in both PDF and RTF formats, along with XML output that is perfect for further processing. The documentation produced is rich in features right from the start, offering collapsible and tabbed sections, and it automatically cross-links all parts of the documentation, including the source code. Additionally, Doc-O-Matic integrates seamlessly into existing library documentation, effectively bridging any gaps and enhancing user experience. With its versatile capabilities, Doc-O-Matic stands out as a comprehensive solution for documentation needs.

Document! X is an integrated solution that merges an automated documentation generator with a comprehensive authoring platform, enabling users to create, publish, and maintain high-quality documentation across various technologies such as .NET, Web Services, Databases, XSD Schemas, COM Components, Type Libraries, Java, and JavaScript. Unlike typical automated documentation tools, Document! X offers a robust environment for authors to enhance and refine the automatically generated content as needed. It accommodates a diverse range of solution elements, serving as a consistent, customizable, and all-inclusive toolset for fulfilling all technical documentation needs. By utilizing Document! X, teams can generate documentation automatically during the design and development phases, eliminating the burden on developers and ensuring that documentation remains accurate and current. This capability not only provides a reliable reference for development teams but also facilitates a smoother onboarding process for new developers who are familiarizing themselves with new components and schemas. Ultimately, Document! X streamlines the documentation process and enhances productivity throughout the software development lifecycle.

HelpSmith is a comprehensive help authoring tool that enables users to generate CHM HTML Help files, Web Help systems, printed manuals, Adobe PDF documents, Microsoft Word documents, and ePub eBooks from one source. For those in search of a solution to create a CHM help file, an online Web Help system, or a PDF manual, HelpSmith offers an extensive array of features, including a robust word processor for drafting help topics and a built-in screenshot utility that can automatically capture help for dialog windows. With HelpSmith, you can effortlessly produce a CHM help file, a responsive Web Help system that works seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices, a printed manual, a PDF document, an ePub eBook, and a Microsoft Word document all from a single source project. Additionally, the included word processor has a spell checker and supports dictionaries in various languages, making it easier to write clear and accurate content. This versatility makes HelpSmith an ideal choice for anyone needing to create comprehensive help documentation in multiple formats.

Help+Manual is a fully featured documentation tool. It is as simple as a word processor but much more powerful. It gives you the power and flexibility of an XML editor. This tool also includes powerful features to generate and edit help and documentation files, including full support of multimedia and complex modular projects. It doesn't matter if you want to publish documentation for desktop, mobile, iOS, Android, Windows help, or PDF user manuals. Help+Manual makes it easy! Single source documentation is more than simply putting the same information in different formats. Conditional tags can be used to mark content and create different outputs for each publication channel. No post-processing is necessary. Help+Manual takes care of the complicated aspects of documentation generation. However, power users can access the code to modify topic and layout templates, and much more. Help+Manual offers the best of both worlds.

Multi-step procedures are often needed in Technical Documentation. We use bullet lists, and we also add screenshots and text. We add more information, and readers are more likely to lose track. An Xplain, or as we call it, a series of slides that are freely arranged on a large canvas to spark your imagination. HelpXplain is ideal for embedding slideshows into web pages or technical documentation. You can create animated tutorials and quick instructions in minutes, instead of hours. HelpXplain creates animated screenshots that can be edited and replaced at any time. HelpXplain can also record multiple-page screencasts of programs that are running in autoplay mode, just like a video. It is much easier to record and edit them than creating a video. All Xplains comply with HTML5 and Javascript standards.