How to Access Local Help File

[gatorfans99]

While using V11, how can I access the local help file: AlphaFiveHelp.chm without having to start V10 to view the local help version.

[Fisher]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

As I found out there is no any local help anymore in A5V11. I would like to see it too, but for current version, not V9.

[Garry Flanigan]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

On my PC:

Start -> All programs -> Alpha Five V10 -> AlphaFive V10 help

If no go, navigate in Explorer find the file and open it.

[Bob Houle]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

On my PC:

Start -> All programs -> Alpha Five V10 -> AlphaFive V10 help

If no go, navigate in Explorer find the file and open it.

Sorry Garry,
The Help files are not there.

Has anyone been able to download them from Alphasoftware?

I occasionally use my laptop on the raod with no Internet access.

Thanks,
--Bob

[Bill Griffin]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

Bob,

As I am sure you already figured out, In v11 there is no option to choose a local help file/online help. It is strictly a link to the wiki - no internet access, no help. So the way you are doing it (opening V10) is the only way that a local help file is available.

[Bob Houle]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

Thanks Bill,

Like someone before me said: "Version 10 has a Version 9 CHM file"

Doesn't seem like progress to me!

How hard can it be to bundle up the HTML info occasionally and have it available for download?

--Bob

This is the reason I hate "Web Help"

Alphas Help.png

[jopowers68]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

Goto settings/prefs/help/source and change it to local. Then copy the v10 help file to the v11 install directory. This lets me use the local help file from within the v11 appllication.

[forskare]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

I spend a fair amount of time working on my app w/o internet. It would be most helpful if Alpha would make a v11 chm file available. I know some have worked hard to keep the Help files up to date but it appears to me they'rem loosing ground, not just in updates but availability. I understand the theory in having it in one format but as advanced as technology is, the internet is not always available and I for one can't afford to upgrade my cell phone to use it as a wifi. Even at that, it's not always available. There are large areas of no coverage. OK, Alpha, I took a vote and it was unanimous. We NEED a v11 chm file.

[Bob Houle]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

You're right Ken...


The first Alpha product I purchased was in 1987, called 'Keyworks' (a small TSR keylogging program) and it had a good manual.

The first DOS versions of Alpha had terrific manuals... I had them for years. (there's nothing like a hard copy, is there?)

The first Windows versions had hard copy help manuals. (besides HLP files)

This degraded to Print-On-Demand manuals.

This degraded to only HLP files (then CHM files)

This degraded to only the web for help.

Now I'm the one feeling degraded {grin}

What's next?

Alpha cloud computing, where we don't even get an actual developer program, but we get to design our program on Alpha's developer area?

--Bob

[forskare]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

You're right Ken...

What's next?

Alpha cloud computing, where we don't even get an actual developer program, but we get to design our program on Alpha's developer area?

--Bob

I hope not. While a large number would be happy with their "head in the clouds", there are a good many who either don't want it or have limited internet access. We simply don't live in an area where internet is always available. 4G is catching on but it's far from available to most users. Plus, even it were, there's a lot of large limited or dead spots. Having it all on my laptop is a HUGE plus for me.

[Bob Houle]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

Ken,

I'm leaving for Ecuador and Uruguay in about a month.

I'll have my laptop with almost ZERO chance of Internet connections in those locations.

--Bob

[peteconway]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

Yes - it was a strange thing to do - I will ask Alpha to re-attach it and see what happens.

[nehru]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

I also occasionally use my laptop on the road with no Internet access.

I really Need "AlphaFiveHelp.chm V11".
I'm Hoping for Alpha to build a Help file for V11.

[nlights]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

I couldn't agree more. Videos are nice, but it is very time consuming to watch a video when you need just a piece of information that is somewhere in there. Video is a linear access system, whereas a CHM is a random access system. Video works well for telling a story but NOT well at all for reference purposes. The Wiki is pretty terrible, too. For a system of this complexity and cost, there really is no excuse for not having an indexed, searchable and LOCAL manual with a bunch of tutorials, technical reference for each part and language (xBase, actionscript, javascript) etc.

[peteconway]

Re: How to Access Local Help File

I agree.