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I have found HelpSmith to be a very user friendly application for developing documentation for programs I have been writing. Everything from managing text to illustrations is very straightforward and robust. It also offers a wide verity of compiled outputs from HTML to PDF and Word. I like the ability to create templates to save time when creating multiple documents. I have tried other help file products and this has been the best that I have found. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I haven't really found anything that I dislike. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
15 out of 16 Total Reviews for HelpSmith
Overall Review Sentiment for HelpSmith
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I want to start by saying I’m not affiliated with Helpsmith in any way, I’m just a satisfied user. I’ve been working with Helpsmith since around 2017, starting with version 6, and now I’m using version 10 (2024). I’m genuinely impressed with how the software has evolved over the years.
One of the things I really appreciate about Helpsmith is how user-friendly it is. I’ve found the online tutorials 'both video and text' to be incredibly helpful. They’ve made learning the ins and outs of the program a lot easier.
The regular updates and ongoing support are also big pluses. Helpsmith has been consistently updated and well-supported throughout my time using it, which is a huge relief as some programs I've purchased over the years have ceased trading or simply stagnated. Whenever I’ve had a question or needed some help, their support team usually gets back to me within 24 hours, which is fantastic.
What’s also worth mentioning is how open Helpsmith is to user feedback. I’ve submitted a few suggestions over the years, and it’s been great to see some of them actually implemented in newer versions.
If you’re curious to see Helpsmith in action, you can check out a project I’ve worked on. My website, [https://onsafelines.com/qhse.support](https://onsafelines.com/qhse.support), showcases nearly 500 pages created from Helpsmith files. The way Helpsmith converts these files into HTML pages so quickly is really impressive.
Overall, Helpsmith has been a reliable and efficient tool for my help file creation needs, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for solid software in this area. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Although the basics are easy to grasp, some more advanced features can have a bit of a learning curve. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
HelpSmith is a simple to use, easy to follow, application for the creation of Help files. I mostly use HTML and printed PDF manuals to record all of the information needed to assist Users of my applications. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I sometimes find the word processor a little annoying. Using Bullets and Numbering can be confusing at times especially when you wish to add blank lines or additional information within the Bullets and Numbering. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
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The program is designed to be similar to most programming environments. It is simple yet, meets nearly all of the needs of a good help authoring system. The program has a vast array of publication documents that can be created from the help document you create. I like the look of the compiled Web Help. The created web help file can easily be added to any system or web page. The compiled web help uses the function and navigation available with a standard web browser. The PDF compiled document utilizes the main menu to navigate around the help file. The Microsoft Word document is a basic text document formatted to Word specifications. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
The program does not handle the addition of videos as well as it should. The embedded video is attached to the page but, does not show correctly on all complied version of the created help document. The compiled help documents do not all look the same. I did find the word document is sometimes breaks pages with the header and/or footer on a separate page. The PDF compiled help sometimes adds an extra blank page to the document. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
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I have used HelpSmith for a number of projects that I distribute on my own website. It is without a doubt the easiest to use Help System I have found among the many I have researched and tried over the years. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I still have HelpSmith version 5.x and as far as I know it is still reliant on the Microsoft Help Workshop software. If it still reliant on such software, my suggestion would be to find a way to provide a different compiler for the product since with Microsoft's past history one never knows when this product may be pulled from distribution. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I was able to create a Help file that mirrored my user manual. HelpSmith organized my help information clearly and easily. Edits are a breeze and it keeps everything together for me in one place. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Sometimes the fonts display a little small on my 4K screen, making it hard to read. But that is a small price to pay for how easy it is to use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I find the program to be very intuitive and practical. The interface is presented in a familiar format so I am able to find things easily. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
When I first opened the program I would have liked to see a tour of the program that walks me through the various elements of the software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
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Its easy to get along with HelpSmith - even new users can get up to speed intuitively to produce content. We have used the product for years for our product help documentation and will continue to do so Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
The earlier versions don't scale 4k screen grabs very well Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Organization is easy to achieve and maintaining consistent formatted information is super easy. Gone are the days of manual help system creation using the original Microsoft tool. Other tools do not have the suite of tools/methods contained in HelpSmith. Templates are helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Sometimes extra pages appear which take time to track down the source. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.