.NET help anywhere

The title is just for sake of short, actually it should be anywhere, anytime, anyone, and any language.

.NET help anywhere make developer/QA/end user write context help for controls in a dialog in a , not easier, but easiest and most convenient way. The main features and restrictions are as follows:

Click Here to download.

• Used only for WinForms UI written for .NET(but need not limited to Microsoft's implemention).
  Currently only for the context help for UI controls defined in a WinForms, especially for dialog. The term "context help" means the question mark button on the title bar, which is left to the close button "x". But it's also possible to use the context help even there's no "?" button on the title bar.
• For developers, it's the Aspect-Oriented help authoring. You need not to care about the context help information for the UI controls while designing the Forms. You can left the task till the release of the software, and write the context help when you navigating the UI controls by just a Shift + Mouse click. The content of the help information will take effect immediately, and integrated into your aplication permanently.
• For QA and project managers, you can write down your suggestions, questions about the user interface design, then just check in your CVS repository or email it to the one who response for this piece of UI. Of course, you can write down the UI usage tips as the final help information.
• For the teams, it's a communication media for the usage and design of the UI.
• For the end user, you can write down your understanding of how to use the UI then email it to your classmates, friends, family members. They can get what you write about the live software dialog in the running Application, insteading of reading the separate html/chm/PDF help file. You have the chance to disagree what the software maker says about the UI help and replace it with your owns. You can backup and interchange your helping info with others.

It's simple, and easy to implement, but IMHO very useful and interesting.

How to use?

Step 1. Forget it.

Just do your own business such as designing, coding, etc.

Step 2. Code it.

When everything done, Add reference, namespace, and two lines of code to the end of your Form's construct, one by one. Then build your application.

Step 3. Use it.

Click on the "?" button, then click the UI control(not the CTRL key in keyboard) and press the at the same time, you'll see the dialog to write down the help. And, if you not press the Shift key, everything works in the old way, you'll see the context help popups if exists.

That's all!