WebHelp and browsers

[devangee]

I can't seem to find what I need, so I'm asking it in a new stream.

We create WebHelp, which is run locally on a user's computer.
Does anyone know what browsers and versions does the WebHelp output not work for?

I've been told it doesn't work for IE 7, Opera, and an older version of FireFox, but I can't test this out since I can't seem to go backwards in IE.

I'm creating my output using Flare 7. As far as I know, I didn't hear about issues with Flare 6, but I could be wrong.

[LTinker68]

Flare's WebHelp output works with all versions of IE, so long as you have MOTW enabled. However, IE6 won't support some style attributes because they weren't around then (e.g., max-width or max-height) and it doesn't support transparencies in PNG images. Although now that I think of it, there might have been some problems if IE was running in strict mode or whatever it's called???

WebHelp also works with all versions of Firefox, current and past. I don't think I've ever had problems with FF and WebHelp (unless I inadvertently left MOTW enabled when it's running on a server).

I think it works with Opera, although someone else recently had a problem, but that might turn out to be a server issue, not an issue with the output.

Don't know about Safari, but I think it works with it.

The older version of Flare had some problems with the latest version of Chrome, but v7 output seems to be ok.

This all relates to the current, production releases of the browsers. IE9 is still in beta, for example, so MadCap doesn't officially support it.

Most of the above is based on observations in the forum, as I don't know Opera or Safari and am only now beginning to test more in Chrome. Anyone else have some opinions on the browsers and WebHelp output?

[SteveS]

Who tod you that? What do they say will not work?

I've used Flare since ersion 1 and tested it with contemporary browsers without too many issues - the webhelp is always viewable, just the 'interpretation' of web standards a little different.

It is a good idea to keep virtual machines for backwards testing of browser compatability if it is important (my virtual machines go back as far as 9x). Microsoft have images (time linmited) to allow testing:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/d ... laylang=en

HTH

[devangee]

One of the QA people says it won't open in IE7, Opera, and an older version of FireFox.
I don't readily have access to different browser other than what I usually use, which happens to be the latest versions of Chrome and IE (8 in this case).

I've asked for details, but have to wait for them. I'm not sure that the QA person is doing, but for some reason I don't think there's an issue w/ IE 7, but I have to find out for sure.

[NorthEast]

Since v7 fixed the issue with Chrome (you couldn't open it locally), I'm not aware of any common browser problems mentioned on the forums here.

You'll need more details from your QA people though; is it WebHelp or WebHelp Plus, opened locally or from a server, the browser versions, and details of the exact problem - "won't open" is too vague to understand the problem.

[RamonS]

Some browsers (I know of IE and FF) adhere to the Internet settings of Windows. It is debatable if that is a wise choice on FF's part, but then again it is to be considered a system wide setting. That said, QA should see what their settings are. Also, MOTW is only a patch to make IE work, afaik it is ignored by all other browsers.
Lastly, what is the reason for using WebHelp when it is intended to be run locally off a user's system? There are other options to make this work, such as installing a small local web server. Any reason why CHM is not considered (other than that it is ugly)?

[LTinker68]

... such as installing a small local web server.

That would only be possible if all the users were at the same location. If they're a company that sells software that the user installs at a different location, then installing a web server on the user's computer may not be possible and may be against their security rules. WebHelp from a local computer is fine, so long as MOTW is enabled for IE users.

[AprilC]

The following site states: "If you've already installed Internet Explorer 9 Beta or Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate (RC), just follow the installation steps below to upgrade to the final release version of Internet Explorer 9." So, it sounds like the commercial version of IE9 has been released.
[url]http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/wind ... explorer-9[/url]

[Judith]

I have tested my Flare 7 WebHelp on Firefox 4, Safari 5, IE8, Chrome 10 and Opera 11. It works on all but Opera. The help is installed on the local machine, and I suspect this may be the problem. I have submitted a bug.

Judith

[RamonS]

... such as installing a small local web server.

That would only be possible if all the users were at the same location. If they're a company that sells software that the user installs at a different location, then installing a web server on the user's computer may not be possible and may be against their security rules. WebHelp from a local computer is fine, so long as MOTW is enabled for IE users.

Why would it be of any harm if a webserver gets installed that exclusively listens only on some obscure port and is tied to serving only localhost?

[LTinker68]

Why would it be of any harm if a webserver gets installed that exclusively listens only on some obscure port and is tied to serving only localhost?

The difference is whether or not the web server is set up by that company's IT department or if a third-party software program is trying to set up a web server on an end user's computer.

[RamonS]

I still don't see the security issue there, but that is something that needs to be evaluated in context.