Online help is the largest translation component of most localization projects. Online help files and manuals have, to a great extent, replaced traditional printed documentation. Over the years, substantial functionality has been integrated into online help files; for example movie files, animations, and sound can now be embedded in most online help systems.

Here are some advantages to selecting online help over printed manuals:

• Context-sensitive help gives users instant access to information required. Pressing the Help button in a dialog box, for example, opens a help window which explains all options in that specific dialog box.

• Users can quickly navigate through the required information using hypertext jumps and index keywords, Online help files are called hypertext documents, meaning they contain links (jumps) to other topics, pop-up definition windows, and graphics.

• Most current online help systems include multimedia features such as animations, movies, or sound.

• Updates or additions to the online help files can be distributed easily through the web.

• Indexing features enable users to perform full-text searches on information in a set of online help documents.

• There are significant savings on printing costs for software publishers.

Online help systems typically contain an overview of the product, procedures, dialog box descriptions, and reference information. Help information focuses on task-based topics.

There are several different types and formats of online help used in the software industry which covers the most commonly used online help systems:

• Windows help, including WinHelp 3 and 4

• HTML-based help, including HTML Help and JavaHelp

• Mac OS Help, including Apple Guide and Apple Help

• Readme Files

Each of these help formats is created using different source files and compilers. As a result, each file type requires a different translation approach.

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