"No software application is complete without documentation. And with an expanding number of applications being written in Java, there is an ever-increasing need for a Java-based help system-a help system that can work seamlessly with Java applications. "JavaHelp fulfills this need," says Kevin Lewis, author of the just-released Creating Effective JavaHelp (O'Reilly, $29.95). "I think JavaHelp is at a critical turning point. I've heard of recent Java developer conferences where Java developers claim to have never heard of JavaHelp. I'm afraid to ask what these companies are using for an online help system. Sun has created online documentation that is easy to author, easy to use, and, best of all, fully functional across all computer platforms. It's about time."

Effective, instantly-available online help is a requirement for today's interactive applications. Creating Effective JavaHelp shows you how to create a basic JavaHelp system, prepare help topics, and deploy the help system in your application. Aimed at all levels of Java developers and technical writers, the book takes a chapter-by-chapter approach to building concepts. It will give you a complete understanding of how to create usable JavaHelp systems and integrate them into Java applications and applets.

Online Resources:

• More information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bio, and samples.

• Chapter 5, Creating HelpSet Data and Navigation Files, is available free online.

• More information about Sun's JavaHelp.

• A cover graphic in jpeg format.

• Online article Customizing Navigation Icons in JavaHelp.