Microsoft LongHorn Help

The next generation of the Microsoft Windows operating system, codename "Longhorn", promises to raise the standard for performance and innovation. The Windows "Longhorn" Help system is designed to greatly improve the user assistance experience in Windows.

"Longhorn" Help includes the following features:

• A new structured authoring model enables Help authors to create higher quality Help content, leveraging the flexibility of XML.



• A unified Help viewer pane, which is shared by all applications, provides a consistent entry point to Help.
  
  
• A new organizational structure based on common tasks, rather than application features, makes it easier for users to find the Help they need.



• Active content displays the most appropriate Help content, based on the current state of the user's computer.
  
  
• A more efficient update model continuously provides connected users with the newest content; each update contains only updated material, which conserves bandwidth.

Links:

Longhorn page on MSDN

About Microsoft Assistance Markup Language (MAML)



Note: Learn XML buddy; that's where the future is. In probably a couple of years organizations will start mentioning this in their recruitment ads for tech writers: "Help authoring skills using 'Longhorn' (or whatever the actual name is; Longhorn is just a code-name)"

Tools Die. Concepts don't. Get it?



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