Perfect DocuReader

Most of the applications we use today features a separate ‘Help’ section with the view of assisting users through possible issues they may face while using the application. Most programmers usually go for the traditional formats for help files which have developed problems over the years owing to various virus, or other such malicious attacks. Hence, with time, these “conventional” Help-files are finding themselves becoming obsolete. However, PDF files can safely claim to be quite immune from such issues. But a help file in PDF format would eventually require a third party application e.g. Adobe reader in order to open it. The free reader does not enable context-oriented help and moreover it’s distribution is not that simple. Perfect DocuReader v.7 provides a solution to programmers for dealing with such problems.

Perfect DocuReader by soft Xpansion GmbH & Co. KG is a freeware application to read PDF help files integrated with an application. The program has a simple layout like the conventional help documents with a window pane on left hand side showing the help topic index and a big display box showing the actual help text. Unlike the Adobe Reader, it has functionality suitable for navigating a help file. It uses destination by name to display the required help text at the start. Apart from this, it facilitates the user a proper access to help files. It features a wide range of functionality like navigating by links, bookmarks, search etc. Also, it can print the help text in case the user is not able to simultaneously open the help file while working through the application.

Summing it up, Perfect DocuReader v.7 is an easy and precise solution related to giving help file access to the users of the application. It combines the advantage of integrating the help text in a secure PDF format and full functionality with the ease of navigation like the conventional ways of designing help texts. It receives a score of four-and-a-half on the scale of five for its stellar performance and robust feature set.

The free solution for your context sensitive help system - a good alternative to CHM or HLP help viewer. Also with your identity - logo and company data!
Use PDF files in your program's help system and as user manuals!
Which tool and which file format do you use for displaying the program help in your software?
- Typically, the software of today stores its help in .CHM-format. But .chm files are potential carries of security threats and are oft blocked by the security software.
- The HTML-format requires a lot of separate files (texts, images etc.).
- The HLP-format was introduced with Windows 3.1 and does not correspond to the actual technical level any more. Also, the HLP-Viewer WinHlp32.exe is no more distributed with Windows Vista.
- PDF files are a good solution, but a separate reader is required. The free Adobe Reader provides no possibility to realize a context sensitive help. Besides, Adobe Reader is no more easily distributable.
The solution: use Perfect DocuReader from soft Xpansion! Start the program directly from your application like this:
DocuReader.exe PDF_filename
or
DocuReader.exe PDF_filename page_number
or
DocuReader.exe PDF_filename named_destination
and all the necessary functionality for the help presentation are available.
The Perfect DocuReader functions:
- Open, read and display any PDF files
- Show the needed document page at start
- Use named destinations to display the desirable text at the start
- Navigate using the bookmarks, links, buttons "Next page" and "Previous page"
- Zoom and search function
- Printing functionality
No installation required!
Commercial usage
The free version of Perfect DocuReader for the commercial usage starts with a splash screen and shows the logo of soft Xpansion in its toolbar. You can receive your "own" version with your own logo and splash screen (or without it) instead of those of soft Xpansion. Please contact us (www.soft-xpansion.com)!