On-line help can be categorised by how it interacts with the software that it supports and by what technology it uses to present to the user.

Help can be:

• Stand alone - Can be viewed separately to the application, but is typically opened through the application (F1 or the help menu).
• Context sensitive - Activated by clicking a button and gives help specific to that screen or area.
• Embedded - The help is an integral part of the application and doesn't need a separate window.
• "live" - The help is accessed on a web server and therefore gives the latest up to date help at all times.

On-line help can be presented as:

• Compiled HTML Help (.chm) - An older compiled help solution, still supported by Microsoft.
• Browser based Help - A cross platform help format (often called WebHelp© Adobe) which is displayed in web browsers.
• FlashHelp© - A proprietary format which displays "flash" based help information.
• JavaHelp/Oracle help - Designed for Java and Oracle based software. Very similar structure to compiled HTML help.
• WinHelp - An older type of help solution, not supported in Windows Vista.
• DotNetHelp - A relatively new format designed for DotNet applications.
• Adobe Air© - A very new format produced from Adobe RoboHelp©. Very feature-rich and attractive to users.

Compiled HTML Help

Browser based Help

FlashHelp