HelpStudio 2016.1 Release Information

This page contains information about the 2016.1 release of HelpStudio, including information on the release contents and how to upgrade to this release.

What's New in 2016.1

You can find a detailed release note, including minor updates and bug fixes, here: http://www.innovasys.com/support/releasenote/hs2016.1

Updated and Modernized Templates

The 2012 Style Templates (now named "Classic") have been comprehensively updated to optimize the underlying styles and javascript. The Classic Templates use the latest supported versions of jQuery for the various output formats in order to optimize performance and deliver the best possible experience for both Browser Help and Compiled Help. The new style and script core is common for both the Classic and new Material Templates in order to make it easier to override common Template styles and script in a way that is not Template specific, and to provide a modern base on which further new Templates can be created in future. 

For the end user using the content you generate, the Classic Templates are functionally and visually identical to the old 2012 Style templates. Any projects that currently use the 2012 Style Templates will be automatically migrated to the Classic Templates the first time the project is opened. Migration includes automatic updates to any existing stylesheets that reference the old 2012 Style CSS Class Names and Ids.

You can find out more about the 2012 Style to Classic Template change here: http://www.innovasys.com/support/templateinfo/2012

New "Material" Templates

A new set of Templates have been introduced inspired by the Google "Material" design style. The templates feature a clean and crisp serif font and bold header coloring that helps frame the main content area of each page. These new Templates make subtle changes to layout and typography in response to the available display width, as well as including full responsive support on touch enabled devices.

The Material Templates are available for every supported documentation type. The new Material Browser Help Template features styling to match the content Templates and includes vector icons for the Table of Contents that scale without loss of quality on high resolution displays.

Enhanced Style Picker

The Style Picker has been significantly enhanced. It is now possible to apply and remove multiple Style Rules to selected content by simply ticking and unticking available Rules. Style Rules can be created in specific Project or Template Stylesheets directly from the Style Picker. Style Rules can be edited and deleted directly from buttons next to each Rule in the Style Picker.

If you are making use of a custom Template, the Style Picker now includes the ability to save custom Style Rules in a Template Stylesheet, so that rules can be shared across multiple projects.

Template Override Style Creation

2016.1 introduces functionality that makes it quick and easy to override the default styles applied to various page elements, directly from the context menu in the Content Editor or from a new "Template Style Rule Overrides" section in the Style Picker. As an example, simply right click on the page title in the Topic Editor and choose "Override Template Style\Page Title" from the context menu in order to create a custom Style Rule that will apply to the Page Title in each generated page.

As with other regular Style Rules, Template Style Rule Overrides can be edited and deleted directly from the Style Picker.

Simplified Template Selection

The Templates page in the Build Profile Editor has been simplified and enhanced to make it quick and easy to changes the Templates used. The new Templates page allows you to create or open for edit a custom Template directly.

Enhanced Browser Help Full Text Search

Browser Help Full Text Search has been comprehensively improved. Specific improvements include searching for words chained with "+" or "." characters (e.g. MyNamespace.MyType), searching in Example and Syntax content (all page content is now included in the search), searching for numbers, wildcard (* or ?) search, phrase search (multiple words surrounded with quotes), improved ranking of search results and a fix for secondary page titles in search results (e.g. Members pages).

Google Analytics Universal Analytics Support

The script code automatically generated by Document! X and HelpStudio if the Google Analytics integration option is enabled in the Build Profile Editor has been updated to the latest Google Universal Analytics, in preparation for the eventual deprecation of the earlier ga.js based script. No action is necessary to take advantage of this update.

Microsoft Help Viewer 2.3 RC Support

Support for Microsoft Help Viewer 2.3 RC, the updated version of Microsoft Help Viewer included with Visual Studio 2017 RC. Output that targets Microsoft Help Viewer will now automatically register with Microsoft Help Viewer 2.3 RC if it is installed locally, a link to view the generated output will be included in the Build Results and batch files will be generated with the commands necessary to deploy help to Microsoft Help Viewer 2.3 RC on other machines.

Team Foundation Server 2017 RC and Visual Studio Team Services Support

Support for Team Foundation Server 2017 RC and the latest version of Visual Studio Team Services for Source Control Integration.

 

  

Compatibility

Compatibility with older versions

Installing 2016.1 will automatically remove 2015.2 (or earlier) if you have it installed.

Due to the significant changes to the standard Templates in this version and changes to the Template naming (2012 Style Templates are now named Classic), you should avoid mixing versions; i.e. ensure that everyone who might need to open and edit a project has upgraded to 2016.1.

 

Upgrading to 2016.1

If you have a current Subscription license

If you have a current subscription license, the upgrade to 2016.1 is free. You can upgrade your license free of charge by logging in to this page with the login that your license is associated with:

http://www.innovasys.com/account/subscriptionupgradelist

After you have upgraded your license using the link above, you will be directed to the download page for the 2016.1 setup.

If you own a 2015.2 license purchased on or after 1 August 2016

If you purchased a 2015.2 license on or after 1 August 2016, the upgrade to 2016.1 is free. You can upgrade your license free of charge by logging in to this page with the login that your license is associated with:

http://www.innovasys.com/account/subscriptionupgradelist

After you have upgraded your license using the link above, you will be directed to the download page for the 2016.1 setup.

If you own a 2015.2 license purchased before 1 August 2016

If you purchased a 2015.2 license before 1 August 2016, you can purchase the upgrade to 2016.1 at significant discount using this page:

http://www.innovasys.com/store

Immediately after purchasing the 2016.1 upgrade, you will be emailed your license and download instructions for the 2016.1 setup.

We recommend that you purchase the upgrade with the Subscription option. The subscription option entitles you to free support and upgrades for a year, after which the subscription can be renewed for less than the cost of a single upgrade.

If you own a 2015.1, 2014.1, 2013 or 2012 license

If you own a 2015.1, 2014.1, 2013 or 2012 license, you can purchase the upgrade to 2016.1 with a discount using this page:

http://www.innovasys.com/store

Immediately after purchasing the 2016.1 upgrade, you will be emailed your license and download instructions for the 2016.1 setup.

We recommend that you purchase the upgrade with the Subscription option. The subscription option entitles you to free support and upgrades for a year, after which the subscription can be renewed for less than the cost of a single upgrade.

 

Previous Release Notes

2015.2 Release Note

 

 

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