Using Pictures and Video

Inserting a Picture

1.In the word processor, put the caret to where you want to insert a picture.

2.On the Insert menu, click Picture from File.

3.Using the dialog-box, find and select the required image file.

4.Click the Open button.

Inserting Video

1.In the word processor, put the caret to where you want to insert a video file.

2.On the Insert menu, click Movie from File.

3.Using the dialog-box, find and select the required video file.

4.Click the Open button.

Remark: The AVI, WMV, MPG video files are not embedded into the CHM file when you compile your project as HTML Help. HelpSmith will copy these files to the output directory specified for your HTML Help system and you should distribute these video files as well. Flash (SWF) and QuickTime (MOV) animations are embedded into the CHM file.

Inserting Pictures and Video from the Media Repository

1.In the word processor, put the caret to where you want to insert a media file.

2.On the Insert menu, click Media from Repository.

3.Using the dialog-box, find the required media file.

4.Click the Insert button.

About the Media Repository

The media repository (available via the menu command: Project|Media Repository) stores all the graphical and video files of your help project. When you insert such a media from an external file, it is automatically copied to the media repository. This approach has a number of benefits. For example, you do not have to worry about the original locations of all the files since the media repository is stored in a subfolder (named like "MyHelpProject_files" in the same directory with your .HSM project file.

Another benefit is when you decide to update a screenshot used in more than one topic of your help system. Since the images in topics only refer to the actual media files in the repository, you can simply open the repository window and update the picture by using the appropriate commands.

Resizing a Picture or Video Object

You can resize a picture directly in the editor. To do so:

1.Select the picture by clicking it in the word processor.

2.Hold the left mouse button on one of the resizing markers, move the mouse until the picture gets the desired size, then drop the mouse button. While resizing by using the mouse, you can also hold the Shift key, so the picture will save its proportions.

In order to reset the size of a picture to its original values, hold the Ctrl key and double-click on the picture then.

Editing Picture or Video Object's Properties

1.In the word processor, double-click the picture whose properties you want to modify.

2.At the dialog-box, you can specify width and height values, alignment settings, etc. Also, you can link the picture to an alternative media file in the repository. To do so, use the Change button next to the location string.

3.After setting the required properties, click the OK button.