The Dr.Explain version history The Dr.Explain version history

Dr.Explain 4.5 (Autumn, 2011) : The upgrade is free for all 4.x users : Users of version 3, please click here

1. Annotation Template and Callout Editor
   Create callouts of any design, complexity & style.
2. New spell checker
   Full Unicode support, extended dictionaries, and simplified settings.
3. Improved RTF\DOC import
   More flexible handling of styles & formats upon import.
4. Improved HTML import
   More careful handling of complicated HTML markup.
5. Simplified settings of export functions
   Create CHM, PDF, RTF, or HTML in two clicks without worrying about basic settings.
6. More obvious CHM compiler settings
   Customize CHM compilation settings and CHM viewer window position and size.
7. Better performance of JavaScripts and optimized CSS and HTML markup in on-line manuals
   Your on-line manuals will load up to 4 time faster.
8. Auto-update function
   Never miss the latest release of Dr.Explain
9. Over 150 improvements, fixes, and optimizations were made

Dr.Explain 4.2 (March-April, 2011) : The upgrade is free for all 4.x users : Users of version 3, please click here

Press releases: EN | RU | FR | IT | DE | ES | PT

1. Highlighting of search results in on-line (HTML) manuals
2. Subscript & superscript
3. Import of Microsoft Word DOC \ DOCX files
4. Ability to resize contents menu with splitter in on-line (HTML) manual
5. Improved management of text styles
6. Improved performance of JavaScripts in on-line (HTML) manuals
7. Improved HTML import
8. Improved CHM import
9. Improved RTF import
10. Improved HLP import
... dozens of minor improvements were made

Dr.Explain 4.1 (Sep-Oct 2010) : The upgrade is free for all 4.x users : Users of version 3, please click here

Press release

1. User interface is now available in 9 languages: English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French, Dutch, Swedish, & Italian
2. User interface was modified and is capable for localization into any language, i.e. more languages are coming
3. Import of CHM file
4. Import of HLP file (since build #447)
5. Import of RTF file (since build #449)
6. Import of a single HTML file
7. Batch import of recursive folders with numerous HTML files
8. Optimized graphical algorithms (scaling & resizing) now produce PNG image files of smaller size without quality loss. It may decrease final help file overall size by 1.5 or even 2 times!
9. All images have solid white background by default (previously it was transparent)
10. New "Cell properties" dialog allows to flexibly customize cell borders
11. PDF Export performance was improved
12. {Page break} special object was added
13. Arabic font issues in PDF were fixed
14. Issues with bullet list appearance in HTML were fixed
15. All color pickers support single-click selection
16. Cell vertical alignment property is accessible through editor pop-up menu
... dozens of minor improvements were made

Dr.Explain 4.0 (09 Mar 2010) : The upgrade is free for orders of 2009/2010

Improved user interface
A wider work area, modern icons and compact toolbars will make your work easy and pleasant.

A single page for entire topic's content
No more separate edit boxes for every control. Entire topic content is now presented on a single page and is ready for immediate editing and rearranging. This is a true WYSIWYG in action.

Easily modifiable page layout
No more firm page structure. You may freely rearrange objects and layout page content in the editor.

On-demand screenshot annotating mode
Screenshot annotating mode is activated by double click on the screenshot image and grabs the workspace area only when it's actually required. The floating panels will help you organize your workspace layout as you need.

Search and Index functionality in HTML (On-line) Manuals
Now, your users will be able to search through your on-line manual. This functionality doesn't require scripting capabilities on your server and may be used even on web sites with simple or free hosting.

PDF export
A highly demanded function has been finally implemented. Now you are able to create true PDF files with national characters support, images, links, bookmarks, and table of contents.

Text formatting styles
Adjust formatting options of headings, sub-headigs and normal text. Create your own custom styles and quickly apply them to your document parts.

Updated color themes
The attractive color themes will make your documentation to look really professional.

Extended settings for images
Image setting has been enriched with border, margin, scale, and dependency options.

HTML code snippets
You can enrich your documentation with ability to insert raw HTML code snippets into your pages.

Lots of tiny improvements and tweaks
Several dozens of requested improvements will make your work with the Dr.Explain 4.0 much more intuitive, faster, and easier.

Dr.Explain 3.1 (12 Aug 2008) : Free upgrade :

1. Capturing and auto-documenting of Java (Swing) applications
2. Improvements in menu screenshot capturing
3. Anti-aliased graphics (bullets and lines)
4. More visual effects (e.g. real customizable shadows)
5. Naming rules for controls
6. Insert image in description through capturing
7. Screenshot manipulation menu
8. Better performance on large projects
+ a LOT of improvements and fixes

Dr.Explain 3.0 (26 Mar 2008) : Free upgrade :

New text editor
1. Insert images
2. Customize fonts
3. Insert tables
4. Insert lists
5. Insert predefined variables\macros

New capturing engine
6. Capturing web pages and web interfaces
7. Capturing Flash
8. Capturing various accessible items
9. Capturing particular buttons in toolbars
10. Capturing undocked windows and toolbars
11. Virtual cursor (press and hold right Ctrl)
12. Sub-windows auto-capturing

More features
13. Topic statuses
14. Lock \ Unlock topic
15. Google Sitemap generator
16. Export speed up (Unchanged files won't be rebuild during export)
17. .bak files creation

... a LOT of improvements and fixes .

Dr.Explain 2.6 (11 Jul 2007) : Free upgrade :

1. Better recognition of Delphi and other programming languages controls
2. The splitter between designer and properties was added
3. The Filter button in the keyword list was added
4. The single topic content max allowed size was extended to about 1Mb
5. When the Find dialog opens focus is in the Find what text box
6. The control bullet tooltips display control names, not only numbers
7. The full text search stop list file text box is not read-only now
8. The path to the full text search stop list file may be relative to the path of the HHP, not absolute
9. In Project properties, HTML settings preceed CHM settings like the HTML preview tab preceds the CHM preview tab
10. F2 - item rename in the keyword list
11. "Help ID removal" dialog was renamed to "Remove Help ID" according to the menu option entry
12. Keywords for inactive pages won't go to final CHM file anymore
13. Alt+Ins hotkey adds child keyword to a selected keyword
14. Tooltip for Print Preview tool button
15. In the HHP, the full text search stop list file at the bottom of the [FILES] section it's preceded with a CRLF now
16. In the HTML generated for CHMs, in the MAP tag area a missed space between the al and the href attributes was added
17. The bug in custom color themes management was fixed
18. Keyword operation hotkeys were mentioned in the tooltips
19. Control operation hotkeys were mentioned in the tooltips
20. Remove Help ID dialog remembers its location
21. Tooltips for Screenshot Editor toolbuttons were added
22. Keyword structure compilation was fixed
23. A Java Script bug in dynamic menu was fixed
24. Several typos in GUI were fixed
25. ... and a dozen of minor improvements

Dr.Explain 2.5 (01 Mar 2007) : Free upgrade :

New advanced features
1. Sub menus (standard Win32) autocapturing
2. Project validation tool
3. Project compacting tool
4. Print versions of pages for on-line help
5. Mouse-over pop-up windows (Java Script) to show the descriptions associated with controls. (See the sample in Dr.Explain online help)
6. Command line generation of HTML, CHM, RTF. (See ...\DE\tools\deexport.exe)

New regular features
7. New way of screen capturing
8. Menu capturing
9. Context Help ID management
10. CHM and HTML settings were separated
11. JavaScript menu with collapsing\expanding
12. Control rectangles inplace editing
13. Grid color settings
14. Grid step settings
15. Absolute path to image folder is allowed
16. Progress bar for file saving
17. Copying associated keywords along with topics
18. Bullet lines can be dragged along with control rectangle (hold Alt)
19. Link property: open in a new browser window
20. CHM index file's title is customizable
21. Screenshot image insertion from clipboard
22. The control scale is visible in control rectangle setup dialog
23. Control clips margin setup
24. Next\Prev links are in the bottom of the pages as well
25. Zoom In\Out in Control Rectangle dialog
26. Scale shown on the control preview
27. Links to controls
28. Custom colors saving
29. / in paths is allowed
30. F2 - Item rename
31. Control rectangle color settings
32. Compatibility with Internet Explorer 7
33. Navigation through hyperlinks in preview mode
34. Duplicated topics in-place checking was implemented
35. Search in project was improved
36. Two output standards are available: HTML 4.01 Transitional & XHTML 1.0 Transitional
37. CHM output: the HHK, HHP and HHC files are named the same as the CHM
38. aspx was added to predefined list of exportable HTML extensions
39. Print button is always active in preview mode
40. Microsoft Windows Vista support

... and dozens of minor improvements ...

Dr.Explain 2.0 (01 Aug 2006) : Free upgrade :

Cool dozen
1. Multi-tier document structure
2. Hyperlinks in descriptions / Crosslinking
3. Spell checking
4. Custom name for page files
5. Custom names for picture files (depending on file name)
6. New visual themes
7. Custom CSS setup
8. Intellectual orientation of bullets
9. Standard Windows toolbars parsing
10. Indexes keywords in CHM
11. Search for text in nodes and descriptions (Find\Find Next)
12. Help file in CHM format made with Dr.Explain itself

Controls handling
13. Ability to replace control images with custom pictures
14. Ability to turn off control images
15. Ability to set scale for control images
16. Multiple selections of controls in the list
17. No message boxes for deleting controls
18. Anchor names can be assigned to controls
19. Control description alignment
20. Ability to not resize control images along with whole screenshot
21. Rectangle mark is initially selected when open Control rectangle dialog
22. Explicitly resizing control rectangle
23. Control copy\paste to clipboard

HTML export
24. Ability to turn off "Top" link
25. Back & Next hyperlinks to the previous and next pages in the content
26. Custom text for "Top" link
27. "Top" link jumps to the image, not to the page's top
28. Custom text for "Back & Next" links
29. Custom color themes setup
30. Ability to generate image files in a custom subfolder
31. Ability to make the control areas clickable in HTML instead of the bullets
32. Quick access to HTML template editing, right form HTML preview.
33. Duplicated topic names checking

Screenshot handling
34. Top screenshot alignment (left, right, center)
35. An option to have the control caption above/below/left/right/opposite of the buttons.
36. Explicitly resizing screenshot tool with Revert option
37. Ability to draw bullets without lines

Application settings
38. Main window and key dialog positions are stored across sessions
39. Splitters (work area) positions are stored across sessions
40. Ability to turn off splash screen
41. Ability to turn off startup dialog
42. All URLs are opened in a new browser window
43. F1 context help works in all dialogs of Dr.Explain

RTF Export
44. RTF default file name is the same as a project file name
45. Ability to switch off the "Title Page" in RTF export
46. Ability to switch off the "Content Page" and content macro in RTF export
47. RTF default font face and size setup
48. Ability to silently overwrite RTF files
49. Automated image scaling down to fit the specified page format width in RTF export
50. RTF export speed was increased

CHM Export
51. Warns if the CHM file is opened during the export process
52. Ability to silently overwrite CHM files
53. Keeping temporary files after CHM export is completed
54. Advanced MS HHW options for CHM creation

... and dozens of minor improvements ...

Dr.Explain 1.5.38 (15 Mar 2006) : Free upgade :

[+]: Hot keys for export operations.
*. Better compatibility with non-English versions of MS Windows®

Dr.Explain 1.5.34 ( 25 Jan 2006) : Free upgade :

*. The Control Rectangle Setup dialog is resizable.
*. Document structure setup got more convenient and simpler.
*.: Editor redrawing issues were fixed.
*. A couple of minor improvements was made.

Dr.Explain 1.5.30 (27 Nov 2005 ) : Free upgade :

*. The state of HTML, RTF and CHM export options ('Create Index Page' and 'Open document') are stored in the project file.
*.: HTML links for hidden elements are generated correctly.
*.: Bullets renumbering bug on deletion was fixed.
*. A couple of minor improvements was made.

Dr.Explain 1.5.28 (07 Nov 2005) : Free upgade :

[+]: Tips on startup.
*. Image editor scrolling with mouse wheel got more convenient.
*.: Bullet line positioning bug for scaled images was fixed.

Dr.Explain 1.5.18 - 1.5.25 (29 Oct 2005) : Free upgade :

[+]: Multi-byte languages support (testing mode).
[+]: Ability to turn-off the left menu.
[+]: Recognition of Clarion window types (window classes).
*. No redraw flickering.
*. Description typing got faster.
*.: Improved multiple spaces handling in RTF export routine.
*.: Several bugs were fixed.

Dr.Explain 1.5.17 (20 Sep 2005) : Free upgade :

[+]: Export into Rich Text Format (RTF).
[+]: Export into Microsoft HTML Help (CHM).
*. More convenient WYSIWYG editor.
*. Some minor improvements and fixes were made.

Dr.Explain 1.4.16 (18 Jul 2005) : Free upgade :

[+]: Screenshot in HTML is active. The bullets are clickable.
[+]: Each control description in HTML is followed by the [top] link.
[+]: Each control description in HTML contains a numbered anchor.
This is very useful for support purposes and for further document conversion into another format.
[+]: Multiline control titles are allowed. Use '~' character as a new line mark.
[+]: The start up dialog will help you reopen your recent projects with one click.
[+]: The ruler was added into the Control Image Area.
[+]: The grid is available in the Designer Area.
[+]: An ability to insert new windows from PNG, GIF, or JPG files, not only from BMP files.
[+]: An ability to replace an existing window's screenshot with a picture from PNG, GIF, or JPG file, not only from BMP file.
[+]: An ability to replace an existing window's screenshot with a newly captured window.
*. The reference titles are shown properly when a large font is set.
*. Some minor improvements and fixes were made.

Dr.Explain 1.3.14 (05 Jul 2005 ) : Free upgade :

[+]: Support of national characters in descriptions and titles.
[+]: Embedded text strings customization.
[+]: Ability to hide the 'Dr.Explain' link in the output documents.
*. The export path became the project's property rather than the application-wide variable.
*. Some minor improvements and fixes were made.

Dr.Explain 1.2.13 ( 23 Jun 2005) :

The first official release of the Dr.Explain software. The previous versions were the prototypes and in-house tools.