Writing Help Topics / Inserting Objects /

Using Pictures and Video

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Insert a Picture

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

2.On the Insert tab, in the Media group, click Picture.

3.In the dialog, find and select the picture file that you want to insert.

4.Click Open.

Insert a Video

1.In the word processor, put the text cursor where you want to insert a video.

2.On the Insert tab, in the Media group, click Movie.

3.In the dialog, find and select the video file that you want to insert.

4.Click Open.

Support of Video Files in Different Output Formats:

HTML Help (CHM)

Provides support for AVI, WMV, MPG, SWF, MOV, MP4, and M4V video formats.

Remark: Please note that while SWF (Flash) files are embedded into the CHM file, the other video formats are not embedded and should be distributed along with the CHM file.

Web Help

Provides support for MP4 and M4V video files. Other video formats may not be supported by modern HTML5 browsers.

ePub

Provides support for MP4 and M4V video files. Other video formats may not be supported by an ePub reader application.

Insert a Screenshot into a Topic

1.In the word processor, put the text cursor where you want to insert a screenshot.

2.On the Insert tab, click Create Screenshot.

3.In the Image Tool, click Capture by Mouse.

4.Select the window that you want to capture and then Ctrl+Click on it.

5.Click OK.

You can learn more about using the Image Tool to create screenshots, add various annotations, hotspots, and also control annotations for UI elements (such as buttons, input boxes, etc.) to the image here.

Remark: The screenshot tool is available in HelpSmith Professional (or higher) edition only.

Insert a Picture or Video from the Media Repository

1.In the word processor, put the text cursor where you want to insert a picture or video.

2.On the Insert tab, in the Media group, click on the bottom part of the Picture (or Movie) button (with the arrow icon).

3.In the Project Media window, find and select the media file that you want to insert.

4.Click Insert.

Remark: For more details on the media repository, you can visit this topic.

Edit Picture or Video Object's Properties

1.In the word processor, double-click the media object whose properties you want to change.

2.In the dialog, you can define new width and height values, alignment settings, etc. Also, you can link the media object to a different file in the media repository. To do so, click the Change button in the Information box.

3.Click OK.

Resize a Picture or Video Object

You can resize a picture or video object directly in the word processor:

1.In the word processor, click the image object that you want to resize.

2.Click one of the resizing markers and while holding down the mouse button, move the mouse until the image gets the desired size, then drop the mouse button.

Remarks:

•While resizing, you can also hold the Shift key, so the image will save its proportions.

•To reset an image object to its actual size, hold the Ctrl key and then double-click the image.

The Media Repository of Your Help Project

When you insert a picture or video into a topic, or another place in your help project, HelpSmith automatically copies the media files to the media repository, which is stored in a sub-folder located in the same directory as your project file.

This approach has a number of benefits including the possibility to re-use the same image file in multiple topics, easier update of an image (e.g. screenshot) that is used in more than one topic, easier transfer of an entire help project to another computer or storage device, and so on.

For more details on viewing and editing the media repository of your help project, you can visit this topic.