Does this CHM Editor, GOTD Edition, export the full contents of a CHM file to a plain-text .TXT file?

That's what I need today......

It looks good and I am considering purchasing it. Please extend the time to take up the special offer, as I have some questions.

1. The first topic - why does it not allow me to enter any text?
2. The first few subtopics - it shows "Topic 1" etc instead of the name of the topic on the RHS. When I start a new Topic and subtopic, those display the topic name that I entered correctly.
3. Set as default - doesn't do anything.

To distribute the compiled help file, what do I give the user?

Thanks!

I don't know if this is appropriate here or not but here's my two cents. I am putting this here instead of in a forum because this area is where I am seeing issues that I think will, in the long run, hurt GOTD and those wishing to try software that appeals to them and for which they have a use. I appreciate GOTD's offerings even though I don't have a use for maybe 75% of them. Since I learned of Karl's reviews, they carry a lot of weight on whether or not I will even try a giveaway. I am getting increasingly uneasy with the negative, sometimes derisive comments directed at a reviewer or the developer. They seem to be increasing. It is getting to the point that I may cease even looking at the offerings. Perhaps this derision is the reason that some of the other earlier reviewers on this site ceased even offering their reviews (Ashraf, xp-man or Ootje mentioned by Mavadelo in Post #12). I would not be surprised to find that Karl stops reviewing anything, or at least stops posting.

If I try a product and I like it, I almost always purchase the software to support the developer. I think that Irina Gridina of GridinSoft is still thinking in the old shareware model for this offering in that the offered (shareware) version isn't crippled but doesn't have full functionality. While this model may not be totally dead, it gets negative feedback from users. I am fairly certain that their next offering on GOTD will have full functionality with a time limit for their use.

Anyway, enough ramblings for now. Hopefully the negative comments I get for this post will be minimal. They really do detract from any reviews.

So, for the GOTD I will be able to use it for a lifetime and I suppposed for the commercial version also.
But what about your discounts for major and minor updates after the one-year subscription?
There is no information on the website.

What about the one year subscription and the enable auto-renewal for the commercial product?
What happens after one year for that GOTD also?
Commercial license information policy clearly lacking.

I'm having a few problems on Win 8.1.

1. Program installed then froze.

2. I restarted the pc and the program seems to be installed ok. However, when I click on the shortcut and "create a chm file" I get a screen that asks for
a) "project name" - understandable,
b) "file name" and what looks like an "open file" icon.

I inserted a file name in the box, filled in the other fields and clicked "ok" and was told CHM Editor "Can't open C:|Program Files (x86)\Gridinsoft\CHMEditor\myfile.chm" file. What is supposed to be entered in this field please?

3. I thought one of the outputs was EPub? Exports seem only to be html, doc and pdf.

Thanks.

I like GAOTD because it gives people the chance of getting good software with -normally- three limitations only: no oficial support, no updates and one year of license. So, we have a whole year to decide if we need and like the program.
Some publishers don't want to give us that chance and think that we are going to buy their software if they offer us a sort of demo disguised as 'giveaway'.
I'm the kind of user that's not interested in good products when the seller seems too... interested in making money.

How can I comment if we have been given a special edition with half of features not functional. If this is a way to force people into buying Pro Version, well, I have no desire to buy, I feel let down.

The web site is confusing.
Full-text search doesn't work in CHM help?

I don't know how many GAOTD enthusiasts might like CHM Editor, but I suspect it is a smaller subset than the total number. In any event, if this UKR company is using this site as a "sales push", then it should be known that in my experience when full versions are supplied more downloads are made, but more full versions are sold in the end. If people get used to using a software, they are more liking to buy it and continue buying it. A lesser version that for example doesn't make PDFs is less useful and not likely to make a sale to a person/company not really really needing the software.

I received Acrobat 5.0 and 6.0 standard editions for free. Yes, I used them on more than a dozen machines. Then as WinOS evolved, I ended up buying 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10. (FYI: 5.0 and 6.0 were more handy than the newer bloated versions, hands down.) I obtained WordPerfect 3.1, 3.2, 4.0, 4.1 for free. By using the gratis full versions I discovered it is far superior to MSFT Orifice [sic] (in too many ways to delineate here) that I bought 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 (three times), 7.0, 7.1, 8.0, 9.0, X, X3 and X4. (I can't find X2 right now but I think that too.) Ditto PhotoShop. Is the picture getting clear in Eastern Europe?

Had I not received full working versions, there is, as noted above, more than $2,000 USD worth of software that would have gone un-purchased. The only less-than-full-versions I try anymore are anti-hack, anti-bot or anti-malware programs (only because I did not choose to have those menacing codes enter my machine so I am loath to buy costly solutions for those non-choices--so, if you are in that business, GET A CLUE!).

Since the lesser version offered doesn't give a real taste of the software's potential, I am not going to download it. Besides, I believe an alternative to WinOS--not Linux--is in the wings. And, I have bought 6 Apple devices since MSFT's idiotic announcement of no more winOS's after Win(pre)10 (you know the future beyond Win(pre)10 is going to force you to use WinOS on their servers, as a monthly subscription, so they can monitor every keystroke, every download and everything you write--probably for the US fed.gov and other oppressive regimes replacing the elected governments of the world--RESIST GOVERNMENTS WITH FULL VIGOR). Nobody sells Apple products like MSFT management does!! They are AWESOME Apple reps! I am looking at Apple desktops these days... not winOS machines. ©2015

PS. If your computer is connected to the Internet, never put any data that can be remotely connected to you personally on that machine. All connected computers are an open book to Chinese Hackers and their devotees. Even the US fed.gov must agree to these maxims. You are not protected. Period. Period.
Lots of gold potential in new PC OS's and iron clad PC protection software--before the infection software. (Reactive software is nearly useless; hence, not worth paying for.) Right now no coders should be working on any other projects. Doubtful? Wait and see...

PSS. Imagine if there were six or a dozen popular OSs. Viruses, bots and malware would be severely restricted. More so if the OS was open source. The impact on user software is a secondary concern since current OS's are entirely insecure.

I want to touch upon the fact the developer IS providing feedback. Good job.

If I wanted an excellent product and willing to pay, I'd go for "FAR HTML 5" (https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/050e1612-5f52-49bd-b880-1125368e59f3). This amazing tools is $72, compared to this very poor and then way too expensive GOTD.

Moreover, nobody can tell what this thing does before downloading and installing. That's a no-no. Shame on Grindsoft for not even providing a decent HTML web page with some kind of useful information.

I'll keep the MS Html Help Workshop. Free, unrestricted, and easy to use.

Don't bother downloading this.

Usually neutral regarding the vote, today I'll make an exception and happily cast a down vote.

#5 Response to Igor's reply. Voting on people's reply concerning GOTD's daily giveaway is actually irrelevant. If you want to base your download of any free software on this site because of one person's daily review that's your prerogative. Complimenting and supporting others should be done in the forums. That's why it states on the very bottom just that. Keep your supportive comments to the forums and replies concerning the giveaway software right on the download page. As it states, "Please comment only on the software here. If you have technical problems or suggestions on our project, please leave us a note in our forums."

"It is a handy tool, which will help you to convert e-Books into CHM format with ease."

How to load a e-book?
Only CHM-files can be loaded:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/CHMEditorGOTDEdition302_20150618/Openen.png

Dear GridinSoft,

Since Replies aren't allowed Replies, I didn't know where to place the reply to this...so here it is:

Dear Chewy,
actually we have a demo-version of the CHM Editor Professional with a full-functional 15 days trial. Everyone can download it from our website http://chmeditor.com/
Comment by GridinSoft LLC — June 18th, 2015 at 5:36 am
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I understand that there is a demo-version of the Pro version (didn't know it was only 15 days,) but my point was that I believe that giving the Home Version and creating a greater need for the Pro version would, in my opinion, work better for selling more versions of the Full Functioned Software. Especially since there are several Free Versions out there, at least one is a full featured (their feature set, which I didn't look at) completely free for Home User, not used for commercial purposes.

To be quite honest, in a nutshell, we are really only talking about HTML, configured and compressed into a single file, similar to MHT, but with a few more features. From my past experience, any decompression software will split it into it's parts. Microsoft used to have a CHM creation and compiling application. The premium features should be what is celebrated, and if the basic ones were all given away in a free home version, what better way to celebrate the premium features than by occasionally reminding a user that better features which will have better results and save time with the upgraded version of the app. One thing I would add to the free version is a watermark (a small one in the bottom corner, not as a distraction, but just as a reminder, and if used commercially, it will be a dead giveaway. It would probably would be used commercially, but when shown in a meeting, I'm sure it would be mentioned by a higher up who noticed it, that it would be in their best interest to purchase the software so they can use it with clients. I'm beginning to ramble, so if you want to hear any of my other ideas I'd be willing to share, ask the GOTD Team for the eMail address that is attached to this message. I don't mind.

Kyle's word...Intended to be: The final answer…or Just an information source to aid in your analysis and decision making?

Regarding the comments under Kyle's Postings (especially the other day,) which stated things like: I scroll down to find Kyle's name so I can read his post to see if he keeps it or not, if he doesn't keep it, I won't even touch it.

Unless you are paying Kyle, I don't believe his posts are intended to be any more than an information source to jump start your decision to critique the current offering. His posts are very nice, especially in the fact that they are almost always in the same format/order. For instance, by looking at the first sentence, you can almost always know the Author/Company’s physical location, if they are legally compliant by making their location publicly known, and finally, confident enough to allow their contact information to be known (and used.)

I would be willing to bet his intent isn't for all to find his name, look up a bit to find the last line of his post to see if he merged before restarting...Eliminating the need for any thought nor analysis on your part.
Additionally, I'm pretty sure the GOTD site was created and is maintained so that people decide if they want to download and install what’s currently available and give it a try, after YOU contemplate and decide YOURSELF weather YOU believe that it will may be useful. I believe that the ultimate goal is to introduce you to the software so that you can do two things: Spread the word to others who have the same or similar needs and/or requirements. Consider if your expected future utilization warrants paying the (usually discounted) upgrade and continue to get updates so it will remain current and future proofed.

If I am incorrect with any of my guesses or assumptions, I will happily apologize and stand corrected.

There's really no use for this giveaway. I imported a help file. Added a few words. Saved the file. Seems useless. Maybe I am missing something here. What can this giveaway accomplish? I didn't see how you could convert an ebook to CHM file... The import only allowed CHM files to be opened. No picture support. No way to save into different formats. I understand the company wants to convert giveawayoftheday customers to buying customers, but I think you have to actually "give away" something that is at least partially beneficial. This giveaway is basically a trial version that has almost zero functionality.

My suggestion is for them to give a full version for a year. Then once users are "hooked" on using the program they should be willing to buy. Basically, you gave a crippled version that really allows no testing or learning of the usefulness of the program.

Maybe it is just me.. Perhaps I have overlooked something and I apologize upfront if my opinion was short-sighted.

Can some one tell me what is gcd format and ware can get it and hope fully free as all GOTD programs asks you to run it to install it and when I do Microsoft takes me to there web site for file association and they don't have any thing on it maybe gotd could give gcd free as there offer of the day

Just tried it to add a "Favorite" tab on a CHM file without that possibility. The option exists, and the new file has been generated successfully. The new CHM has a Favorite tab, but it is inactive, and the option to add a page as a favorite is not present. Therefore, the tab is useless. It's a pity. My conclusion is that that CHM editor is not complete and lacks very important options, but it works and it can probably be used to do some simple edits. I'll keep it, but I'm not convinced that it is really useful, because the home version is very limited (and the free option to translate with Google are a joke!)

@ GridinSoft LLC
ThankYou for this - we still use CHM files inhouse because of their ease of making and I also understand why a giveaway can not be the same as the full version, but, please, next time give me at least a viewer for the images so I can see what I'm doing...

@ Craig Haywood
One of our ancient comps still runs Windows for Workgroups 3.11 'cos of DOS needs.
Maybe we can make use of your old program :-)

installed smoothly, running as expected. a keeper for me, as i have to work sometimes with chm files (and using a really obsolete editor for it). i use it so rarely that it is not worth for me to buy an editor, but this is fine for me (thanks, gotd and gridinsoft!).
pitty that translator dont work in this version (at least not with my native language). but for a regular user buying pro version is a good investment, although chm format is disappearing from modern help systems...

CHM Editor GOTD Edition 3.0.2 is not only limited to the pictures => its limited to SAVE the files to doc,pdf ets.

Installed and registered without problems on a Win 8.1.3 Pro 64 bit system.
The software comes preregistered.

An Ukrainian company with names, pictures of the members and phone&address. As it should be...
"It all started with a single enthusiast, who was writing small applets to order, gradually gathering minded around himself."
http://i.imgur.com/k805vRS.png

We had a previous version CHM Editor 1.3.3.4 on January 27, 2009, and in 2007 and 2008.
Here are the very old reviews:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/chm-editor-1334/

CHM? This is/was the Windows compressed HTML format for the help files. Does anybody still use this outside help files for windows? It became .LIT and is now in greatest partes replaced by the EPUB format.
But if anybody still want to write CHM files, okay this software should help.

Upon start... What a good looking interface! Irina Gridina, well made!
http://i.imgur.com/Cw0yT8v.png

I loaded their CHM help file, easy to understand, but... A BIG BUT

I wanted to have a look at one of the pictures. Are you kidding me??? The image editor is only for the professional version?
http://i.imgur.com/8s6wq4Y.png

Hmmm, a well made editor, still - but no way to work with images? My test stopped here.

Uninstalled via reboot. What a pity, Irina...

........................GAMEGIVEAWAY NEWS............................

"System Requirements: Windows NT 4.0/ 2000/ XP/ 2003/ Vista"

Is this a joke? No modern OS supported? I once wrote a program that ran on windows 3.1. Maybe I should offer it here...

Dear All,
this is a special version, which almost like Home, but with an opportunity to translate files into three languages with the Google translator.

This is apparently the Home version. The Professional version adds :
- One-click translation
- Export to PDF, DOC, HTML
- Embedded image editor