Macromedia RoboHelp

**Macromedia RoboHelp**, now known as **Adobe RoboHelp**, is a line of help authoring tools for Windows-based computers, that had been developed and published by Macromedia before it was acquired by Adobe Systems.

## Product history

RoboHelp was originally created by Gen Kiyooka at San Diego-based Blue Sky Software, which released version 1.0 in January 1992. As RoboHELP became the flagship product of Blue Sky Software, the company changed its name to eHelp Corporation on April 4, 2000.

* RoboHELP 1 was released in January 1992.
* RoboHELP 2 was released in September 1993.
	+ RoboHELP 2.5 was released in early 1994.
	+ RoboHELP 2.6 was released in May 1994.
* RoboHELP 3 was released in January 1995.
	+ RoboHELP 95, the first 32-bit version, was released in mid 1995.
* RoboHELP 4 was released in November 1996.
* RoboHELP 5 was released in late 1997.
	+ RoboHELP 5.5 was released in March 1998.
* RoboHELP 6 was released in mid 1998.
* RoboHELP 7 was released in late 1998.
* RoboHELP 2000 (8) was released in late 1999.

### Version renumbering

eHelp used dates instead of version numbers to market RoboHELP 2000 and 2002 and somewhat continued this in a way with RoboHelp X3 and X4. On October 24, 2003, eHelp was acquired by Macromedia, which carried on the naming convention with Macromedia RoboHelp X5.

* RoboHelp 9 was released in 2000.
* RoboHelp 2002 (10) was released in late 2001.
* RoboHelp X3 (11) was released in late 2002.
* RoboHelp X4 (12) was released in early 2003.
* Macromedia RoboHelp X5 (13) was released in January 2004.

### Version confusion

Adobe Systems acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005. However, Adobe renamed the next version to Adobe RoboHelp 6 in 2007, causing confusion for buyers looking for training materials that may use similar titles as older versions, such as RoboHELP 6 from 1998 (also referred to as "RoboHELP Classic 6"). Adobe returned to using dates to market its more recent versions, starting with Adobe RoboHelp 2015.

* Adobe RoboHelp 6 was released on January 16, 2007.
* Adobe RoboHelp 7 was released on September 27, 2007.
* Adobe RoboHelp 8 was released on January 20, 2009.
* Adobe RoboHelp 9 was released on January 11, 2011.
* Adobe RoboHelp 10 was released on July 26, 2012.
* Adobe RoboHelp 11 was released on January 14, 2014.
* Adobe RoboHelp 2015 was released on June 8, 2015. (although this is technically the 20th major release, Adobe internally considers it their "version 12")
* Adobe RoboHelp 2017 was released on January 31, 2017.
* Adobe RoboHelp 2019 was released on August 22, 2018.
* Adobe RoboHelp 2020 (summer) was released on July 15, 2020.

## References

1. ↑ Pipeline: Shipped, *InfoWorld* p.13. 1992-01-20.
2. ↑ Blue Sky Software, Worldwide Leader in User Assistance Software, Emerges with New Name, *eHelp Corporation*., Business Wire. 2000-04-04. Archived 2017-02-26.
3. ↑ Macromedia to acquire eHelp, ActionScript. 2003-10-24. Archived 2006-12-15.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 RoboHelp versions: A definitive guide by Colum McAndrew, The RoboColum(n). 2010-11-17. Archived 2013-05-28.
5. ↑ Adobe Completes Acquisition of Macromedia, Adobe Systems. 2005-12-05. Archived 2005-12-07.
6. ↑ Adobe Technical Communication Suite Summer 2020 release by Stefan Gentz, Adobe TechComm Blog. 2020-07-14.

## See also

* Macromedia Captivate, another product originally developed by eHelp and Macromedia.
* Macromedia RoboHelp Office Pro, server-based support for enterprise users of RoboHelp.
* RoboHelp Office, a software suite for early RoboHelp users.
* RoboInfo, a similar application that was merged into RoboHelp in 2007.

## External links

* Macromedia RoboHelp X5 at Macromedia (archived 2004-06-09)
* RoboHelp Family (X4) at eHelp Corporation (archived 2003-06-08, 2003-02-16)
	+ RoboHelp Family (X3) (archived 2002-10-17)
	+ RoboHelp Family (2002) (archived 2001-11-07)
	+ RoboHelp Office (9) (archived 2001-05-16)
* RoboHELP Office 2000 at Blue Sky Software (archived 1999-10-06)
	+ RoboHELP Office Version 7.0 (archived 1999-02-09)
	+ RoboHELP 5 Special Edition (archived 1997-12-10)
		- RoboHELP (5.5) (archived 1998-04-21)
		- RoboHELP Classic (5.0) FAQ (archived 1999-08-26)
	+ RoboHELP (4) (archived 1996-10-19, 1997-02-04)
	+ RoboHELP 95 upgrade (archived 1996-10-19)
* Adobe RoboHelp at Adobe
	+ Adobe RoboHelp Learn & Support
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 2019 (archived 2018-08-23)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 2017 (archived 2017-02-02)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 2015 (archived 2015-06-02)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 11 (archived 2014-01-18)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 10 (archived 2012-07-27)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 9 (archived 2011-01-14)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 8 (archived 2009-01-21)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 7 (archived 2007-10-02)
	+ Adobe RoboHelp 6 (archived 2007-01-16)
* Adobe RoboHelp tutorial at SlideShare
* RoboHelp at the TechWriter Wiki
* Adobe RoboHelp at the Adobe Wiki
* Adobe RoboHelp at Wikipedia