Step-by-step guide: How to define build settings in HelpNDoc

When you’re ready to generate documentation, HelpNDoc allows you to define the location of your output files and select the templates that are used to generate your documentation. In addition, you can further customize settings such as color, font size, numbering style, and create conditional tags to tailor your documentation to support specific requirements.

Access the generate documentation window
To access the settings HelpNDoc uses to publish documentation, click the top half of Generate help in the Home ribbon tab.

The generate documentation window
This displays the Generate Documentation window.
Your builds are listed along the left-hand side in your build list.
To view the settings for a build, click its name.

Customize a build
This highlights that build and displays its current output file and template.
The steps for maintaining the output file and template as well as the settings for the output are outlined below.
Select and output file

Output file is where the documentation will be stored after it has been generated.
To select another location, click the button to the far right of the current output file pathway.
This displays a window that allows you to navigate to the new location.
By default, the file name is assigned the name of your project.

  • To use this name, no update is needed.
  • To assign a new name, enter it in ‘File name.’

Click Save in the lower right-hand corner to close the navigation window.
This displays the updated path and file name in your Generate Documentation window.

The next time you publish this output this documentation will be placed in this new location and be assigned the new name, if appropriate.

Select a template
Template is the format currently used when publishing this output. HelpNDoc offers one or more templates that you can use for each format. You can also create your own templates.
To select another template, click the current one.
This displays a menu of alternatives offered by HelpNDoc.
Select the one you’d like to use.
Access the report template editor
Edit Word and PDF templates
You can also define your own templates for outputs that use Word and PDF formats using the template editor.
To access it, click Edit. Further assistance is provided in another step-by-step guide: How to update your templates.
Additional settings

Customize displays the template settings and tags that are used when this output is generated. You may tailor these settings to support your specific requirements.

To maintain these settings, click Customize.
The first two tabs allow you to maintain settings for the template and define tags. If format-related settings are available, a third tab is displayed to provide you access to these settings also.

To collapse this information, click Hide customization.


Updates are saved automatically. When you’re done, you have three options:

  • To publish your documentation, click Generate in the lower right-hand corner of the window.
  • To close the window without publishing your documentation, you can click Cancel in the lower right-hand corner.
  • To close the window without publishing your documentation, you can also click the X in the upper right-hand corner.

See also