Help System Platform Dependencies
The IDL Workbench help system behaves slightly differently on different platforms. This topic outlines the platform dependencies and configuration possibilities.
Windows
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Is the Help View Available?
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Yes.
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Is the Internal Help Browser Available?
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Yes. The internal help browser on Windows platforms uses the Internet Explorer display engine.
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Can I select an external web browser?
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Yes. Any installed web browser can be used as an external help browser.
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What browser is used in standalone help or command-line mode?
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The internal help browser is always used.
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Macintosh
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Is the Help View Available?
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Yes.
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Is the Internal Help Browser Available?
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No. Note that the external help browser is used even if Use internal Web browser is selected on the General → Web Browser preferences page.
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Can I select an external web browser?
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Yes. Any installed web browser can be used as an external help viewer.
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What browser is used in standalone help or command-line mode?
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The Safari web browser is always used.
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Linux
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Is the Help View Available?
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Yes.
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Is the Internal Help Browser Available?
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Yes, on systems with version 2.10 or higher of the GTK+ library installed. The internal help browser on Linux platforms uses a variant of the Mozilla display engine included along with the Workbench.
On systems with earlier versions of the GTK+ library, the external web browser is always used.
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Can I select an external web browser?
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Yes. Any installed web browser can be used as an external help viewer.
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What browser is used in standalone help or command-line mode?
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If the MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME environment variable is undefined, the internal help browser is used.
If the MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME environment variable is defined, the help system will attempt to launch the following browsers: Mozilla, Firefox, Netscape. The value of the environment variable is unimportant; the help system will use the first of the browsers listed above it finds.
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Solaris
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Is the Help View Available?
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No.
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Is the Internal Help Browser Available?
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No.
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Can I select an external web browser?
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Yes. Any installed web browser can be used as an external help viewer.
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What browser is used in standalone help or command-line mode?
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The help system will attempt to launch the following browsers: Mozilla, Firefox, Netscape. It will use the first of the browsers listed above it finds.
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