Package org.eclipse.help.standalone

Class Help

java.lang.Object

org.eclipse.help.standalone.Help

public class Help
extends Object

This is a standalone help system. It takes care of launching the Eclipse with its help system implementation, and controling it. This class can be instantiated and used in a Java program, or can be launched from command line to execute single help action. Usage as a Java component:

• create an instantance of this class and then hold onto this instance for the duration of your application
• call start()
• call displayHelp(...) or displayContext(..) any number of times
• at the end, call shutdown().

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Constructor	Description
Help(String pluginsDir)	Deprecated. use Help#Help(String[])
Help(String[] options)	Constructs help system

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method	Description
void	displayContext(String contextId, int x, int y)	Displays context sensitive help.
void	displayContextInfopop(String contextId, int x, int y)	Displays context sensitive help in infopop.
void	displayHelp()	Displays help.
void	displayHelp(String href)	Displays specified help resource.
static void	main(String[] args)	Controls standalone help system from command line.
void	shutdown()	Shuts-down the stand alone help system.
void	start()	Starts the stand alone help system.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

Help

public Help(String[] options)

Constructs help system

Parameters:

options - array of String options and their values

Option -eclipseHome dir specifies Eclipse installation directory. This directory is a parent to "plugins" directory and eclipse executable. The option must be provided, when current directory from which infocenter is launched, is not the same as Eclipse installation directory.

Option -host helpServerHost specifies host name of the interface that help server will use. It overrides host name specified in the application server plugin preferences.

Option -port helpServerPort specifies port number that help server will use. It overrides port number specified in the application server plugin preferences.

Option -dir rtl sets right-to-left rendering direction of help UI in the browser.

Additionally, most options accepted by Eclipse execuable are supported.

Help

@Deprecated
public Help(String pluginsDir)

Deprecated.

use Help#Help(String[])

This contstructs the stand alone help.

Parameters:

pluginsDir - directory containing Eclipse plugins

Method Detail

start

public void start()
           throws Exception

Starts the stand alone help system.

Throws:

Exception

shutdown

public void shutdown()
              throws Exception

Shuts-down the stand alone help system.

Throws:

Exception

displayHelp

public void displayHelp()
                 throws Exception

Displays help.

Throws:

Exception

displayHelp

public void displayHelp(String href)
                 throws Exception

Displays specified help resource.

Parameters:

href - the href of the table of contents

Throws:

Exception

displayContext

public void displayContext(String contextId,
                           int x,
                           int y)
                    throws Exception

Displays context sensitive help.

Parameters:

contextId - context id

x - x coordinate

y - y coordinate

Throws:

Exception

displayContextInfopop

public void displayContextInfopop(String contextId,
                                  int x,
                                  int y)
                           throws Exception

Displays context sensitive help in infopop.

Parameters:

contextId - context id

x - x coordinate

y - y coordinate

Throws:

Exception

main

public static void main(String[] args)

Controls standalone help system from command line.

Parameters:

args - array of String containing options.
Options are: -command start | shutdown | (displayHelp [href]) [-eclipsehome eclipseInstallPath] [-host helpServerHost] [-port helpServerPort] [-dir rtl] [platform options] [-vmargs JavaVMarguments]
where:

• href is the URL of the help resource to display,
• eclipseInstallPath specifies Eclipse installation directory; it must be provided, when current directory is not the same as Eclipse installation directory,
• helpServerHost specifies host name of the interface that help server will use, it overrides host name specified the application server plugin preferences
• helpServerPort specifies port number that help server will use, it overrides port number specified the application server plugin preferences.
• -dir rtl sets right-to-left rendering direction of help UI in the browser.
• platform options are other options that are supported by Eclipse Executable.