Python online help utility

[autodidact]

Hey guys anytime i type in help ('print') i get the following error;

"Sorry, topic and keyword documentation is not available because the Python
HTML documentation files could not be found. If you have installed them,
please set the environment variable PYTHONDOCS to indicate their location.

On the Microsoft Windows operating system, the files can be built by
running "hh -decompile . PythonNN.chm" in the C:\PythonNN\Doc> directory"

I'm working with Python 2.5, i presume thats the latest version.

TIA!

[bartonc]

Hey guys anytime i type in help ('print') i get the following error;

"Sorry, topic and keyword documentation is not available because the Python
HTML documentation files could not be found. If you have installed them,
please set the environment variable PYTHONDOCS to indicate their location.

On the Microsoft Windows operating system, the files can be built by
running "hh -decompile . PythonNN.chm" in the C:\PythonNN\Doc> directory"

I'm working with Python 2.5, i presume thats the latest version.

TIA!

That's what I get too. The docs are in the Start menu under Programs -> Python 2.5.

[autodidact]

That's what I get too. The docs are in the Start menu under Programs -> Python 2.5.

I do see it, but shouldn't i be able to access it from my python shell?

[bartonc]

I do see it, but shouldn't i be able to access it from my python shell?

That depends on which shell you are using. The (generally useless) command line prompt which has poor editing capabilities and no menus will bring up help if you leave out the quotes, (print won't work, but just about anything else will). But even the simplest IDE like IDLE has a help menu that will bring up the docs for you.

[autodidact]

That depends on which shell you are using. The (generally useless) command line prompt which has poor editing capabilities and no menus will bring up help if you leave out the quotes, (print won't work, but just about anything else will). But even the simplest IDE like IDLE has a help menu that will bring up the docs for you.

I can find it manually by going to the help menu as you suggested, but isn't the whole philosophy of programming to be lazy? but thats besides the point.

I did try it without the quotes like help (if) and it gives me a syntax error.

I should've also added in the first post that the error included the following:

On the Microsoft Windows operating system, the files can be built by running "hh -decompile . PythonNN.chm" in the C:\PythonNN\Doc> directory.

How do i do that?

I'm also using the shell that comes with python.

[bartonc]

I can find it manually by going to the help menu as you suggested, but isn't the whole philosophy of programming to be lazy? but thats besides the point.

I did try it without the quotes like help (if) and it gives me a syntax error.

Yep. That would be the expected behavior when putting reserved words between parentheses like that. The help system does work. Just type help() and it will guide you.

I should've also added in the first post that the error included the following:

On the Microsoft Windows operating system, the files can be built by running "hh -decompile . PythonNN.chm" in the C:\PythonNN\Doc> directory.

How do i do that?

I'm also using the shell that comes with python.

Ok. I think I see what you're getting at. I wouldn't go around decompiling the help file just yet.

To start help programmaticly, you could:

>>> import os
>>> os.startfile(r'D:\Python24\Doc\Python24.chm')
>>> 

[autodidact]

Yep. That would be the expected behavior when putting reserved words between parentheses like that. The help system does work. Just type help() and it will guide you.

Ok. I think I see what you're getting at. I wouldn't go around decompiling the help file just yet.

To start help programmaticly, you could:

>>> import os
>>> os.startfile(r'D:\Python24\Doc\Python24.chm')
>>> 

Thanks, it brought up the Doc file, how can i want to get specific help?

[oler1s]

Why don't you guys just do the hh -decompile thing? That's what I did...

[autodidact]

Why don't you guys just do the hh -decompile thing? That's what I did...

Um so how do you do the decompile thing? I have no clue whatsoever

[bartonc]

Um so how do you do the decompile thing? I have no clue whatsoever

Start -> Run cmd
Navigate to the doc directory (like cd C:\Python25\Doc)

C:\Python25\Doc> hh -decompile . Python25.chm

But that will strew your doc folder full of little HTML files. Have fun!

[autodidact]

Start -> Run cmd
Navigate to the doc directory (like cd C:\Python25\Doc)

C:\Python25\Doc> hh -decompile . Python25.chm

But that will strew your doc folder full of little HTML files. Have fun!

I can't help but ask dumb questions, but could you rephrase what you meant by "strew your doc folder full of little HTML files"

In my doc folder i got 2 files namely python25.chm and python25.chw



Thx

[zupergfs]

I can't help but ask dumb questions, but could you rephrase what you meant by "strew your doc folder full of little HTML files"

In my doc folder i got 2 files namely python25.chm and python25.chw



Thx

my friend you have to do one thing so

1 st go to command prompt and type cd C:\Python25\Doc to navigate there
2 exit the python idle
3 hit space once (in the command prompt window)
4 so Then type hh -decompile . Python25.chm and hit ENTER
5 so only if you type it correctly you will find in the "Doc" directory the decompiled html files.
6 if you have decompiled them just re-open IDLE and
7 Have fun !!!

[VictorWoo]

C:\Python25\Doc>hh -Decompile . Python25.chm
refresh the folder, success:)