Navigating the help system

The IBM WebSphere Help System provides a graphical user interface for navigating product documentation. The Contents pane on the left side of the help window displays topics titles in a table of contents or navigation tree structure. Click topic titles to display content in the pane on the right.

Use the Back and Forward buttons to navigate within the history of viewed topics.

To return to the table of contents after running a search, click the Contents tab at the bottom of the pane.

Synchronizing the table of contents

When you follow a link within a topic in the pane on the right, the navigation tree does not automatically change to display and highlight the new topic. To see where the new topic fits in the navigation tree and synchronize the two views, click the Refresh button or the Show in Table of Contents button. The topic title for the currently displayed topic will be highlighted in the navigation tree.

Bookmarking and printing information

You can add a bookmark to the topic you are currently viewing, so you can find it later more easily. To set a bookmark for the current topic, click on the Bookmark icon above the right pane. To see your bookmarks, select the Bookmarks tab at bottom of the Contents pane.

To print the topic you are viewing, click on the Print icon.

Navigating by keyboard

Use the following key combinations to navigate the help system by keyboard:

  • To go to the next link, button or topic node from inside a pane in the help browser, press Tab.
  • To expand and collapse a node in the tree, press the Right and Left arrows.
  • To move to the next topic node, press the Down arrow or Tab.
  • To move to the previous topic node, press the Up arrow or Shift+Tab.
  • To scroll all the way up or down, press Home or End.
  • To go back, press Alt+Left arrow; to go forward press Alt+Right arrow.
  • To go to the next pane, press Ctrl+Tab.
  • To move to previous pane, press Shift+Ctrl+Tab.
  • To print the active pane, press Ctrl+P.
Related concepts
About the help system
Searching the help system
Setting bookmarks and printing in the help system
Viewing languages in the help system
Accessibility in the help system

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