This topic describes how to work offline by downloading an information center (known as WebSphere Help System) and populating it with one or more documentation plug-ins. This is analogous to downloading the Adobe Acrobat Reader and one or more PDF documents to view. Note that PDF versions of this documentation are the other option for working offline.
These instructions require Internet access and a machine to which you can download content. If you find a difference between these instructions and the instructions that accompany the WebSphere help system (here, used interchangeably with the term information center) that you downloaded, follow the latter instructions.
The help system is a download from the Trials and betas section of the IBM Web site. Access the following Web page: http://www.software.ibm.com/webapp/download/search.jsp?go=y&rs=iwshs
If the preceding URL becomes unavailable, the Library page also contains a link to the WebSphere help system. Its link might be more current. The Library page is at http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/was/library/index.html.
Unzip the file to the local drive. A folder titled WebSphere Help System is created on the local drive. You can choose to unzip the files to another directory on your local drive.
The file describes in detail how to set up a local information center. Pay particular attention to the section that addresses installing the WebSphere Help System. If you have an adequate Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed, you can launch the WebSphere help start.bat file to complete the installation.
You can double-click the file or type its path and name at a DOS prompt. If a browser window opens with an empty information center, then you are successful. If not, troubleshoot the issue, beginning with the documentation that is provided in the installing_and_managing.htm file. Be sure to shut down the local information center after successful installation has occurred.
Select among multiple product-specific WebSphere Application Server documentation plug-ins available at this Web address:http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/infocenter.html
Unzip the documentation plug-in to the following path: WebSphere Help System/eclipse/plug-ins.
The architecture of each IBM documentation plug-in consists of a folder, usually named something like, com.ibm.xxx.xxx.doc, within which is contained a series of XML files, possibly some additional folders, and a zip file called doc.zip. Do not unzip the doc.zip file.
Using the WebSphere help start.bat file, launch the help system. Your documentation plug-in is available in your local help system. You can download additional documentation plug-ins from other IBM, or third-party vendors using an Eclipse-based help system like the WebSphere Help System.
Related concepts
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