JHelper 1.1.9
Limited edition
The main purpose of JHelper is to create and
display help system for Java applications/applets including the ability
to display help index and contents if they have been created.
The initial idea of designing JHelper
was to develop a special tool (platform independent) which will be able
to create and display help topics as well as hints for JavaBean components.
In the course of development, the functionality of JHelper exceeded the
initial expectations, and now it has become a very convenient tool for
doing a lot of useful things:
-
JHelper enables to display and navigate any
HTML document residing on your PC or Web server. Users can navigate through
the hyperlinks just like in their favorite Internet Browser. The visited
documents can be put into the History list, and the User can view them
again and again.
-
JHelper allows to print the necessary document.
-
for advanced Users (experienced Java programmers)
JHelper can be useful for GUI creation. Please consult the API Guide for
details.
The work with JHelper is a real pleasure for
both - a User making the first steps in the world of computers and computer
nets and an advanced Java expert.
After successful installation the JHelper
window appears on the screen:
Figure 1. JHelper window
JHelper window is designed so that the
User can perform all the necessary operations (open the document, reload
it completely, print the loaded document, customize JHelper properties)
using the Menu.
Toolbar includes
most widely used operation buttons (Contents, Index, Back, Reload, History,
Print, Help).
The work with JHelper for beginners is
described in the Beginner's Tutorial.
Experienced users can get acquainted with the Advanced
User's Tutorial.
Menu bar includes the following items allowing
to perform the necessary operations:
-
File
-
Open - to open the document;
-
From File... - to open the document
from the specified file;
-
From URL...- to open the document from
the specified URL resource;
Reload - to reload the current
(active) document completely - all occupied resources become free;
-
Print... - to print the current
(active) document if the document is completely loaded;
-
Properties... - to customize the properties
of JHelper, for example, Display Properties: foreground / background
colors, fonts etc.;
-
Exit/Hide - to exit JHelper;
-
Window
-
New window - to open a new JHelper
window (it is a very useful feature when the User is working with several
documents simultaneously);
-
History... - to show list of previously
loaded documents;
-
Refresh screen - to update the current
(active) document and reflecting any changes made since the original loading;
-
Help
-
Help on help - to load Help
topic;
-
About... - to display About box;
-
System Information - to display system
information (Java version, Java vendor, Java installation directory etc.).
Toolbar contains shortcuts for the most widely
used functions:
-
CONTENTS - to load the Contents topic associated
with the currently displayed document (disabled if there is no Contents
topic for the document);
-
INDEX - to load the Index topic for
the currently displayed document (disabled if there is no Index topic for
the document);
-
BACK - to load the previous document, if such
exists (otherwise the button is disabled);
-
RELOAD - to reload the current document completely
(all reserved resources become free);
-
HISTORY - to show a list of previously loaded
documents (to navigate document's history);
-
PRINT - to print the current (active)
document, if it is loaded completely;
-
HELP - to load the Help.
Note: CONTENTS and INDEX buttons are enabled, if the topic (document)
creator has supplied such topics.
Status bar can include the information about
the current status of downloading the document, the name of URL resource
and some additional information essential for the User.
The first thing, useful for the Beginner to
do, is to open the document and navigate through it. JHelper offers to
do it into two ways:
-
from the file residing on the PC or
-
from the URL resource.
In order to open the document from the file,
the User must select the OPEN FROM FILE item from the FILE menu. A standard
MS Windows Open dialog is opened. The User must select the file name and
press the OPEN button.
Figure 2. Open dialog
If the User desires to view the document
residing somewhere in the Internet, the User must select the OPEN FROM
URL item from the FILE menu. A special window, in which the User must specify
the necessary URL resource, appears (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Open from URL resource
window
The desired document is displayed in the
JHelper window, if the User acts properly and specifies the correct location
(see Figure 4). The status bar of the JHelper window shows the status of
document formatting.
Figure 4. JHelper window with the
opened document
The User can scroll the document to read
it. If the document contains hyperlinks, navigation through documents is
very similar to the favorite Internet Browsers - the User should just click
on hyperlinks.
If document is downloaded completely, the
User can print it on the printer.
In order to print the active document,
the User must select the PRINT item from the FILE menu or press the PRINT
button on the toolbar. A standard MS Windows Print dialog is opened (see
Figure 5). The User must select the necessary options and press the OK
button.
Figure 5. Print dialog
An experienced User can easily customize the
following properties for JHelper window (all JHelper windows if there are
several of them):
The User can view the existing JHelper window
properties and change them (if it is necessary) in the Properties window
which is accessible by selecting the PROPERTIES item from the FILE menu.
The Properties window (see Figure 6) consists
of two main parts: one part, in which a list of available properties (categories)
are given, and the second part, in which the corresponding options for
the selected property are shown.
If the User selects the General category,
then the Properties window looks as given in Figure 6.
Figure 6. Properties window
(General category selected)
The General category has the following
contents:
-
Cache size - a number of items (documents)
in the memory. The User must choose the value within the range 1 - 999,
taking into the consideration if a bigger number is selected, then the
work of the application is slower.
-
History size - a number of items (documents)
to store in the history list. The User must select the value within the
range 1 - 99, keeping into the mind - if a bigger number is selected, then
the work of the application is slower as more resources are used.
-
Rendering speed/system speed options
selection according to the situation. The three parameters are available:
-
"Fast rendering, slow system".
-
"Normal rendering, normal system".
-
"Slow rendering, fast system".
It is recommended to use "Normal rendering,
normal system".
The Display category selection allows
the User to specify Color and Font settings as well as other preferences
definition (see Figure 7).
Figure 7. Properties window (Display
properties selected)
To specify the Color:
-
The User can choose the item, for which Color
is being set, from the respective combo box. The following items are available:
Anchor, Highlighted anchor, Visited anchor, Foreground, Background, and
Toolbar.
-
The User can select the color by clicking
on the desired color button. 13 colors are available.
In order to set the Font:
-
The User can select the default and fixed-pitch
font type.
-
The User can choose each of fonts from the
list of nine items: Dialog, SansSerif, Serif, Monospaced, Helvetica, Times
Roman, Courier, DialogInput, ZapfDingbats.
According the necessity, the User can select
the option to underline anchors and/or use background images by checking
the corresponding boxes.
Selection of the Connection category enables
to specify the usage and settings of Proxy server (see Figure 8).
Figure 8. Properties window (Connection
properties selected)
If the User desires to view the documents
from Internet, the Proxy server must be specified. In order to do it, the
User checks the Use proxy server check box, then enters the host
name and port properly. To accept the settings the User presses the OK
button.
The most common error messages and situations
are described in the following way - the text of message or a description
of the situation is given, then a detailed description and possible solutions
come.
01 Nothing happens, when opening the
document from the FILE menu item OPEN.
Description: There can be
two reasons:
1. JHelper is not installed correctly.
2. Network connections are failed.
Possible solutions
1. Re-install JHelper. Follow the step-by-step
directions exactly.
2. Contact the Administrator.
02 Error message "Document <filename>
couldn't be loaded" appears when opening the document from the FILE menu
item OPEN -> FROM FILE.
Description: There can be
two reasons:
1. Document doesn't exist.
2. You are not authorized to read this
document.
Possible solutions
1. Check the document filename.
2. Check your access rights for this document.
03 Error message "Document <filename>
couldn't be loaded" appears when opening the document from the FILE menu
item OPEN -> FROM URL.
Description: There can be
three reasons:
1. Document doesn't exist.
2. You are not authorized to read this
document.
3. Connection via firewall failed - proxy
server properties are set incorrectly.
Possible solutions
1. Check the document filename.
2. Check your access rights for this document.
3. Check the proxy server properties or
contact the Administrator.