Use this documentation offline

This topic describes how to download an information center and one or more documentation plug-ins to work offline. The PDF versions of this documentation are the other option for working offline.

These instructions require Internet access and a machine to which one 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.

  1. Download the ZIP file that contains the WebSphere help system (information center).

    The WAS contains a link to the WebSphere help system ZIP file: http://www-306.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/was/library/index.html.

  2. Extract the ZIP file contents.

    Unzip the file to the local drive. A folder titled WebSphere Help System is created on the local drive. We can choose to unzip the files to another directory on your local drive.

  3. Read the installation instructions that are contained in the WebSphere Help System/getting_started.htm file.

    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, one can launch the WebSphere help start.bat file to complete the installation.

  4. Launch the \WebSphere Help System/WebSphere file.

    We 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 provided in the getting_started.htm file. Be sure to shut down the local information center after successful installation has occurred.

  5. Download the documentation plug-in ZIP files of your choice.

    Select among multiple product-specific WAS documentation plug-ins available at this Web address:http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/infocenter.html

  6. Extract the plug-in contents.

    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.

  7. Launch the help system.

    Using the WebSphere help start.bat file, launch the help system. Your documentation plug-in is available in your local help system. We can download additional documentation plug-ins from other IBM, or third-party vendors using an Eclipse-based help system like the WebSphere Help System.

 

See Also


the documentation
Printing and PDF versions