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Re: [Mathematica 6] What happened to the 5.2 HELP interface?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg75554] Re: [mg75515] [Mathematica 6] What happened to the 5.2 HELP interface?
• From: Murray Eisenberg <murray at math.umass.edu>
• Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 05:57:39 -0400 (EDT)
• Organization: Mathematics & Statistics, Univ. of Mass./Amherst
• References: <200705040807.EAA04670@smc.vnet.net>
• Reply-to: murray at math.umass.edu

My reaction to the new help system was the same as yours -- initially. 
Yes, the new Documentation Center does take some getting used to, but 
the more I use it the more I like it.  The links seem to be much richer 
than in the old HelpBrowser.  I like the organization of each function's 
"home page".

To search for something, just type it in the text field at the top of 
the main Documentation Center window and either click the >> button to 
its right, or press Enter.

If you type the actual (capitalized) name of a built-in object, you will 
be taken to that object's home page.  If you type a term without the 
characteristic capitalization, it will do the same kind of search as was 
done with the MasterIndex in the old HelpBrowser.  For example, "Plot " 
(no quotes) takes you directly to the page for the function Plot, 
whereas "plot" (no quotes) takes you to the first of 1-105 pages (with a 
total of over 1,000 entries) relating to that term, with the most 
relevant first.

It's really nice NOT having to do the extra step required in the old 
HelpBrowser of first clicking on the desired tab (Built-in Functions, 
Master Index, Demos, etc.).

Nasser Abbasi wrote:
> When I click on help in Mathematica 6, the familiar help interface is all 
> gone.
> 
> Now one gets a new thing called Documentation center.
> 
> I much prefer the old help interface. It was clear, and easy to use. The new 
> one is hard to use and now one does not know where everything else is. There 
> is no place to even enter something to search for. One must start by erasing 
> the string "grid/Mathematica" from the little window at the top to clear it 
> out. Very annoying.  before things where laid out in tabs. Now everything is 
> a link and one must keep clicking on links all the time.
> 
> Is there a way to tell Mathematica 6 to use the old help interface (same 
> help as in 5.2)? I looked as some options and such, but none there. I wish 
> they kept the old help system there for those who want to use it.
> 
> Nasser
> 
> 

-- 
Murray Eisenberg                     murray at math.umass.edu
Mathematics & Statistics Dept.
Lederle Graduate Research Tower      phone 413 549-1020 (H)
University of Massachusetts                413 545-2859 (W)
710 North Pleasant Street            fax   413 545-1801
Amherst, MA 01003-9305

• References:
  • [Mathematica 6] What happened to the 5.2 HELP interface? Can one get it back?
    • From: "Nasser Abbasi" <nma@12000.org>