-\section{\class{wxHelpInstance}}\label{wxhelpinstance}
+\section{\class{wxHelpController}}\label{wxhelpcontroller}
+
+This is a family of classes by which
+applications may invoke a help viewer to provide on-line help.
+
+A help controller allows an application to display help, at the contents
+or at a particular topic, and shut the help program down on termination.
+This avoids proliferation of many instances of the help viewer whenever the
+user requests a different topic via the application's menus or buttons.
+
+Typically, an application will create a help controller instance
+when it starts, and immediately call {\bf Initialize}\rtfsp
+to associate a filename with it. The help viewer will only get run, however,
+just before the first call to display something.
+
+Most help controller classes actually derive from wxHelpControllerBase and have
+names of the form wxXXXHelpController or wxHelpControllerXXX. An
+appropriate class is aliased to the name wxHelpController for each platform, as follows:
+
+\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
+\item On Windows, wxWinHelpController is used.
+\item On all other platforms, wxHelpControllerHtml is used if wxHTML is
+compiled into wxWindows; otherwise wxExtHelpController is used (for invoking an external
+browser).
+\end{itemize}
+
+The remaining help controller classess need to be named
+explicitly by an application that wishes to make use of them.
+
+There are currently the following help controller classes defined:
+
+\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
+\item wxWinHelpController, for controlling Windows Help.
+\item wxCHMHelpController, for controlling MS HTML Help. To use this, you need to set wxUSE\_MS\_HTML\_HELP
+to 1 in setup.h, and link your application with Microsoft's htmlhelp.lib. Currently VC++ only.
+\item wxExtHelpController, for controlling external browsers under Unix.
+The default browser is Netscape Navigator. The 'help' sample shows its use.
+\item wxHelpControllerHtml, using \helpref{wxHTML}{wxhtml} to display help. See {\tt wx/helpwxht.h} for
+details of use.
+\item \helpref{wxHtmlHelpController}{wxhtmlhelpcontroller}, a more sophisticated help controller using \helpref{wxHTML}{wxhtml}, in
+a similar style to the Microsoft HTML Help viewer and using some of the same files.
+Although it has an API compatible with other help controllers, it has more advanced features, so it is
+recommended that you use the specific API for this class instead.
+\end{itemize}
+
+\wxheading{Derived from}
+
+wxHelpControllerBase\\
+\helpref{wxObject}{wxobject}
+
+\wxheading{Include files}
+
+<wx/help.h> (wxWindows chooses the appropriate help controller class)\\
+<wx/helpbase.h> (wxHelpControllerBase class)\\
+<wx/helpwin.h> (Windows Help controller)\\
+<wx/msw/helpchm.h> (MS HTML Help controller)\\
+<wx/generic/helpext.h> (external HTML browser controller)\\
+<wx/generic/helpwxht.h> (simple wxHTML-based help controller)\\
+<wx/html/helpctrl.h> (advanced wxHTML based help controller: wxHtmlHelpController)
-NOTE: this documentation is out of date (see comments below).
+\wxheading{See also}
-The {\bf wxHelpInstance} class implements the interface by which
-applications may invoke wxHelp to provide on-line help. Each instance
-of the class maintains one connection to an instance of wxHelp which
-belongs to the application, and which is shut down when the Quit
-member of {\bf wxHelpInstance} is called (for example in the {\bf
-OnClose} member of an application's main frame). Under MS Windows,
-there is currently only one instance of wxHelp which is used by all
-applications.
+\helpref{wxHtmlHelpController}{wxhtmlhelpcontroller}, \helpref{wxHTML}{wxhtml}
-Since there is a DDE link between the two programs, each subsequent
-request to display a file or section uses the existing instance of
-wxHelp, rather than starting a new instance each time. wxHelp thus
-appears to the user to be an extension of the current application.
-wxHelp may also be invoked independently of a client application.
+\latexignore{\rtfignore{\wxheading{Members}}}
-Normally an application will create an instance of {\bf
-wxHelpInstance} when it starts, and immediately call {\bf Initialize}\rtfsp
-to associate a filename with it. wxHelp will only get run, however,
-just before the first call to display something. See the test program
-supplied with the wxHelp source.
+\membersection{wxHelpController::wxHelpController}
-Include the file {\tt wx\_help.h} to use this API, even if you have
-included {\tt wx.h}.
+\func{}{wxHelpController}{\void}
-If you give TRUE to the constructor, you can use the native help system
-where appropriate (currently under Windows only). Omit the file extension
-to allow wxWindows to choose the appropriate file for the platform.
+Constructs a help instance object, but does not invoke the help viewer.
-TODO: no longer derive this from a client class, but maybe have several implementations,
-e.g. wxHelpInstanceBase, wxHelpInstanceDDE, wxHelpInstanceWinHelp, wxHelpInstanceHTML, etc.
+\membersection{wxHelpController::\destruct{wxHelpController}}
-\wxheading{Derivation}
+\func{}{\destruct{wxHelpController}}{\void}
-TODO
+Destroys the help instance, closing down the viewer if it is running.
-\wxheading{See also}
+\membersection{wxHelpController::Initialize}\label{wxhelpcontrollerinitialize}
-TODO
+\func{virtual void}{Initialize}{\param{const wxString\& }{file}}
-\latexignore{\rtfignore{\wxheading{Members}}}
+\func{virtual void}{Initialize}{\param{const wxString\& }{file}, \param{int}{ server}}
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::wxHelpInstance}
+Initializes the help instance with a help filename, and optionally a server socket
+number if using wxHelp (now obsolete). Does not invoke the help viewer.
+This must be called directly after the help instance object is created and before
+any attempts to communicate with the viewer.
-\func{}{wxHelpInstance}{\param{bool}{ native}}
+You may omit the file extension and a suitable one will be chosen. For
+wxHtmlHelpController, the extensions zip, htb and hhp will be appended while searching for
+a suitable file. For WinHelp, the hlp extension is appended. For wxHelpControllerHtml (the
+standard HTML help controller), the filename is assumed to be a directory containing
+the HTML files.
-Constructs a help instance object, but does not invoke wxHelp.
-If {\it native} is TRUE, tries to use the native help system where
-possible (Windows Help under MS Windows, wxHelp on other platforms).
+\membersection{wxHelpController::DisplayBlock}\label{wxhelpcontrollerdisplayblock}
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::\destruct{wxHelpInstance}}
+\func{virtual bool}{DisplayBlock}{\param{long}{ blockNo}}
-\func{}{\destruct{wxHelpInstance}}{\void}
+If the help viewer is not running, runs it and displays the file at the given block number.
-Destroys the help instance, closing down wxHelp for this application
-if it is running.
+{\it WinHelp:} Refers to the context number.
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::Initialize}
+{\it MS HTML Help:} Refers to the context number.
-\func{void}{Initialize}{\param{const wxString\& }{file}, \param{int}{ server = -1}}
+{\it External HTML help:} the same as for \helpref{wxHelpController::DisplaySection}{wxhelpcontrollerdisplaysection}.
-Initializes the help instance with a help filename, and optionally a server (socket)
-number (one is chosen at random if this parameter is omitted). Does not invoke wxHelp.
-This must be called directly after the help instance object is created and before
-any attempts to communicate with wxHelp.
+{\it wxHtmlHelpController:} {\it sectionNo} is an identifier as specified in the {\tt .hhc} file. See \helpref{Help files format}{helpformat}.
+
+This function is for backward compatibility only, and applications should use \helpref{wxHelpController}{wxhelpcontrollerdisplaysection} instead.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::DisplayContents}\label{wxhelpcontrollerdisplaycontents}
+
+\func{virtual bool}{DisplayContents}{\void}
+
+If the help viewer is not running, runs it and displays the
+contents.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::DisplayContextPopup}\label{wxhelpcontrollerdisplaycontextpopup}
+
+\func{virtual bool}{DisplayContextPopup}{\param{int }{contextId}}
+
+Displays the section as a popup window using a context id.
+
+Returns FALSE if unsuccessful or not implemented.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::DisplaySection}\label{wxhelpcontrollerdisplaysection}
+
+\func{virtual bool}{DisplaySection}{\param{const wxString\&}{ section}}
+
+If the help viewer is not running, runs it and displays the given section.
+
+The interpretation of {\it section} differs between help viewers. For most viewers,
+this call is equivalent to KeywordSearch. For MS HTML Help, external HTML help
+and simple wxHTML help, if {\it section} has a .htm
+or .html extension, that HTML file will be displayed; otherwise
+a keyword search is done.
+
+\func{virtual bool}{DisplaySection}{\param{int}{ sectionNo}}
+
+If the help viewer is not running, runs it and displays the given section.
+
+{\it WinHelp, MS HTML Help:} {\it sectionNo} is a context id.
-You may omit the file extension, and in fact this is recommended if you
-wish to support .xlp files under X and .hlp under Windows.
+{\it External HTML help/simple wxHTML help:} wxExtHelpController and wxHelpControllerHtml implement {\it sectionNo} as an id in a map file, which is of the form:
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::DisplayBlock}
+\begin{verbatim}
+0 wx.html ; Index
+1 wx34.html#classref ; Class reference
+2 wx204.html ; Function reference
+\end{verbatim}
-\func{bool}{DisplayBlock}{\param{long}{ blockNo}}
+{\it wxHtmlHelpController:} {\it sectionNo} is an identifier as specified in the {\tt .hhc} file. See \helpref{Help files format}{helpformat}.
-If wxHelp is not running, runs wxHelp and displays the file at the given block number.
-If using Windows Help, displays the file at the given context number.
+See also the help sample for notes on how to specify section numbers for various help file formats.
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::DisplayContents}
+\membersection{wxHelpController::DisplayTextPopup}\label{wxhelpcontrollerdisplaytextpopup}
-\func{bool}{DisplayContents}{\void}
+\func{virtual bool}{DisplayTextPopup}{\param{const wxString\&}{ text}, \param{const wxPoint\& }{pos}}
-If wxHelp is not running, runs wxHelp (or Windows Help) and displays the
-contents (the first section of the file).
+Displays the text in a popup window, if possible.
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::DisplaySection}
+Returns FALSE if unsuccessful or not implemented.
-\func{bool}{DisplaySection}{\param{int}{ sectionNo}}
+\membersection{wxHelpController::GetFrameParameters}\label{wxhelpcontrollergetframeparameters}
-If wxHelp is not running, runs wxHelp and displays the given section.
-Sections are numbered starting from 1, and section numbers may be viewed by running
-wxHelp in edit mode.
+\func{virtual wxFrame *}{GetFrameParameters}{\param{const wxSize * }{size = NULL}, \param{const wxPoint * }{pos = NULL},
+ \param{bool *}{newFrameEachTime = NULL}}
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::KeywordSearch}
+This reads the current settings for the help frame in the case of the
+wxHelpControllerHtml, setting the frame size, position and
+the newFrameEachTime parameters to the last values used. It also
+returns the pointer to the last opened help frame. This can be used
+for example, to automatically close the help frame on program
+shutdown.
-\func{bool}{KeywordSearch}{\param{const wxString\& }{keyWord}}
+wxHtmlHelpController returns the frame,
+size and position.
-If wxHelp (or Windows Help) is not running, runs wxHelp (or Windows
-Help), and searches for sections matching the given keyword. If one
-match is found, the file is displayed at this section. If more than one
-match is found, the Search dialog is displayed with the matches (wxHelp)
-or the first topic is displayed (Windows Help).
+For all other help controllers, this function does nothing
+and just returns NULL.
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::LoadFile}
+\wxheading{Parameters}
-\func{bool}{LoadFile}{\param{const wxString\& }{file = NULL}}
+\docparam{viewer}{This defaults to "netscape" for wxExtHelpController.}
-If wxHelp (or Windows Help) is not running, runs wxHelp (or Windows
-Help), and loads the given file. If the filename is not supplied or is
-NULL, the file specified in {\bf Initialize} is used. If wxHelp is
+\docparam{flags}{This defaults to wxHELP\_NETSCAPE for wxExtHelpController, indicating
+that the viewer is a variant of Netscape Navigator.}
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::KeywordSearch}\label{wxhelpcontrollerkeywordsearch}
+
+\func{virtual bool}{KeywordSearch}{\param{const wxString\& }{keyWord}}
+
+If the help viewer is not running, runs it, and searches for sections matching the given keyword. If one
+match is found, the file is displayed at this section.
+
+{\it WinHelp, MS HTML Help:} If more than one match is found,
+the first topic is displayed.
+
+{\it External HTML help, simple wxHTML help:} If more than one match is found,
+a choice of topics is displayed.
+
+{\it wxHtmlHelpController:} see \helpref{wxHtmlHelpController::KeywordSearch}{wxhtmlhelpcontrollerkeywordsearch}.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::LoadFile}\label{wxhelpcontrollerloadfile}
+
+\func{virtual bool}{LoadFile}{\param{const wxString\& }{file = ""}}
+
+If the help viewer is not running, runs it and loads the given file.
+If the filename is not supplied or is
+empty, the file specified in {\bf Initialize} is used. If the viewer is
already displaying the specified file, it will not be reloaded. This
member function may be used before each display call in case the user
has opened another file.
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::OnQuit}
+wxHtmlHelpController ignores this call.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::OnQuit}\label{wxhelpcontrolleronquit}
+
+\func{virtual bool}{OnQuit}{\void}
+
+Overridable member called when this application's viewer is quit by the user.
+
+This does not work for all help controllers.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::SetFrameParameters}\label{wxhelpcontrollersetframeparameters}
+
+\func{virtual void}{SetFrameParameters}{\param{const wxString \& }{title},
+ \param{const wxSize \& }{size}, \param{const wxPoint \& }{pos = wxDefaultPosition},
+ \param{bool }{newFrameEachTime = FALSE}}
+
+For wxHelpControllerHtml, this allows the application to set the
+default frame title, size and position for the frame. If the title
+contains \%s, this will be replaced with the page title. If the
+parameter newFrameEachTime is set, the controller will open a new
+help frame each time it is called.
+
+For wxHtmlHelpController, the title is set (again with \%s indicating the
+page title) and also the size and position of the frame if the frame is already
+open. {\it newFrameEachTime} is ignored.
+
+For all other help controllers this function has no effect.
+
+\membersection{wxHelpController::SetViewer}\label{wxhelpcontrollersetviewer}
+
+\func{virtual void}{SetViewer}{\param{const wxString\& }{viewer}, \param{long}{ flags}}
+
+Sets detailed viewer information. So far this is only relevant to wxExtHelpController.
-\func{bool}{OnQuit}{\void}
+Some examples of usage:
-Overridable member called when this application's wxHelp is quit
-(no effect if Windows Help is being used instead).
+\begin{verbatim}
+ m_help.SetViewer("kdehelp");
+ m_help.SetViewer("gnome-help-browser");
+ m_help.SetViewer("netscape", wxHELP_NETSCAPE);
+\end{verbatim}
-\membersection{wxHelpInstance::Quit}
+\membersection{wxHelpController::Quit}\label{wxhelpcontrollerquit}
-\func{bool}{Quit}{\void}
+\func{virtual bool}{Quit}{\void}
-If wxHelp is running, quits wxHelp by disconnecting (no effect for Windows
-Help).
+If the viewer is running, quits it by disconnecting.
+For Windows Help, the viewer will only close if no other application is using it.
projects / wxWidgets.git / blobdiff