Help With Java Help

[James Hambrick]

Okay I have used this tutorial to create the help files and the code to call javaHelp.

http://72.5.124.55/developer/technicalArticles/J2SE/Desktop/javahelp/index.html
I have used the code from this example and it worked perfectly, but I seem to be missing something when I try to incorporate it into the program we are making.

Our Main file draws the window and creates the menus including the help menu. here's the code I have

private void helpItemActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                         
      // 1. create HelpSet and HelpBroker objects
     HelpSet hs = getHelpSet("c:\\MyHelp\\Sample.hs"); 
     HelpBroker hb = hs.createHelpBroker();

     // 2. assign help to components
     CSH.setHelpIDString(topics, "top");
     
     // 3. handle events
     topics.addActionListener(new CSH.DisplayHelpFromSource(hb));

    }

public HelpSet getHelpSet(String helpsetfile) {
      HelpSet hs = null;
      ClassLoader cl = this.getClass().getClassLoader();
      try {
        URL hsURL = HelpSet.findHelpSet(cl, helpsetfile);
        hs = new HelpSet(null, hsURL);
      } catch(Exception ee) {
        System.out.println("HelpSet: "+ee.getMessage());
        System.out.println("HelpSet: "+ helpsetfile + " not found");
      }
      return hs;
   }

the problem is that in the getHelpSet(string) funtion hs is returned as null. Displaying the help files should probably be a new class call HelpMenu but I don't know how to then call when the user click the Help Topics menu option.

I hope this makes sense.

[Raghavan Muthu]

Hi James,

the problem is that in the getHelpSet(string) funtion hs is returned as null. Displaying the help files should probably be a new class call HelpMenu but I don't know how to then call when the user click the Help Topics menu option

Though I could not completely go through the entire article at the moment, after looking at the piece of code you had pasted and with your query, the reason for the getHelpSet(string) method returning null could be because the 'hs' object could be null.

This may be due to the fact that the constructor of HelpSet is unable to return a non-null object. Did you check the availability of helpsetfile in the same path where the classloader is looking for?

[salvin francis]

c:\MyHelp\Sample.hs

Is this the file path in your System too ??

When a function returns you null, you have to look into the function's logic and understand why,

Hint: according to your function written below, if hs is null, it would show you something in your console window

Judging by the Question you asked, i suggest you to first try simpler examples

[James Hambrick]

salvin francis wrote:

c:\MyHelp\Sample.hs

Is this the file path in your System too ??

When a function returns you null, you have to look into the function's logic and understand why,

Hint: according to your function written below, if hs is null, it would show you something in your console window

Judging by the Question you asked, i suggest you to first try simpler examples

# URL hsURL = HelpSet.findHelpSet(cl, helpsetfile);  
#         hs = new HelpSet(null, hsURL); 

I have stepped through the code and this is where hs becomes null. c:\MyHelp\Sample.hs is the correct path to the help file I have already checked that.

[salvin francis]

if hs is null, it would show you something in your console window

[salvin francis]

Let me rephrase my self,


Please provide us with the error message Stack trace that appears in your console window so that we can help you better.

And,
I knw its a bit too late to mention it now, but your post title

Help With Java Help

mentions nothing about the problem you are facing
please ensure a brief descriptive title in future

I had already established the fact that the error was in lines 18 - 19 in the code, I am intrested to know that the error is.

[James Hambrick]

I will remember to post and better topic on my next ones. I have gotten help from one of the other programmers working on the project with me. Thanks for the help.