JavaHelp

JavaHelp is a software library which provides a help viewer for Java programs it is embedded into. Its file format is composed of:
 * the "HelpSet", a Jar (i.e. ZIP) file, containing:
 * the HelpSet File, extension .hs, an XML file which serves as the main format for the HelpSet, holding basic information and references to the other files;
 * "map file"(s), extension .jhm, XML files that map topic IDs (strings identifying individual help topics) to HTML content files;
 * a table of contents, in XML (extension just .xml );
 * an index, in XML (extension just .xml );
 * a glossary, in XML (extension just .xml );
 * a number of content pages, in HTML;
 * a "favorites" file storing the user's favorite pages, located at  in their home directory.

JavaHelp has not seen development since 2007, and had ceased working in the newest Java version as of 2018.

The JavaHelp format heavily resembles that of Oracle Help, and, judging from the abundance of information about the early development of JavaHelp, it came first. However, when and how Oracle Help came to resemble JavaHelp is unclear.

Specifications

 * V. 1.0 specification
 * JavaHelp distribution (see ) → jhMaster/JavaHelp/doc/public-spec/V2.0/JavaHelp_V2_0_Specification.pdf

Software

 * Repository

Links

 * Website
 * First website (1999-2008)
 * Second website (2008-2011)
 * Third website (2011-2017)
 * Discussion
 * Mailing list archives
 * Forum (Archived)
 * Forum (Offline, lost)
 * Early whitepaper
 * V. 2.0 user's guide
 * JavaHelp