startDynamicHelp {tools}R Documentation

Start the Dynamic HTML Help System

Description

This function starts the internal help server, so that HTML help pages are rendered when requested.

Usage

startDynamicHelp(start=TRUE)

Arguments

start logical: whether to start or shut down the dynamic help system.

Details

This function starts the internal HTTP server. If option("help.ports") is set to a vector of integer values, startDynamicHelp will try those ports in order; otherwise, it tries up to 10 random ports to find one not in use. It can be disabled by setting the environment variable R_DISABLE_HTTPD to a non-empty value.

startDynamicHelp is called by functions that need to use the server, so would rarely be called directly by a user.

Note that option(help_type="html") must be set to actually make use of HTML help, although it might be the default for an R installation.

If the server cannot be started or is disabled, help.start will be unavailable and requests for HTML help will give text help (with a warning).

Value

The chosen port number is returned invisibly (which will be 0 if the server has been stopped).

See Also

help.start and help(help_type = "html") will attempt to start the HTTP server if required

Rd2HTML is used to render the package help pages.


[Package tools version 2.10.0 ]