[R] help went away from top emacs window :-(

[Spencer Graves]

      This change has created problems for me using XEmacs 21.4.19 with 
ESS 5.3.1

 > ?help

Error in 
print.help_files_with_topic("c:/progra~1/R/R-2.4.0/library/utils/chm/help") 
:
    CHM file could not be displayed

 > sessionInfo()
R version 2.4.0 (2006-10-03)
i386-pc-mingw32

locale:
LC_COLLATE=English_United States.1252;LC_CTYPE=English_United 
States.1252;LC_MONETARY=English_United 
States.1252;LC_NUMERIC=C;LC_TIME=English_United States.1252

attached base packages:
[1] "methods"   "stats"     "graphics"  "grDevices" "utils"     "datasets"
[7] "base"    

      Restoring the previous default with "options(chmhelp=FALSE)" 
eliminates this problem.  From the time I first noticed this problem 
until just prior to reading this thread, I used RGui to get help.  (It 
wasn't hard to think of this, because 'install.packages' under ESS goes 
waits for me to select a mirror -- but without asking me to select 
such!  Result:  I used RGui instead of Rterm under XEmacs to 
install.packages.) 

      FYI. 
      Thanks for all your great efforts on R.  It has definitely made me 
much more productive, and I believe it is making substantive 
contributions to the improvement of people's quality of life all over 
the world. 

      Best Wishes,
      Spencer Graves

Richard M. Heiberger wrote:
> I agree with both Duncan and Martin.  With Duncan, that this is not
> a Windows FAQ.  With Martin, that it is an FAQ.  I recommend that it
> go on the R FAQ page, prior to the current 7.24.  Here is a draft of the
> question and an outline of the answer.
>
> 7.24 Why does the help information, for example when I type "?lm",
>   show up in (a browser window, an emacs buffer in its own frame, an
>   emacs buffer in the same frame as *R*, in a Windows-style help window,
>   in a new frame inside the Rgui window, in a new frame on the computer
>   screen)?  I really want it in the (choose from the same list).
>
> The answer includes at least the following:
> On Windows, set options(chmhelp=TRUE/FALSE).
> With Java, use help.start()
> In emacs, set the emacs variable ess-help-frame
> ....
>
>
>
>
>
> On the correct default for ESS, I am not sure for myself.
> I can see a case both for help in emacs buffers and in the
> chmhelp window.  This week I am tending to the chmhelp window,
> even when on emacs.
>
> Rich
>
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