Java documentation in Windows Help format
Searching the Java documentation made easy !
This Web site provides various Java documentation converted to Windows Help format.

WinHelp and HtmlHelp systems provides a structured table of contents, a complete index, and a full-text search feature. Don't remember the parameters of StringBuffer.replace() ? Just type 'replace' in the index, and you get it in a snap. Alternatively, you can browse the table of contents tree to find the StringBuffer class methods. All the documentation is packaged in a single CHM file, and is instantly available, even if you're offline.

It saves me hours of API browsing. I hope it will be the same for you.
The news: June 23, 2009

The J2SE 7 Preview documentation is now available.
Screenshots
Have a look at the screenshots below to get an idea of what the J2SE 5.0 API documentation looks like. HTMLHelp window labels are in French on these images, but on your own machine they will be displayed using the language parameters of your system.
Resources
Mailing list
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Contact
Feel free to for suggestions, support or content requests.

Related links

Unix or MacOS users, xCHM may help you to use HTMLHelp documentation on your machines.

The documentation you want is not here ? Check Javadoc To CHM, a Python script that generates Microsoft HTML Help projects files from a Javadoc documentation. A great tool written by André Burgaud.

See also javadoc2chm by Jan Bareš, another very nice, simple and efficient conversion tool which translates Javadoc documentation to Microsoft Compiled HTML Help file (*.chm).

Note for the curious: The documents available here are not generated by one of these tools, but by a bunch of home brewed Java code.
Download Help Files
Installation instructions
Sorry, no fancy setup. Just create a directory wherever you want on your hard disk, in which you will uncompress the zip file. That's all. To start the help file, double-click the .chm file, and you're done.

You can create a shortcut to the CHM file and put it in the Start menu or on your desktop to have instant access to the documentation. You may then change the shortcut icon to the one provided.

WARNING about running help files from a network drive
In most cases, you can't run CHM files from a network drive: a registration is required since Microsoft issued a security patch for Microsoft Internet Explorer, disabling in general all HTML Help files that are viewed from a network drive.
 
To register the CHM files, and thus starting them from a network drive, you can use HelpMaker CHM Register, a nice free tool from Visacc, the authors of HelpMaker, a free WinHelp and HTMLHelp authoring system.
 
Alternatively, EC Software provides HHReg, a free HTML Help registration utility.
Copyrights and Redistribution policy
Original HTML documentation are Copyright Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved, and are available at Sun java.sun.com site.

This software is free. Permission to use, copy, and distribute this software for non-commercial purposes via the Internet without fee is hereby granted. Permission is not granted for any distribution in the form of CD-ROM. Please for more information.

Sun documentation redistribution policy is applicable to these documents. See this page for more information.
License
You must accept the Sun License Agreement before downloading any of these files. Click here to review this License Agreement.

 I have read and agree to the License Agreement.
Document Format Last update File size Download links
J2SE 7 Preview documentation NEW !  HTMLHelp Jun. 23,2009 57 Mb Link
J2SE 6 documentation  HTMLHelp Jun. 23,2008 54 Mb Link
J2SE 5.0 Documentation  HTMLHelp Oct. 10,2004 41 Mb Link
J2SE 1.4.2 Documentation  HTMLHelp Jul. 3,2003 34 Mb Link
JDK 1.3.1 Documentation  HTMLHelp Mar. 7,2002 23 Mb Link
JDK 1.1.8 Documentation  WinHelp Apr. 16,1999 2.6 Mb Link
The Java Tutorial (March 14, 2008 edition)  HTMLHelp Jun. 23,2008 11.6 Mb Link
Java Enterprise Edition 5 API Documentation  HTMLHelp Feb. 7,2007 5.1 Mb Link
The Java Enterprise Edition 5 Tutorial  HTMLHelp Feb. 6,2007 6.9 Mb Link
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