How to open help doc in a Window rather than browser？

Matlab 2024b。

I have installed help doc and rebooted Matlab.

However, whether I choose to open in a small window or in the help browser, it will only open in the browser.

Like this:

Answer 1

[Bruno Luong]

https://www.mathworks.com/help/install/ug/install-documentation-on-offline-machines.html

[磊]

You didn't understand my question. I have already installed the offline help documentation.

[Bruno Luong]

Strange it works as expected for me: the help opened in small window

[磊]

Yes, I have no problem using the 2023a version. The appeal occurred in 2024b, which is very strange.🤭

[Bruno Luong]

It sounds like a bug of R2024b then.

[Les Beckham]

It's not a bug, it is a design change "feature" which they are apparently proud of, since it is the first change listed in the 2024b release notes.

R2024b

New Features, Bug Fixes, Compatibility Considerations

expand all

Environment

Help Center: View documentation in your system web browser

When you access the documentation from an installed version of MATLAB®, the documentation now opens in your system web browser. Previously, the documentation opened in the Help browser.

As part of this change, the Help browser has been removed. In addition, installed products are no longer indicated in the documentation.

To copy an example and supporting files onto your system and open the example in MATLAB, click the Copy Command button next to the example in the documentation. Then, paste the copied command into the MATLAB Command Window. You also can open some examples directly in your web browser in MATLAB Online™.

[Bruno Luong]

So the "Display in small window" is a left over and not effevtive at all in R2024b Preference Setting?

That why it is confusing for some of us. I did not switch to R2024b yet.

[磊]

OK, I saw the release notes, thank you. I still prefer to view the help document in a small window as before, hahaha.

[Bruno Luong]

Yes removing a user option is not really a progress IMO.

[Craig]

I agree 100% with @Bruno Luong, this "feature" of removing the Matlab Help Browser and using an Internet browser is not at ALL helpful as one can no longer highlight lines in the help browser and click F9 to execute them. This rates right up there with removing the "do not wrap" feature in the editor replace function; removing the current percent zoomed readout box in imtool; and eliminating the zoom/pan icons from figure box toolbar. Perhaps Mathworks has hired too many former Microsoft employees and is now making non-useful "improvements".

Answer 2

[Shin]

This setting is persistent across restarts.

Revert the old help browser instead of opening the documentation in the system browser by entering the following code into the MATLAB console

s = settings;
s.matlab.help.SystemBrowserForDoc.PersonalValue = {};

You can revert this setting by entering the following code into the MATLAB console

s = settings;
if(hasPersonalValue(s.matlab.help.SystemBrowserForDoc))
    clearPersonalValue(s.matlab.help.SystemBrowserForDoc);
end

Please be mindful that the latter option employs undocumented behavior which might change at any point after a product update.

[Bruno Luong]

Good tip, thanks

[Dahu]

it works well, thanks

[Fabre François]

Thank you for the tip !

[Adam Danz]

Just a heads up that this will soon no longer work.

[YAMAN]

it realy works. great thanks

[Duncan Barclay]

@Adam Danz not having is a definite regression - what will be the alternative in the future? My workflow is complex with many different IDEs open (embedded code, FPGA systems etc.) at once and containing help etc. into their own IDEs is a must to keep my head sane. I constantly refer to the MATLAB docs within MATLAB - I do not want to have to switch to a browser - that may have other stuff happening it in.

[Adam Danz]

You're not alone on this issue. See this discussion (under Leonardo's comment) and this poll.

To request an enhancement, contact tech support.

[AnaelG]

Exactly what we needed! Thanks!

[Farshid]

This really mixes things up! I keep many browser windows open for different things. This means that my help docs open in different browser windows. I contacted tech support to express my view as @Adam Danz suggested. I suggest people to do the same.

Thank you @Shin for the help!