Help Viewer topics for some Applications will not display. When the topics (underlined text links in the left panel) are clicked, the text displays for a fraction of a second and then dissapears, or does not display at all. Examples are FileMaker Pro 6.0 and Carbon Copy Cloner.

My system: 10.2.3 running on iMac

Actually my OS X Help Viewer has always been quirky. By now I had expected improvements.

Thanks,

Sam

Exactly my problem!
The only Help Center Apps that work, are Apples.
Non-Apple Apps display; but you can't click their Links to go anywhere.

Does anyone know a fix?
Thanks Much.

Two things to try:

1) Fix disk permissions (use Disk Utility).
2) Quit Help Viewer, then throw out the file com.apple.helpui.plist, in /Users/<YourUserName>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.helpui.plist

I was having the same problem, and by searching these boards, I found that it was caused by the fact that I attempted to adjust the font size in Help Viewer (the commands are under the "Edit" menu). Apparently it's a bug in Help Viewer - adjust the fonts so they're readable, and you can't follow the links. Catch-22. Throw out the preferences (or edit them properly), though, and the font size readjusts and you can follow the links to pages with equally unreadable tiny type.

My guess is that disk permissions is your problem, but if Disk Utility doesn't do the trick, try Step 2.

Evan Evanson

GENIUS!

Did both; it works fine.
Thanks so much.

THANK YOU Evan!!!

Had exactly the same problem (caused by doing exactly the same thing with changing the font size).

Repairing the permissions didn't work. But trashing the plist file worked perfectly.

This should be listed by Apple as a Tech Note.

Me too, oh and i upgraded my processor too. Help works almost instantly now.

Hi Evan,

I'm hoping you have another suggestion.

I'm running 10.3.3
I am trying to view Dreamweaver 2004 MX tutorial.
Apple Help Viewer comes up for an instant, then crashes.

what I have done.
1. fixed permissions with Disk Utility
2. thrown away the help.plist file in library/preferences, etc...
3. restarted

STILL doesn't want to work. Help Viewer still quits.

I've never fooled with the fonts in Help Viewer. I can never keep it open long enough to even check that.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Try this, http://www.macfixitforums.com/php/remlinker.php?Cat=&Entry=3931&F_Board=Forum35&Thread=609975&Main=609463

It fixed my sleepy help Viewer.

Cheers.