Bring back the help panel!

I have not even used FME 2016 (waiting for the Desktop/Server combination) but I loved the way the Help was structured.

So Yes, Keep the Help panel inside FME Workbench!

@rollo @erik_jan the reason we moved it out was that whenever you are in a dialog you can't scroll the embedded help window. So our thinking was that this was too annoying. But I can be convinced that it is too annoying to be switching the help all the time in the external window too. In terms of size, the external window can be made small. But maybe the lack of scrollability of the embedded one wasn't an issue?

Also: I can't get help for my own custom transformers anymore, unless I really open/edit them of course. That also is a bit annoying, especially if it's an old one that I haven't used for a long time.

Good comments all. We're looking at what we can do for FME 2016.1. Definitely the custom xformer help is a regression and we'll fix that @sander_s. We'll also work to tighten up the use of realestate, and stop the flicking when you click from xformer to xformer. The slowness to load is because our help is now HTML5, but we will look to see how we can make that better too. Thanks for the feedback.

Now that I have installed FME 2016, I think the new help is good if you have multiple screens or a large screen.

For use on my laptop I have FME full screen and then the Help will be annoying as you have to switch screens all the time.

So a setting in the FME Options that would allow you to choose would be the best.

A workaround to get the Custom transformers help is to open help and then switch in workbench to another transformer and back again. Then the help of the custom transformer is displayed.

+1 for the fact that it certainly needs some more thought, but not necessarily a backward step. A modal dialog is certainly a good thing, but its not quite there, certainly the old window seemed to react a lot faster.

Is it possible to dock it to the main application window and tab that, like it was before, or does the new approach make that a challenge? It strikes me making it dockable would solve quite a few of the current frustrations.

I'd honestly never noticed the lack of scrollability! You're right though - I can see the logic.

I'm finding the biggest frustration now is the need to click twice to get to the help (open the transformer, then click Help). I mainly use it to remind myself which is which out of "Base" and "Candidate" for each transformer, so I normally just need it to know which way round to wire the transformer.

Hi all,

I also was very surprised and disappointed to see that the Help panel was gone in FME2016.

Ok that we can put it in another window, but the ability to have it in workbench pannel is primordial for me...

I hope you will bring back this feature!

Thank you.

Rémi

i've only started using FME at 2016 version but i followed the tutorial for the 2015 release. the old style help looked like it was much better than the new version. seem to load significantly quicker which is really useful when you're new to the software and trying to learn what all the transformers do.

The new help dialog/application seems to hold FME license in use even after closing workbench, which I think it shouldn't. I also miss the old help panel, maybe there's a way to have both the old panel and new external window available and let everybody choose their favourite?

I agree! Please Safe Software, bring back the help panel. Our new beginners need it. Some organizations don't have access to Internet, so they need it definitely.

Yep, I just started using FME 2016.1 and I was really disappointed that the old offline help was gone! Some of us are working in isolated environment where there is no access to internet. So please, don't make our work more difficult.

I think all pre FME 2016-users I have spoken with have mentioned this as a "bad decission" Making it "dockable and undocable" would be great - even before FME 2017

Just wanted to tell everyone that the dockable help is back and better than ever, just like Jason Bourne, in FME 2016.1.1. Would love your feedback on the beta -- visit www.safe.com/beta to download and try it. We plan to release soon.

Welcome back! Just tried it and also fixed is the Custom Transformer problem. Great news and a very welcome fix. Now all we need is a dockable and modal help window consolidated (rather than both options). Users eh, they want the moon on a stick! Cheers @daleatsafe for the update.

I am very excited to see that!

Okay, the help panel is back and better than ever in FME 2016.1.1 (and FME 2017 betas). Visit http://www.safe.com/downloads and enjoy all that instant help. Thanks for the feedback and for keeping us (me) humble!