# Is the decision to replace the integrated "Help" manual by the online one temporary or permanent?

**URL:** <https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/is-the-decision-to-replace-the-integrated-help-manual-by-the-online-one-temporary-or-permanent/9461>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [December 25, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/is-the-decision-to-replace-the-integrated-help-manual-by-the-online-one-temporary-or-permanent/9461 "2025-12-25T12:25:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AQ2017](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@AQ2017](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/AQ2017)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/is-the-decision-to-replace-the-integrated-help-manual-by-the-online-one-temporary-or-permanent/9461/1 "2025-12-25T12:25:12Z")

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SWI-Prolog, up to version 9 or so, had an excellent integrated “Help” documentation. But, this has now been replaced by an online “Help” documentation, accessible only if there is internet connection. Is the change permanent or only temporary? The previous arrangement was so much more convenient.

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**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/jan/32/4_2.png) [@jan](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/is-the-decision-to-replace-the-integrated-help-manual-by-the-online-one-temporary-or-permanent/9461/2 "2025-12-25T14:50:25Z")

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?? `?- help(Topic).` still works AFAIK, be it differently than it used to long ago.

It is far less convenient than the online version IMO. You can also run your own local[host] online version using [GitHub - SWI-Prolog/plweb: SWI-Prolog web server sources for www.swi-prolog.org](https://github.com/SWI-Prolog/plweb)