Switching to locally-installed help for AutoCAD 2011
Issue
The help in AutoCAD 2011 is referencing the online documentation and you need to change it to reference the help installed on your local drive.
Solution
AutoCAD 2011 now uses HTML-based help instead of the Compiled HTML (CHM) files that have been used in previous releases. By default, a request for help, e.g., pressing F1, retrieves help content from an online Autodesk location. These help files are also installed in your local AutoCAD installation folder structure which allows you to force AutoCAD to retrieve help locally instead. This can beneficial when using AutoCAD 2011 on a computer that has no (or restricted) Internet access.
To change AutoCAD 2011 to use the locally-installed help:
Run the OPTIONS command.
Select the System tab in the Options dialog.
Uncheck the "Use online help from Autodesk website when available" option.
Here is an example of accessing online help (default):
Here is an example of accessing locally-installed help after changing the option in the Options dialog:
AUTODESK DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DOWNLOAD OR IMPLEMENT ANY SERVICE PACK OR WORKAROUND, OR ANY OF THE TIPS, TRICKS, EXAMPLES OR SUGGESTIONS OUTLINED IN ANY AUTODESK PRODUCT SUPPORT TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS. TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS, SERVICE PACKS AND WORKAROUNDS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE TO YOU. AUTODESK PROVIDES TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS, SERVICE PACKS AND WORKAROUNDS "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTODESK OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF DATA, OR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, THAT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF IMPLEMENTING ANY SERVICE PACK OR WORKAROUND, OR ANY SUGGESTION OUTLINED IN ANY AUTODESK PRODUCT SUPPORT TECHNICAL DOCUMENT, EVEN IF AUTODESK OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
