cpython/Mac/OSX/Doc

In this directory you can build the Python documentation in a form that
is suitable for access with Apple Help Viewer. This will enable the
"Python Documentation" menu entries in the MacPython IDE Help menu.

Unfortunately the procedure to build the docs is not very streamlined.

First, edit setup.py. At the top, edit MAJOR_VERSION and MINOR_VERSION,
and check that DESTDIR makes sense. The documentation will be installed
inside PythonIDE.app.

In DocBuild.initialize_options, set self.download to True if you want to
download the docs. Set it to False if you want to build the docs from
the source tree, but this requires LaTex and lots of other stuff.
Doable, but not easy.

Second, if you want to download the docs you may need to do a couple
more edits. The way the docs are packaged will often change between
major releases. Fiddle DocBuild.downloadDocs to make it do the right
thing (download the docs from python.org, unpack them, rename the
directory to "build/html").

After these edits you should be ready to roll. "pythonw setup.py build"
should download and unpack (or build) the docs. Next, it will do some
magic to make the docs indexable. Finally, it will run the Apple Help
Indexing Tool. (This last step is the reason you must use "pythonw" as
opposed to "python"). Usually it will time out while waiting for AHIT to
do its work. Wait until AHIT is done.

Now you're ready to install with "python setup.py install".

After this is done test your work. Fire up PythonIDE, and check that
Help->Python Documentation brings up the documentation in the Help Viewer.
Also open an IDE edit window, type something like "import sys", select
"import", and use Help->Lookup in Python Documentation to check that the
index has been generated correctly.