I have a help browser setup ready to go.It works pretty good.<Image>\Help
I just need to get a package together for distribution.Here it is running in Gimp-2.8 (Parthas version)



Uploading it now FTP

You can download it here.
www.simplygimp.com/downloads/zip/Gimp-2.8-help.zip
The README is included. Please read it for directions for installing everything correctly.
Inside the zip is a help folder which goes in the share\gimp\2.0\ folder
Inside the zip is a plugins folder - everything inside it goes in your UserFolder\.gimp-2.8\plug-ins folder
Also included is the README and an image (the one above)
Restart Gimp-2.8 and you will be able to go to Help>Help and the dialog will open for the manual.
I have only tested this in Parthas version of Windows 32 Gimp-2.8 install.

Enjoy!

Works in regular 2.8, Vista. I already had 2.6 help set-up using my web browser. All I had to do was copy the help file, I didn't use the plugin files. Context and dialog help work as well.

Yes if you have the help browser running but its for Gimp-2.6 help just copy over those files in
share/gimp/2.0/help/en with the Gimp-2.8 docs i provided in the zip folder (help>en folder), and you should be good to go.

cool! thanks

You are very welcome.
As the Gimp-2.8 help files update (as they are unfinished), i will update this package to include newest additions to the manual.

I get an 'Invalid argument' error when i open help, help preferences indicates i have a local copy installed but i did not install one, do i need to? and from where for 2.8 help.

Did you use the manual i provided?
Look in the share/gimp/2.0 folder and see if there is a help folder in there.
Inside that folder should be an en folder. Inside that are the html file or docs as well as some other files needed for the manual to work.
Make sure to use the plug-in and dll files i provided.
Also what version are you using?

Rod I believe it's all my fault I was a little mixed up with trying to do to many things at once after I deleted my windows, good trick that, but when I get Gimp working properly I'll start again.
Should be soon, I'm resting today to clear my head please forgive any dumb questions.

Okay here is how i fixed it. (sort of)
1) create a new html file named
gimp-concepts-usage.html
2) copy everything in gimp-first-steps.html to that new html file.
place the new file in the share\gimp\2.0\help\en folder and test it.

You will need to scroll down a bit for the basic concepts info.
The problem is when basic concepts is supposed to load it needs the html# reference for the information on that page. I imagine the same goes for paths and using dialog windows.

You will have to just remember to scroll down the page that the help browser loads to find the information you need.
When Gimp is compiled it creates these menu items so the c file for the help-browser would need to be changed to reflect the difference i think.

Paths and using dialogs both need to be updated also. I will get these done asap.

I can not test - need access to several computers.
According to me is not about changing the file name.
Why?
Rod (Your solution would be better) - your set time work - not once.
According to my record in terms of environmental variables.
Graechan?
Portable version (no changes in environmental variables) - whether the installation (as amended)?

Graechan can you test these two
Help>User Manual>Using Paths
Help>User Manual>How to Use Dialogs
Give me the urls (HTML pages), it is looking for?
Then i can fix them.

Help>User Manual> using paths should lead to this file
http://docs.gimp.org/2.8/en/gimp-using-paths.html
Help>User Manual>How to Use Dialogs should open this file
http://docs.gimp.org/2.8/en/gimp-concepts-docks.html

Each system is different.
In XP without setting the environment variable does not help.

I am testing on Windows xp and it seems to work fine for me now.

Sorry Graechan.I didn't mean to confuse you at all.
As you saw before the plugin (when selecting "Basic Concepts" ), would not load the html page because it didn't exist.
So creating the "gimp-concepts-usage.html" page and copying all the data (view src) from gimp-first-steps.html page to it creates the content you need.The plugin will then call the page you created and show it in the help browser window.
The other 2 for Paths and Dialogs have the html pages already available so i have no idea why they do not show in the help browser.The content is there it just isn't showing up for some reason.I will have to look into the code a bit more and get back to you.

Did you try the fix for Basic Concepts link?
Did it work for you?