Using a Web Browser With the IDE

You can open a web browser from the IDE in two ways:

You can configure the IDE to use either the internal Swing HTML browser or an external web browser. Both types of browsers enable you to view external and local web pages, including online help and Javadoc documentation. An internal browser provides the highest level of integration with the IDE--you can embed an internal browser into another IDE window or an MDI frame.

The preferred browser for use with the IDE is an external browser, which provides more functionality than the internal browser and does not close when you shut down the IDE. At startup, the default browser is the Microsoft Windows or UNIX external browser, depending on your platform.

You set your preferred browser in the Setup wizard, which you open from the Tools menu. JSP also uses this web browser unless you explicitly change its browser setting in the Options window. The JSP & Servlets settings are under the Building node.

You can view the available web browsers and configure their properties in the Options window. Expand the IDE Configuration node, expand Server and External Tool Settings, and expand Web Browsers.

For step-by-step instructions on using a web browser in the IDE, see:

Setting a Home Page for the Web Browser
Creating a Bookmark for a Web Page
Setting a Proxy
Configuring HTTP Server Options
Specifying the Default Web Browser

For information on the available web browsers and their properties:

External Browser
Swing HTML Browser

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