g.manual does not run html browser in background

[annakrat]

In grass 6 g.manual doesn't launch html browser in the background so it is blocking the gui (or command line). In grass 7 it doesn't block anything.

In grass 7, python script calls os.execlp. In grass 6, bash script is used. If I add '&' at the end of the command (in scripts/g.manual/g.manual, line 91) like this:

"$GRASS_HTML_BROWSER" file://"$DOC_BASE/$1.html" &

it works for me (using Ubuntu). I guess this not solution for all platforms?

[wenzeslaus]

Workaround implemented using ​webbrowser from Standard Python Library (only for start up page and location wizard, r52953). System default web browser is started.

import webbrowser 
webbrowser.open(filePath)

Alternatively for wxGUI it would be possible to use ​wxLaunchDefaultBrowser.

[hamish]

We tried that in the past, but had to revert it as it failed for people using a text based html browser like lynx or links.

search the ML for earlier discussion of the issue.

[neteler]

Is this still an issue in G6?

[annakrat]

Replying to neteler:

Is this still an issue in G6?

Quickly tested help from start up dialog, location wizard, main gui, modeler - works ok.