The shrinking Softimage box set through the years (Softimage|3D, XSI 5, XSI 7, and finally, Softimage 2012).
One of the changes in the 2012 release is that both the User’s Guide and the SDK Guide have moved to the web. There’s no more compiled help files (chm). Everything is now web-based.
The Setup program doesn’t include the help files, but you can download them if you want a local copy.
The General preferences now include some Help Location settings to tell Softimage where to find the online help:
This is part of a wider initiative across all Autodesk products. Some of the potential benefits include:
- A more dynamic and up-to-date resource (compared to a static copy of the docs shipped with the product). Content can be updated on an on-going basis between releases.
- Documentation can be integrated with other online resources, such as the KB, blogs, and forums, so users can search across all available content.
- Standardization of help systems and formats.
- Reduction of application footprint.
eX-SI 
Just to be sure: “you can download them” means they will be made available in a downloadable form also and doesn’t mean, you’d have to use some kind of website copier to be able to download them (having to do all the hard work yourself)?
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Hi
You’ll be able to download an installer for the help files, so you’ll be able to install a local copy.
Thanks… š
When?
It’s been available for awhile now.
autodesk.com/softimage-documentation