n952162 wrote:
>
> Thank you, that was good.
>
> I had /usr/share/gimp/2.0/, now, after (3 hours of) emerging
> gimp-help, I also have help/en/
>
> Unfortunately, I still get the same error msg.
>
> Here are my USE flags:
>
> /* Found these USE flags for media-gfx/gimp-2.10.8-r1://
> // U I//
> // - - aalib                    : Add support for media-libs/aalib
> (ASCII-Graphics Library)//
> // - - alsa                     : Add support for media-libs/alsa-lib
> (Advanced Linux Sound//
> //                                Architecture)//
> // + + cpu_flags_x86_mmx        : Use the MMX instruction set//
> // + + cpu_flags_x86_sse        : Use the SSE instruction set//
> // - - debug                    : Enable extra debug codepaths, like
> asserts and extra output.//
> //                                If you want to get meaningful
> backtraces see https://wiki.ge//
> //                               
> ntoo.org/wiki/Project:Quality_Assurance/Backtraces//
> // + + doc                      : Add extra documentation (API,
> Javadoc, etc). It is//
> //                                recommended to enable per package
> instead of globally//
> // - - gnome                    : Add GNOME support//
> // - - heif                     : Enable support for ISO/IEC
> 23008-12:2017 HEIF files //
> // - - jpeg2k                   : Support for JPEG 2000, a
> wavelet-based image compression//
> //                                format//
> // - - mng                      : Add support for libmng (MNG images)//
> // - - openexr                  : Support for the OpenEXR graphics
> file format//
> // - - postscript               : Enable support for the PostScript
> language (often with//
> //                                ghostscript-gpl or libspectre)//
> // - - python                   : Add optional support/bindings for
> the Python language//
> // + + python_targets_python2_7 : Build with Python 2.7//
> // - - test                     : Enable dependencies and/or
> preparations necessary to run//
> //                                tests (usually controlled by
> FEATURES=test but can be//
> //                                toggled independently)//
> // - - udev                     : Enable virtual/udev integration
> (device discovery, power and//
> //                                storage device support, etc)//
> // - - unwind                   : Add support for call stack unwinding
> and function name//
> //                                resolution//
> // - - vector-icons             : Enable support for vector icons
> (experimental) //
> // - - webp                     : Add support for the WebP image format//
> // - - wmf                      : Add support for the Windows Metafile
> vector image format//
> // - - xpm                      : Add support for XPM graphics format/
>
> I have the feeling that, when gimp didn't see the help/ dir the first
> time, it set something, microsoft-like, in persistant storage, and
> doesn't even try to look locally anymore.
>
> And why it can't access the xml file, which is there, I have no idea. 
> But I see no flags that look related to GIO or GVFS.
>
> You have a lot of flags set... I hope I don't have to set those all,
> just to see if it helps...
>
>

Actually, I think the relevant flags are set.  That made me want to go
look elsewhere based on your idea that it changed a setting when you
didn't have the docs installed.  I went to Preferences, expand Interface
if needed then select Help System.  Here, I have the following checked.
Show tooltips and Show help buttons.  For User Manual drop menu, mine is
set to Use a locally installed copy and below that User interface
language. The rest shouldn't matter. 

See if that helps.  Maybe one of those settings got flipped around.

Dale

:-)  :-)