Open the help in the down area (pager)

app/package.json

@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
     "@jupyterlab/hub-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/imageviewer": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/imageviewer-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
+    "@jupyterlab/inspector-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/javascript-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/json-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/logconsole-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
@@ -160,6 +161,7 @@
     "@jupyterlab/htmlviewer-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/hub-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/imageviewer-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
+    "@jupyterlab/inspector-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/javascript-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/json-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/logconsole-extension": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
@@ -292,6 +294,9 @@
         "@jupyterlab/htmlviewer-extension": true,
         "@jupyterlab/hub-extension": true,
         "@jupyterlab/imageviewer-extension": true,
+        "@jupyterlab/inspector-extension": [
+          "@jupyterlab/inspector-extension:inspector"
+        ],
         "@jupyterlab/lsp-extension": true,
         "@jupyterlab/mainmenu-extension": [
           "@jupyterlab/mainmenu-extension:plugin"
@@ -403,6 +408,7 @@
       "@jupyterlab/fileeditor",
       "@jupyterlab/htmlviewer",
       "@jupyterlab/imageviewer",
+      "@jupyterlab/inspector",
       "@jupyterlab/lsp",
       "@jupyterlab/mainmenu",
       "@jupyterlab/markdownviewer",

docs/source/pager.md

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# Contextual Help (Pager)
+
+The Contextual Help (also known as the pager) is a feature that displays help documentation and function signatures when you request them in a Jupyter Notebook cell. It provides a convenient way to view documentation without leaving your current context.
+
+```{image} ./_static/images/pager.png
+
+```
+
+## What is the Pager?
+
+The pager displays help content such as:
+
+- Function docstrings and signatures
+- Object information
+- Module documentation
+- Any content typically shown by Python's `help()` function or IPython's `?` and `??` operators
+
+## Default Behavior
+
+By default, the notebook pager opens documentation in the **down area** at the bottom of the notebook interface. This behavior is inherited from the classic Jupyter Notebook interface and keeps your main notebook view uncluttered while providing easy access to help content.
+
+When you use help commands like:
+
+```ipython
+# Show help for a function
+help(print)
+
+# IPython magic for quick help
+print?
+
+# Detailed help with source code
+print??
+```
+
+The documentation will appear in the collapsible panel at the bottom of the notebook page.
+
+## Configuration Options
+
+You can customize the pager behavior through the notebook settings:
+
+### Opening Help in Different Areas
+
+The pager behavior is controlled by the `openHelpInDownArea` setting:
+
+- **`true` (default)**: Help content opens in the down area
+- **`false`**: Help content displays inline within the cell output (like in JupyterLab)
+
+### How to Change the Setting
+
+1. **Via Settings Menu**: Navigate to Settings → Advanced Settings Editor → Notebook
+2. **Via Configuration File**: Add the following to your notebook configuration:
+
+```json
+{
+  "@jupyter-notebook/notebook-extension:pager": {
+    "openHelpInDownArea": false
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Switching to the JupyterLab behavior
+
+If you prefer the JupyterLab approach where help content appears inline with your cell outputs, set `openHelpInDownArea` to `false`. This will display help content directly below the cell that requested it, similar to regular cell output.
+
+Each mode has its own benefits.
+
+**With the Down Area (Default)**
+
+- **Persistent**: Help content stays visible while you work on other cells
+- **Organized**: Keeps main notebook area clean and focused
+- **Familiar**: Matches classic Jupyter Notebook behavior
+
+**Inline Output**
+
+- **Contextual**: Help appears directly where you requested it
+- **JupyterLab-compatible**: Familiar to JupyterLab users
+- **Self-contained**: Each cell's help is contained within its output

docs/source/user-documentation.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Use this page to navigate to different parts of the user documentation.
 notebook
 ui_components
 notebook_7_features
+pager
 examples/Notebook/examples_index.rst
 custom_css
 configuring/plugins

packages/application-extension/schema/shell.json

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
       "title": "Customize shell widget positioning",
       "description": "Overrides default widget position in the application layout",
       "default": {
+        "Inspector": { "area": "down" },
         "Markdown Preview": { "area": "right" },
         "Plugins": { "area": "left" }
       }
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@
           "type": "object",
           "properties": {
             "area": {
-              "enum": ["left", "right"]
+              "enum": ["left", "right", "down"]
             }
           },
           "additionalProperties": false

packages/application/src/shell.ts

@@ -305,6 +305,12 @@ export class NotebookShell extends Widget implements JupyterFrontEnd.IShell {
         } else if (area === 'right') {
           this.expandRight(id);
         } else if (area === 'down') {
+          const tabIndex = this._downPanel.tabBar.titles.findIndex(
+            (title) => title.owner.id === id
+          );
+          if (tabIndex >= 0) {
+            this._downPanel.currentIndex = tabIndex;
+          }
           this._downPanel.show();
           widget.activate();
         } else {

packages/notebook-extension/package.json

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
     "@jupyterlab/apputils": "~4.6.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/cells": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/docmanager": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
+    "@jupyterlab/inspector": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/notebook": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/settingregistry": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",
     "@jupyterlab/translation": "~4.5.0-alpha.3",

packages/notebook-extension/schema/pager.json

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "title": "Jupyter Notebook Pager Settings",
+  "description": "Settings for controlling pager/help display behavior",
+  "properties": {
+    "openHelpInDownArea": {
+      "type": "boolean",
+      "title": "Open Help in Down Area",
+      "description": "Whether to open help/documentation in the inspector panel (down area) or display it inline in the cell output",
+      "default": true
+    }
+  },
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "type": "object"
+}