I have recently purchased the latest version of the Manual,
I'm just wondering if there is a setting to edit so that my Inkscape installation will read the local copy rather than trying to access the web version.

Alternately, where would I need to save the file (and what format) so the Inkscape can read it?

Due to ISP issues (out of my control), the online version is currently unavailable from my PC

I'm on Windows 10 PC and Inkscape is installed to the default path

Hello
What manual have you purchased? Do you have the link of the store or person, from where you purchased?
In which format is it (pdf)?
Maybe you are referring to these:
http://www.informit.com/store/inkscape- ... 0132764148
... If it is in PDF format, I don't see how

- Even if your purchased manual is on HTML format, I think it's not possible call it from Inkscape. I don't remember to have seen that kind of option on any configuration file of Inkscape.
About configuration files:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... Files.html

But maybe I'm being just pessimist.

Anyway, it will be good if You could provide the info asked above.

I'm not sure of what the advantage would be... You can keep the manual open in a second application all the time, if you like. Much faster, and no file format restrictions (unless you're creating an installation for multiple users on a local network).

But if you really want to, edit inkscape-help-manual.inx in your shared extensions directory to open not the website, but file://path/to/your/manual.html
(edit may be lost on upgrade or reinstall). You can also modify the file to not use the launch_webbrowser.py script, but to open an ebook software or pdf reader instead using your own script (e.g. open_manual.py).

@Moini: Thanks for the tips
I have both the PDF and ePub files on my PC ... but I finally decided that the easiest way was to just transfer the Manual to my iPad mini and open it there

I save screen Real Estate (and resources) on Desktop and have no fear of an overwrite on update

Future Suggestion:
Provide an option in Interface Settings where we can provide a path a local ePub/PDF file - that way if the (local) network can't connect to the online Manual (and we have a legal copy of the book) we're not left without guidance

... and we don't have to come here and ask questions that are fully covered in the Manual

@kstingel: That's also a good solution

I'm afraid that as long as the underlying issue - the manual is not free to distribute - isn't resolved, this feature request probably won't be implemented....
The place to submit feature requests (and bug reports) is https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape , in case you'd like to try.