I cannot think of any alternative way to get the IDL manual(s) you might need for your code conversion other than to download the full IDL program.

There is no cost for the download, the manuals are installed automatically with the IDL program (see the Contents tab page of IDL Online Help), and, if you need to test the behavior of any of the IDL code you are translating, you can test most things in IDL's free "7-minute timed demo mode."

Be aware, too, that IDL has an interface to Java - see 'Programmer's Guides -> IDL Connectivity Bridges' in the Online Help Contents tab page. Thus, you might be able to get the IDL code you have currently to interface to another Java program you are working on without having to translate IDL's source code to Java.

James Jones