Answer wizard drop-down control

Abstract

An answer wizard drop-down menu for providing users quick and efficient access to help utilities, including help files and wizards provided by a software application, is provided. An answer wizard drop-down edit control and interface is located in a conspicuous, but non-obstructive location on a software application graphical interface. An edit control allows a user to enter a question regarding some desired functionality of the application. In response to the user's question, the user is presented with a list of potential answers to the question in a drop-down menu. If the user finds an acceptable answer to her question in the list of potential answers, the user selects the acceptable answer, and an appropriate help file application is launched to provide the user assistance with the functionality about which the user has questions. Each question so asked by the user is saved in a list of most recently used items. The next time the user needs assistance, the user may open the list of most recently used items to obtain a list of the most recent questions previously asked by the user. The user may then, if desired, select one of the previously asked questions and initiate another search on the selected question to obtain the list of potential answers. The user may then select a new or previously viewed answer to return to the help file application.

1 . A method for providing computer software help utility, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a text entry area;    receiving a first search string at the text entry area;    if the first search string is related to a second search string stored in a list of most recently used search strings, then: 
 retrieving the second search string from the list of most recently used search strings, and  
 displaying the second search string;  
   searching a database for answers responsive to the first search string;    displaying a first set of one or more potential answers responsive to the first search string;    selecting, in response to a user input, one of the potential answers responsive to the search string; and    displaying a help text responsive to selecting one of the potential answers.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a text entry area, further includes, providing a text entry area as part of a tool bar of a software application window.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
 allowing the user to determine whether an acceptable answer is provided in the displayed set of one or more potential answers;    if an acceptable answer is not provided, allowing the user to refine the first search string; and    searching the database for more answers responsive to the refined search string;    displaying a second set of one or more potential answers responsive to the refined search string; and    wherein the step of selecting one of the potential answers responsive to the search string includes selecting one of the potential answers from the second set of one or more potential answers.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 replacing the first search string with the second search string;    searching for answers responsive to the second search string; and    displaying a second set of one or more potential answers responsive to the second search string.    
   
   
       5 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of: 
 providing a text entry area;    receiving a first search string at the text entry area;    if the first search string is related to a second search string stored in a list of most recently used search strings, then: 
 retrieving the second search string from the list of most recently used search strings, and  
 displaying the second search string;  
   searching a database for answers responsive to the first search string;    displaying a first set of one or more potential answers responsive to the first search string;    receiving a selection of one of the potential answers responsive to the search string; and    displaying a help text responsive to the selection of one of the potential answers.    
   
   
       6 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5  having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, wherein the step of providing a text entry area, further includes, providing a text entry area on the tool bar of a software application window.  
   
   
       7 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5  having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, further perform the steps of: 
 allowing the user to determine whether an acceptable answer is provided in the first set of one or more potential answers;    if an acceptable answer is not provided: 
 refining, in response to user input, the search string, and  
 searching the database for more answers responsive to the refined search string;  
   displaying a second set of one or more potential answers responsive to the refined search string; and    wherein the step of receiving a selection of one of the potential answers includes receiving a selection of one of the potential answers from the second set of one or more potential answers.    
   
   
       8 . The computer readable medium of  claim 7  having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, further perform the steps of: 
 selecting, in response to user input, the second search string;    searching the database for answers responsive to the second search string;    displaying a third set of one or more potential answers responsive to the step of searching the database for answers responsive to the second search string;    selecting, in response to user input, one of the potential answers from the third set of one or more potential answers; and    displaying a help text responsive to step of selecting one of the potential answers from the third set of one or more potential answers.    
   
   
       9 . A system for providing computer software help utility, comprising: 
 a processing unit;    a memory in communication with the processing unit, the memory storing instructions executable by the processing unit, the instructions operative to: 
 provide a text entry area on the tool bar of a software application window;  
 receive a first search string at the text entry area;  
 if the first search string is related to a second search string stored in a list of recently used search strings, then: 
 retrieve the second search string from the list of recently used search strings, and  
 display the second search string;  
 
 search a database for answers responsive to the first search string;  
 display a first set of one or more potential answers responsive to the first search string;  
 allow a user to determine whether an acceptable answer is provided;  
 if an acceptable answer is not provided in the first set of one or more potential answers: 
 receive a refined search string at the text entry area,  
 search the database for answers responsive to the refined search string,  
 display a second set of one or more potential answers responsive to the refined search string, and  
 allow a user to select one of the potential answers from the second set of one or more potential answers; and  
 
 display a help text responsive to selecting one of the potential answers.  
   
   
   
       10 . The system of claim  11 , the instructions further operative to: 
 receive a selection of the second search string;    search the database for answers responsive to the second search string;    display a third set of one or more potential answers responsive to the second search string;    receive a selection of one of the potential answers from the third set of one or more potential answers; and    display a help text responsive to the selection one of the potential answers.