Help Functionality And Graphical User Interface Applications

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for help functionality and graphical user interface applications are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of a method includes the steps of initiating display of a help window associated with a graphical user interface application; in the help window, providing a listing of different selectable modes associated with a function supported by the graphical user interface application; and in response to receiving selection of a given mode in the listing of different selectable modes in the help window, configuring the function according to the given mode as specified by the selection

1 . A method comprising:
 initiating display of a help window associated with a graphical user interface application;   in the help window, providing a listing of different selectable operational modes of a tool provided by the graphical user interface application; and   in response to receiving selection of an operational mode in the listing of different selectable operational modes in the help window, configuring the tool according to the selected operational mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 in addition to providing the listing of different selectable operational modes, displaying a shortcut key and a respective description for each of the different selectable operational modes. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 in the list of different selectable operational modes displayed in the help window, providing a visual indication specifying that the tool is currently configured according to the given mode. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 in response to receiving a command utilizing the tool to carry out an operation with respect to the graphical user interface application, initiating application of the tool to the graphical user interface application according to the given operational mode as specified by the selection. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 initiating display of a help window associated with a graphical user interface application;   monitoring which of multiple functions associated with the graphical user interface application is currently selected; and   for a currently selected function associated with the graphical user interface application, enabling selective i) display of a list of selectable help information links enabling retrieval of available help information associated with the currently selected function and ii) display of a list of application hints describing how to carry out different operational modes associated with the currently selected function.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 displaying at least one selectable link in the list of selectable help information links enabling retrieval of community generated help information form a remote source over a network connection, the community generated help information produced by users of the graphical user interface application; and 
 enabling a respective user to select one of the different operational modes to configure the currently selected function to carry out operations with respect to the graphical user interface application. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 when displaying the list of application hints: 
 receiving input through the graphical user interface application from a respective user activating one of multiple modes associated with the currently selected function; and 
 in response to receiving the input, providing a visual indication in the help window to identify which of the multiple modes as shown in the list of application hints is currently being activated by the respective user for the currently selected function. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 based on the monitoring, automatically populating a data field in the help window to identify the currently selected function associated with the graphical user interface application. 
 
     
     
         9 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory unit that stores instructions associated with an application executed by the processor; and   an interconnect coupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the computer system to execute the application and perform operations of:
 initiating display of a help window associated with a graphical user interface application; 
 in the help window, providing a listing of different selectable operational modes of a tool provided by the graphical user interface application; and 
 in response to receiving selection of an operational mode in the listing of different selectable modes in the help window, configuring the tool according to the selected operational mode. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further enabled to perform the operation of:
 in addition to providing the listing of different selectable operational modes, displaying a shortcut key and a respective description for each of the different selectable operational modes. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further enabled to perform the operation of:
 in the list of different selectable operational modes displayed in the help window, providing a visual indication specifying that the tool is currently configured according to the selected operational mode. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further enabled to perform the operation of:
 in response to receiving a command utilizing the function to carry out an operation with respect to the graphical user interface application, initiating application of the tool to the graphical user interface application according to the selected operational mode. 
 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code comprising:
 program code for initiating display of a help window associated with a graphical user interface application;   program code for, in the help window, providing a listing of different selectable operational modes of a tool provided by the graphical user interface application; and   program code for, in response to receiving selection of an operational mode in the listing of different selectable operational modes in the help window, configuring the tool according to the selected operational mode.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13  further comprising:
 program code for, in addition to providing the listing of different selectable operational modes, displaying a shortcut key and a respective description for each of the different selectable operational modes. 
 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13  further comprising:
 program code for, in the list of different selectable operational modes displayed in the help window, providing a visual indication specifying that the tool is currently configured according to the selected operational mode. 
 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  further comprising:
 program code for, in response to receiving a command utilizing the function to carry out an operation with respect to the graphical user interface application, initiating application of the tool to the graphical user interface application according to the selected operational mode.