Training application for training a user to use a computing application

Abstract

Disclosed are database systems, methods, computer program products, and systems for providing a training application for training a user to use a computing application. In some implementations, a server of a database system provides a training application configured to train a user to use a computing application, the training application associated with a source code file stored in a database of the database system. The server provides an instruction, via the training application, requesting the user to perform a first task within a training environment, the training environment enabling actual or simulated computing events of the computing application to be performed during use of the training application, the first task configured to cause one of the actual or simulated computing events to be performed including a modification to data stored in a database of the database system. The server determines whether the first task has been performed correctly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A database system comprising:
 at least one database storing data objects; and   at least one server having at least one processor capable of executing code configured to cause:
 providing a training application for display at a computing device, the training application configured to train a user to use a computing application, the training application associated with a source code file stored in a database of the database system, 
 providing an instruction via the training application for display at the computing device, the instruction requesting the user to perform a first task within a training environment capable of being generated by the training application and capable of being provided in a user interface of the training application, the training environment enabling actual or simulated computing events of the computing application to be performed during use of the training application, the first task configured to cause at least one of the actual or simulated computing events to be performed including a modification to data stored in a database of the database system, and 
 determining, based on an indication of input by the user via the user interface in relation to the instruction and/or in relation to the data stored in the database, whether the first task has been performed correctly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The database system of  claim 1 , the code further configured to cause:
 providing, responsive to determining that the first task has been performed correctly, a notification via the training application for display at the computing device, the notification indicating that the first task was performed correctly.   
     
     
         3 . The database system of  claim 1 , the code further configured to cause:
 providing, responsive to determining that the first task has not been performed correctly, at least one hint via the training application for display at the computing device, the at least one hint based on the data stored in the database, the data indicating a state of progress in performing the first task.   
     
     
         4 . The database system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one hint describes a series of user actions for performing the first task correctly. 
     
     
         5 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one user interface of the training application is capable of being provided using an inline frame (iframe) of the source code file. 
     
     
         6 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein the training application includes a scoring system configured to assign points to users for correct performance of tasks and configured to provide certifications to users based on the points. 
     
     
         7 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein the training application is configured to: provide a walkthrough for configuring the training environment, instruct the user to configure the training environment as demonstrated by the walkthrough, and determine that the user has configured the training environment as instructed. 
     
     
         8 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein the data stored in the database is associated with a customer relationship management (CRM) record. 
     
     
         9 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein the first task is one of: creating a CRM record, updating a CRM record, deleting a CRM record, and modifying at least one permission associated with a CRM record. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 providing a training application for display at a computing device, the training application configured to train a user to use a computing application, the training application implemented using a database system including a customer relationship management (CRM) database storing a plurality of CRM records, the training application associated with a source code file stored in a database of the database system;   providing an instruction via the training application for display at the computing device, the instruction requesting the user to perform a first task within a training environment capable of being generated by the training application and capable of being provided in a user interface of the training application, the training environment enabling actual or simulated computing events of the computing application to be performed during use of the training application, the first task configured to cause at least one of the actual or simulated computing events to be performed including a modification to data stored in the CRM database of the database system;   receiving an indication of input by the user via the user interface in relation to the instruction and/or in relation to the data stored in the database; and   determining, based on the user input, whether the first task has been performed correctly.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing, responsive to determining that the first task has been performed correctly, a notification via the training application for display at the computing device, the notification indicating that the first task was performed correctly.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing, responsive to determining that the first task has not been performed correctly, at least one hint via the training application for display at the computing device, the at least one hint based on the data stored in the database, the data indicating a state of progress in performing the first task.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one hint describes a series of user actions for performing the first task correctly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one user interface of the training application is capable of being provided using an iframe of the source code file. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the training application includes a scoring system configured to assign points to users for correct performance of tasks and configured to provide certifications to users based on the points. 
     
     
         16 . A computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code configured to cause:
 providing a training application for display at a computing device, the training application configured to train a user to use a computing application, the training application implemented using a database system including a customer relationship management (CRM) database storing a plurality of CRM records, the training application associated with a source code file stored in a database of the database system;   providing an instruction via the training application for display at the computing device, the instruction requesting the user to perform a first task within a training environment capable of being generated by the training application and capable of being provided in a user interface of the training application, the training environment enabling actual or simulated computing events of the computing application to be performed during use of the training application, the first task configured to cause at least one of the actual or simulated computing events to be performed including a modification to data stored in the CRM database of the database system;   receiving an indication of input by the user via the user interface in relation to the instruction and/or in relation to the data stored in the database; and   determining, based on the user input, whether the first task has been performed correctly.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , the code further configured to cause:
 providing, responsive to determining that the first task has been performed correctly, a notification via the training application for display at the computing device, the notification indicating that the first task was performed correctly.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , the code further configured to cause:
 providing, responsive to determining that the first task has not been performed correctly, at least one hint via the training application for display at the computing device, the at least one hint based on the data stored in the database, the data indicating a state of progress in performing the first task.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 database system software stored on a non-transitory data storage medium for execution by at least one server of a database system, the database system software operable to cause:
 providing a training application for display at a computing device, the training application configured to train a user to use a computing application, the training application associated with a source code file stored in a database of the database system, 
 providing an instruction via the training application for display at the computing device, the instruction requesting the user to perform a first task within a training environment capable of being generated by the training application and capable of being provided in a user interface of the training application, the training environment enabling actual or simulated computing events of the computing application to be performed during use of the training application, the first task configured to cause at least one of the actual or simulated computing events to be performed including a modification to data stored in a database of the database system, and 
 determining, based on an indication of input by the user via the user interface in relation to the instruction and/or in relation to the data stored in the database, whether the first task has been performed correctly. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one user interface of the training application is capable of being provided using an iframe of the source code file.