Answer wizard drop-down control
First Claim
1. A method for providing computer software help utility, comprising the steps of:
- providing an edit control;
receiving a search string at the edit control;
searching a database for answers responsive to the search string;
displaying a list of potential answers responsive to the 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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for providing computer software help utility, comprising the steps of:
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providing an edit control;
receiving a search string at the edit control;
searching a database for answers responsive to the search string;
displaying a list of potential answers responsive to the 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for providing computer software help utility, comprising the steps of:
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providing an edit control on the tool bar of a software application data entry and editing window;
receiving a search string at the edit control;
searching a database for answers responsive to the search string;
displaying a list of potential answers responsive to the search string;
allowing a user to determine whether an acceptable answer is provided in the list of potential answers;
if an acceptable answer is not provided in the list of potential answers, receiving a refined search string at the edit control, and searching the database for more answers responsive to the refined search string;
displaying a second list of potential answers responsive to the refined search string;
selecting, in response to user input, one of the potential answers from the second list of potential answers; and
displaying a help text responsive to selecting one of the potential answers. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:
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providing an edit control;
receiving a search string at the edit control;
searching a database for answers responsive to the search string;
displaying a list of potential answers responsive to the search string;
selecting, in response to 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for providing computer software help utility, comprising:
a software module operative to provide an edit control on the tool bar of a software application data entry and editing window;
to receive a search string at the edit control;
to search a database for answers responsive to the search string;
to display a list of potential answers responsive to the search string;
to allow a user to determine whether an acceptable answer is provided in the list of potential answers;
if an acceptable answer is not provided in the list of potential answers, to receive a refined search string at the edit control, and to search the database for more answers responsive to the refined search string;
to display a second list of potential answers responsive to the refined search string;
to allow a user to select one of the potential answers from the second list of potential answers; and
to display a help text responsive to selecting one of the potential answers. - View Dependent Claims (12)
Specification