GUI modeling of knowledge base in a modeling environment

• US 20080126932A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Elad, Rafi, Keren, Ido
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

This disclosure relates to methods, systems, and software for GUI modeling of at least one contextual help object, potentially representing a knowledgebase, in a modeling environment. For example, software for utilizing contextual help may be operable to identify a business object for an application and associate a contextual help object in a knowledgebase repository to the identified business object. The software may be further operable to automatically configure the front-end of the application using the modeling environment and based on the business object and the contextual help object and, upon activation of the business object, to display just-in-time help to a user of the application via the front-end.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for utilizing contextual help in a modeling environment comprising:

identifying a business object for a modeled application;

associating a contextual help object in a knowledgebase repository to the identified business object;

automatically configuring a front-end of the application using a modeling environment and based on the business object and the contextual help object; and

upon activation of the business object, displaying just-in-time help to a user of the application via the front-end.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a second business object for a second application;

associating the contextual help object to the identified second business object;

automatically configuring the front-end of the second application using the modeling environment and based on the second business object and the contextual help object; and

upon activation of the second business object, displaying just-in-time help to the user of the second application via the front-end.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating the contextual help object to a second instance of the business object;

automatically configuring the front-end of the application using the modeling environment and based on the second instance of the business object and the contextual help object; and

upon activation of the second instance of the business object, displaying the just-in-time help to a user of the second application via the front-end.

4. The method of claim 1, the business object developed by a first development entity and the contextual help object developed by a second development entity.

5. The method of claim 1, the contextual help object associated with one of the following:

a field;

a screen;

an error message;

a business process;

a best practices level; and

a second business object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the just-in-time help to a user of the second application via the front-end comprises displaying the just-in-time help to a user of the second application in help area displayed in the front-end.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically configuring the front-end of the application based on the business object and the contextual help object is based on one or more events, behavior, or run-time parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the business object is identified within the modeling environment and the contextual help object is associated to the identified business object using a toolkit interfacing with the modeling environment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the modeling environment is located on a server separate from the knowledgebase repository.

10. The method of claim 8, upon initiation of the modeling environment, further comprising:

locating a plurality of business objects and a plurality of contextual help objects referenced by the knowledgebase repository; and

automatically presenting at least a subset of the located business objects and at least a subset of the located contextual help objects to a developer.

11. Software for utilizing contextual help in a modeling environment, the software comprising computer readable instructions operable to:

identify a business object for a modeled application;

associate a contextual help object in a knowledgebase repository to the identified business object;

automatically configure a front-end of the application using a modeling environment and based on the business object and the contextual help object; and

upon activation of the business object, display just-in-time help to a user of the application via the front-end.

12. The software of claim 11 further operable to:

identify a second business object for a second application;

associate the contextual help object to the identified second business object;

automatically configure the front-end of the second application using the modeling environment and based on the second business object and the contextual help object; and

upon activation of the second business object, display just-in-time help to the user of the second application via the front-end.

13. The software of claim 11 further operable to:

associate the contextual help object to a second instance of the business object;

automatically configure the front-end of the application using the modeling environment and based on the second instance of the business object and the contextual help object; and

upon activation of the second instance of the business object, display the just-in-time help to a user of the second application via the front-end.

14. The software of claim 11, the business object developed by a first development entity and the contextual help object developed by a second development entity.

15. The software of claim 11, the contextual help object associated with one of the following:

a field;

a screen;

an error message;

a business process;

a best practices level; and

a second business object.

16. The software of claim 11, wherein displaying the just-in-time help to a user of the second application via the front-end comprises displaying the just-in-time help to a user of the second application in help area displayed in the front-end.

17. The software of claim 11, wherein automatically configuring the front-end of the application using the business object and the contextual help object is based on one or more events, behavior, or run-time parameters.

18. The software of claim 11, wherein the business object is identified within the modeling environment and the contextual help object is associated to the identified business object using a toolkit interfacing with the modeling environment.

19. The software of claim 18, wherein the modeling environment is located on a server separate from the knowledgebase repository.

20. The software of claim 18, upon initiation of the modeling environment, further operable to:

locate a plurality of business objects and a plurality of contextual help objects referenced by the knowledgebase repository; and

automatically present at least a subset of the located business objects and at least a subset of the located contextual help objects to a developer.