Computer application with help pane integrated into workspace
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for executing a computer application in a graphical user interface windowing environment, comprising the following steps:
- presenting a workspace within a graphical window; and
displaying help content in a help pane as part of the graphical window without opening a separate graphical window to display the help content and without losing focus to the graphical window the help pane being displayed irrespective of pointer position.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computing device has a processor, a display, and an operating system which executes on the processor to provide a graphical user interface environment capable of presenting graphical windows on the display. A computer application runs on the operating system and is presented within a graphical application window of the graphical user interface. The computer application is configured to present a help pane for showing help content to a user without requiring the user to open a separate graphical window to show the help content. The help pane is positioned adjacent to a workspace to assist the user with context specific, step-by-step, instructions. When the help pane is active, the focus remains on the application and on the work being performed in the workspace, as opposed to being transferred to the help pane. As a result, the user can directly implement the instructions provided in the help pane without having to remember to switch the focus between the help and application, as is required when separate help windows are used.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for executing a computer application in a graphical user interface windowing environment, comprising the following steps:
-
presenting a workspace within a graphical window; and displaying help content in a help pane as part of the graphical window without opening a separate graphical window to display the help content and without losing focus to the graphical window the help pane being displayed irrespective of pointer position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
- 11. In a graphical window containing a computer application, a computer-implemented method for offering help content comprises the step of partitioning the graphical window to define a help pane for showing the help content without opening a separate graphical window to show the help content and without losing focus to the graphical window the help pane being displayed irrespective of pointer position.
-
20. A computer-implemented method for executing a computer application in a graphical user interface windowing environment, comprising the following steps:
-
presenting the computer application in a graphical window; displaying help content in a help pane as part of the graphical window without opening-a separate graphical window to display the help content; and subsequently converting the help pane to a separate graphical window independent of the graphical window containing the application. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A computing device comprising:
-
a processor; a display; an operating system executing on the processor which provides a graphical user interface environment capable of presenting at least one graphical window on the display and a pointer; and an application running on the operating system and being presented within an application window of the graphical user interface, the graphical application window having a help pane for showing help content without opening a separate graphical window to show the help content and without losing focus to the graphical window, the help pane being displayed irrespective of where the pointer is positioned. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification