System and method for context-sensitive help in a design environment

• US 7,937,688 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneva, Biliana K., Vaidyanathan, Shankar, Kimmerly, Randy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US11/672,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/111
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/33 Intelligent editors

Abstract

An intelligent tool for assisting a developer during the creation or maintenance of software generates an icon when triggered by input. Upon selection of the icon, options are displayed for potential selection. Upon selection of an entry, event associated with the entry are deployed.

Claims

1. A method of providing context-sensitive help using a programming tool that predicts potential next-tasks, the method comprising:

monitoring user actions during source code input;

detecting a triggering event in the monitored user actions;

in response to detecting the triggering event, determining an action associated with the triggering event;

in response to determining the action associated with the triggering event offering to execute the action; and

in response to the user accepting the offer, performing the associated action, wherein an external data source is accessed and wherein sections of code comprising more than a single word are automatically entered into the source code by the programming tool based on information stored in the external data source,

wherein the triggering event comprises entering code that when executed makes a connection to an external database and wherein the associated action comprises generating code to retrieve a dataset specified in the entered code and to close the external database and entering the generated code into the source code, wherein the triggering event further comprises entering code in the source code that specifies a password for accessing the external database, and wherein the associated action comprises hiding the password.

2. A computer-readable storage medium for providing context-sensitive help using a programming tool that predicts potential next-tasks, the computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions comprising:

monitoring user actions during source code input;

detecting a triggering event in the monitored user actions;

in response to detecting the triggering event, determining an action associated with the triggering event;

in response to determining the action associated with the triggering event offering to execute the action; and

in response to the user accepting the offer, performing the associated action, wherein an external data source is accessed and wherein sections of code comprising more than a single word are automatically entered into the source code by the programming tool based on information stored in the external data source,

wherein the triggering event comprises entering code that when executed makes a connection to an external database and wherein the associated action comprises generating code to retrieve a dataset specified in the entered code and to close the external database and entering the generated code into the source code, wherein the triggering event further comprises entering code in the source code that specifies a password for accessing the external database, and wherein the associated action comprises hiding the password.

3. A system for providing context-sensitive help using a programming tool that predicts potential next-tasks comprising:

a processor;

memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions comprising;

monitoring user actions during source code input;

detecting a triggering event in the monitored user actions;

in response to detecting the triggering event, determining an action associated with the triggering event;

in response to determining the action associated with the triggering event offering to execute the action; and

in response to the user accepting the offer, performing the associated action, wherein an external data source is accessed and wherein sections of code comprising more than a single word are automatically entered into the source code by the programming tool based on information stored in the external data source,

wherein the triggering event comprises entering code that when executed makes a connection to an external database and wherein the associated action comprises generating code to retrieve a dataset specified in the entered code and to close the external database and entering the generated code into the source code, wherein the triggering event further comprises entering code in the source code that specifies a password for accessing the external database, and wherein the associated action comprises hiding the password.