Byron D Dazey

US Patent:

57154155, Feb 3, 1998

Filed:

Jun 5, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/660696

Inventors:

Byron Dazey - Woodinville WA
Christopher R. Jones - Seattle WA
Paul C. Elliott - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

395338

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.