Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-06-12
dela Torre, Crescelle N. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C717S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246404
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to providing context sensitive help functions for a computer software application. Specifically, the present invention pertains to automatically generating code for integrating context-sensitive help functions into a computer software application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When computer software is created, it is desirable to create a set of help functions that are included with the computer software. The help functions explain various components of the computer software using text and graphics. They can be invoked by a user when the user has a question about the functionality of a particular computer software component or encounters a problem with the computer software during use.
Many computer operating systems such as Windows 95 and Windows NT by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. and others use dialog boxes in windows created by the operating system to display help information. A dialog box is a pop-up box which displays additional information for a user and typically contains one or more graphical objects such as graphical buttons that can be selected. Several windowed operating systems such as Windows 95 and Windows NT also provide a context-sensitive help system. A context-sensitive help system allows a user to select with a mouse or other pointing device a graphical control in a dialog box, and then with another selection request help on the graphical control. A graphical control is typically a graphical button, pull-down menu, or other graphical entity that accepts input from a user (e.g., a “click” from a mouse). An example of a graphical control is an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) control or an ActiveX control known to those skilled in the art. For more information on OLE controls see
OLE Controls Inside Out
, by Adam Denning, Microsoft Press, Redmond, Wash., 1995. In response to the selection of a graphical control, an operating system help system typically displays a pop-up box containing help information that describes the control's purpose.
During the software development process, help functions are written by help writers, and the remaining portions of the computer software are created by software developers. Help writers are typically responsible for creating the information source files which contain the help information, and assigning unique help function identifiers to help components being developed. The software developers use the help information and help function identifiers as they create a computer software application. In some instances, the help writers and the software developers may be the same individuals.
Incorporating help functions into computer software presents some difficult problems. The graphical controls used within the computer software may change many times during the software development process. Some controls may be added or changed while other controls are removed. The help writers and software developers have to coordinate these changes. The help writers have to update existing help information and help function identifiers based on the changes to the graphical controls. In addition, help writers may have to create additional help information and help function identifiers for the new controls. Software developers also have to update their source code to reflect any changes made by the help writers. If the help writers or software developers do not coordinate their changes, the help functions in the computer software created will not function properly.
Another problem with creating help functions is that multiple help functions may be created that use the same non-unique help identifier for a single graphical control. In this case, the help system will not be able to display correct help information for such a control. Yet another problem associated with creating help functions is that certain graphical controls require special handling. For example, the “OK” and “CANCEL” controls are typically displayed as graphical buttons in a dialog box and have default help information provided by the windowed operating system. As a result, help writers typically do not provide help information or help identifiers for such controls and may not properly coordinate any changes with the software developers that may be required to the corresponding help functions for such controls.
Yet another problem associated with creating help functions is that some dialog boxes with graphical controls cannot be viewed when a computer software application is executed. For example, some dialog boxes may only be displayed if optional software components are installed. As a result, the computer software application may contain help functions and help identifiers that will never be used.
Yet another problem associated with creating help functions is that it is not possible for help writers to immediately test new help functions. The new help functions and the computer software which contain the help functions both have to be completed before any testing can occur.
Yet another problem associated with creating help functions is that complex computer software may contain hundreds of controls in numerous dialog boxes. A help writer may create help information or assign a help identifier to a help function that already exits, while a software developer may use two or more types of help information or help identifiers for the same control. This may create confusion for the help system as well as a software developer trying to use the help functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the problems associated with coordinated programming of context-sensitive help functions and computer software applications are overcome. According to the illustrative embodiment, with information provided to a help editor, the help editor automatically generates a set of files for integrating context sensitive help functions into a computer software application.
A help editor operates upon a computer software application. The computer software application includes software components such as graphical control objects within dialog boxes.
The help editor receives context-sensitive help information associated with the software components. The context-sensitive help information can replace default help information for a software component.
The help editor then creates help development files for integrating context-sensitive help functions for software components into the computer software application. According to the illustrative embodiment, the help editor creates header files describing the context-sensitive help information and creates map data structures associating software components with help information. The help editor generates these files from help information and information about the software components. For example, the help editor receives a control object map associating graphical control object identifiers with help information identifiers. The help editor filters the control object map to create one or more map data structures. If the graphical control object identifiers are numerical, the help editor can replace them with mnemonic identifiers that are easier for a programmer to understand.
In the illustrative embodiment, the help editor displays the help development files for editing by a user. The user selectively configures the displayed files, resulting in one or more sets of help development files. For example, the user can select software components for inclusion in or removal from the sets of help development files. The user can divide a set of help development files into separate sets of help development files. When the software components are graphical controls of dialog boxes, the user can specify a set of help development files for each dialog box, or for selected dialog boxes. The user can specify that the help development files include information for integrating context-sensitive help functions for all software components or for all non-default software components. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, inst
Feigner Randall James
Walden Ralph Everett
dela Torre Crescelle N.
Klarquist Sparkman Campbell & Leigh & Whinston, LLP
Microsoft Corporation
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