Interactive tooltip

An interactive tooltip associated with data comprising:

• a first text string that provides a link to help information corresponding to the associated data;
• and
• a second text string that operates as a selection tool for selecting a portion of the associated data;
• wherein the first text string and the second text string are displayed in proximity to an associated data location.

In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a spreadsheet help facility comprising:

• a function database for storing a function name text string, an argument name text string associated with the function name text string, a first link associated with the function name text string, and a second link associated with the argument name text string;
• a recognizer component for recognizing the entry of the function name and for retrieving the function name, the argument name, the first link, and the second link from the function database;
• a first rendering component for matching the function name text string to the first link and for matching the argument name text string to a second link;
• and
• a second rendering component for displaying a tooltip comprising the function text string and the argument text string;
• wherein selecting the function text string with the user interface selection device displays a help topic identified by the first link and wherein selecting the argument text string with the user interface selection device selects a portion of the entered function name.