Providing contextually sensitive tools and help content in computer-generated documents

A method of providing contextually sensitive functionality to a computer-generated document, comprising the steps of:

• attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining permissible data content, data types and data structures for the document;
• annotating particular portions of the document with XML structure associated with the permissible data content, the permissible data types, and permissible data structures for the particular portions of the document as defined by the schema;
• associating help content and document tools with XML elements comprising the XML structure;
• assembling a plurality of software components for providing the help content and document tools to the document;
• and
• enabling the document to call the plurality of software components for providing the help content and document tools to the document based on an editing position in the document.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

• attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining permissible data content, data types and data structures for the document;
• annotating particular portions of the document with XML structure associated with the permissible data content, the permissible data types, and permissible data structures for the particular portions of the document as defined by the schema;
• associating help content and document tools with XML elements comprising the XML structure;
• assembling a plurality of software components for providing the help content and document tools to the document;
• and
• enabling the document to call the plurality of software components for providing the help content and document tools to the document based on an editing position in the document.