System and method of producing user interface information messages

A computer program stored in a computer-readable medium which executes the following steps:

• receiving an action performed on a computer by a user;
• determining if the received action requires generation of an information message;
• selecting an information message to be generated corresponding to said action performed by the user;
• locating a target object corresponding to the action performed by the user, to which the information contained within the information message relates;
• and
• displaying a non-modal notification object which indicates the target object and contains said information message corresponding to said target object wherein said notification object is displayed in persistent manner until dismissed by the user and maintains its position relative to the target object even if the target object is moved, and enables the user to continue interaction with an application program corresponding to said target while said object is being displayed.

A method for notifying a computer user of a computer information message, comprising the steps of:

• determining if a condition associated with a received action requires generation of an information message;
• selecting an information message to be generated corresponding to said condition;
• identifying a target object associated with said action, to which the information contained within the notification message relates;
• displaying a notification object in a first state, which indicates the target object and contains said information message corresponding to said condition, in a persistent manner until dismissed by a user while enabling the user to continue interaction with an application program corresponding to said target object, and
• selectively displaying said notification object in a second, collapsed state having a reduced size relative to said first state, at the same position relative to said target object as in said first state.