Method and apparatus for providing on line help for custom application interfaces
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorScott Martin Heil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus in a data processing system for generating a user guide for an application in which application features are customizable through user input. Application features are identified from a profile for currently available application features. A set of documents is located providing user guide information for the currently available application features. A document is generated containing links to the set of documents. Further, the document may include graphical representations of icons or menu entries associated with application features through the user input.
Claims29
A method in a data processing system for generating a user guide for an application having a plurality of currently available application features, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
- changing, by a user, at least one application feature currently available for the application;
- receiving a request from the user for the user guide;
- locating a set of documents providing user guide information for the currently available application features;
- and
- generating a document containing links to the set of documents, wherein the document is the user guide and provides user guide information for the currently available application features as changed by the user.
A method in a data processing system for generating a customized user guide for an application, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
- changing, by a user, at least one application interface feature currently available for the application;
- receiving a request from the user for the customized user guide;
- generating a page containing links to a plurality of pages associated with application interface features currently available for the application;
- and
- displaying the page on the data processing system, wherein selection of a link for a specific application interface feature from the currently available application interface features links retrieves a page for the specific application interface feature.
A data processing system comprising:
- a bus system;
- a communications unit connected to the bus system;
- a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions;
- and
- a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to change, responsive to input by a user, at least one application feature currently available for an application, receive a request from the user for a user guide, locate a set of documents providing user guide information for the currently available application features, and generate a document containing links to the set of documents, wherein the document is the user guide and provides user guide information for the currently available application features as changed by the user.
A data processing system for generating a user guide for an application having a plurality of currently available application features, the data processing system comprising:
- changing means for changing, by a user, at least one application feature currently available for the application;
- receiving means for receiving a request from the user for the user guide;
- locating means for locating a set of documents providing user glide information for the currently available application features;
- and
- generating means for generating a document containing links to the set of documents, wherein the document is the user guide and provides user guide information for the currently available application features as changed by the user.
A data processing system for generating a customized user guide for an application, the data processing system comprising:
- changing means for changing, by a user, at least one application interface feature currently available for the application;
- receiving means for receiving a request from the user for the customized user guide;
- generating means for generating a page containing links to a plurality of pages associated with application interface features currently available for the application;
- and
- displaying means for displaying the page on the data processing system, wherein selection of a link for a specific application interface feature from the currently available application interface features links retrieves a page for the specific application interface feature.
A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for generating a user guide for an application having a plurality of currently available application features the computer program product comprising:
- first instructions for changing, responsive to input by a user, at least one application feature currently available for the application;
- second instructions for receiving a request from the user for the user guide;
- third instructions for locating a set of documents providing user guide information for the currently available application features;
- and
- fourth instructions for generating a document containing links to the set of documents, wherein the document is the user guide and provides user guide information for the currently available application features as changed responsive to the input by the user.
A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for generating a customized user guide for an application, the computer program product comprising:
- first instructions for changing, responsive to input by a user, at least one application interface feature currently available for the application;
- second instructions for receiving a request from the user for the customized user guide;
- third instructions for generating a page containing links to a plurality of pages associated with application interface features currently available for the application;
- and
- fourth instructions for displaying the page on the data processing system, wherein selection of a link for a specific application interface feature from the currently available application interface features links retrieves a page for the specific application interface feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.