Quick click icons for workspace flow between views for major subsystems and views within a design tool

A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method of helping a user perform tasks in software, said method comprising:

• rendering a plurality of graphic elements, wherein said graphic elements are visibly displayed regardless of which of said tasks is being performed and regardless of whether said graphic elements are active or inactive, wherein user selection of an element in said plurality of graphic elements with said element active initiates an action in response to said selection while user selection of said element with said element inactive does not initiate said action;
• and
• activating a first portion of said graphic elements and deactivating a second portion of said graphic elements in response to user selection of said element with said element active, wherein said tasks are to be performed in a logical order and wherein said first and second portions are selected to guide said user through said tasks according to said logical order.

A graphical user interface (GUI) for helping a user perform tasks in software, said GUI comprising:

• a plurality of graphic elements, wherein said graphic elements are visibly displayed regardless of which of said tasks is being performed and regardless of whether said graphic elements are active or inactive, wherein user selection of an element in said plurality of graphic elements with said element active initiates an action in response to said selection while user selection of said element with said element inactive does not initiate said action;
• and
• wherein a first portion of said graphic elements are activated and a second portion of said graphic elements are deactivated in response to user selection of said element with said element active, wherein said tasks are to be performed in a logical order and wherein said first and second portions are selected to guide said user through said tasks according to said logical order.