Multi-level quick click icon hierarchy and/or activation

A computer system comprising:

• a bus;
• a display device coupled to said bus;
• a memory unit coupled to said bus;
• and
• a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for executing a method of helping a user perform tasks in software, said method comprising:
• rendering on said display device a first plurality of graphic elements and a second plurality of graphic elements, wherein said first and second pluralities of graphic elements are visibly displayed at the same time regardless of which of said tasks is being performed and regardless of whether said first and second pluralities of graphic elements are active or inactive, wherein user selection of an element 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 an action;
• making a first portion of said first plurality of graphic elements active;
• and
• making a second portion of said second plurality of graphic elements active in response to user selection of an element from said first plurality of graphic elements, wherein said tasks are to be performed in a logical order and wherein said second portion is selected according to said logical order, and wherein said first and second portions of active elements are displayed in an order corresponding to said logical order so that said active elements are presented to said user to guide said user through said tasks in said logical order.

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 first plurality of graphic elements and a second plurality of graphic elements, wherein said first and second pluralities of graphic elements are visibly displayed at the same time regardless of which of said tasks is being performed and regardless of whether said first and second pluralities of graphic elements are active or inactive, wherein user selection of an element 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 an action;
• making a first portion of said first plurality of graphic elements active;
• and
• making a second portion of said second plurality of graphic elements active in response to user selection of an element from said first plurality of graphic elements, wherein said tasks are to be performed in a logical order and wherein said second portion is selected according to said logical order, and wherein said first and second portions of active elements are displayed in an order corresponding to said logical order so that said active elements are presented to said user to guide said user through said tasks in said logical order.

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

• a first plurality of graphic elements and a second plurality of graphic elements, wherein said first and second pluralities of graphic elements are visibly displayed at the same time regardless of which of said tasks is being performed and regardless of whether said first and second pluralities of graphic elements are active or inactive, wherein user selection of an element 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 an action;
• wherein a first portion of said first plurality of graphic elements is active;
• and
• wherein a second portion of said second plurality of graphic elements is made active in response to user selection of an element from said first plurality of graphic elements, wherein said tasks are to be performed in a logical order and wherein said second portion is selected according to said logical order, and wherein said first and second portions of active elements are displayed in an order corresponding to said logical order so that said active elements are presented to said user to guide said user through said tasks in said logical order.