Abstracting help calls using a documentation abstraction layer
A documentation abstraction layer facilitates the abstraction of help calls. When help is instigated in a client program, the client program may send a dialog ID to a documentation abstraction layer. The documentation abstraction layer maps the dialog ID to calls for obtaining help dialogs. The documentation abstraction layer generates a help call to a help service and the help service sends a help dialog to the client program. In this manner, the documentation abstraction layer facilitates updating help services without modification of the client program.
1 . A computer-implemented method for abstracting help calls by using a documentation abstraction program that is apart from a program requesting help, the method comprising:
receiving a dialog identification from the program requesting help;
mapping the dialog identification to a help service identifier; and
sending a help dialog request to a help service indicated by the help service identifier.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the dialog identification is associated with a help request of a client program.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the dialog identification is associated with an XML document.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the XML document includes user preferences associated with help service priority.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the dialog identification is a portion of a call signature.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the help service identifier is associated with an XML file.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the help service identifier is associated with a hierarchical set of XML files.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the help service identifier is associated with an XML fragment that facilitates an XML query.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein mapping the dialog identification to a help service identifier includes mapping the dialog identification to a plurality of help service identifiers.
10 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for abstracting help calls by using a documentation abstraction layer that is apart from a client program requesting help, the instructions comprising:
detecting a dialog identifier associated with the client program, wherein the dialog identifier indicates a dialog associated with a help request;
associating the dialog identifier with a help service identifier, wherein the help service identifier indicates an address of a help service;
calling the help service in accordance with the help service identifier to request a help dialog associated with the help request.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the dialog identifier is associated with an XML document.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the XML document includes user preferences associated with help service priority.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the dialog identifier is a portion of a call signature.
14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the help service identifier is associated with an XML file.
15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the help service identifier is associated with a hierarchical set of XML files.
16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the help service identifier is associated with an XML fragment that facilitates an XML query.
17 . A system for abstracting help requests, the system comprising:
a help request component for generating a dialog identification associated with a request for help, wherein the help request component includes a first set of code, wherein the help request component sends the dialog identification;
an abstraction component for receiving the dialog identification, wherein the abstraction component includes a second set of code that is not part of the first set of code, wherein the dialog identification is mapped to a help call, and wherein the abstraction component sends the help call; and
a help service component for receiving the help call, wherein the help call is associated with a help dialog, and wherein the help dialog is sent to the help request component.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the abstraction component includes a monitoring component for receiving the dialog identification.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the abstraction component includes a mapping component for mapping the dialog identification to the help call.
20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the abstraction component includes a help call component for sending the help call.