Contextual help system
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a dynamic contextual help application. The help application adapts to content displayed within a graphical user interface (GUI) to provide content specific help objects. The help objects may be selected by a user and an indication object may simultaneously appear apart from the contextual help application to guide the user in performing various functions related to the selected help object.
1. A method of providing dynamic contextual help to a user, comprising:
displaying a category of content on a graphical user interface;
analyzing content displayed by the graphical user interface to determine categories or types of content displayed;
displaying a contextual help application on the graphical user interface separately from the displayed content, the contextual help application displayed in response to the determined category or type of the displayed content;
automatically displaying one or more specific help objects in the contextual help application correlating to the analyzed categories or types of content displayed by the graphic user interface and changing the one or more specific help objects displayed in the contextual help application in response to a change in display of the categories or types of content;
receiving input selecting a first specific help object and simultaneously displaying an indication object near a first function displayed on the graphical user interface;
receiving input selecting a second specific help object and concurrently moving the indication object from the first function to a second function displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first function and the second function correspond to the first specific help object and the second specific help object, respectively;
receiving input selecting one or both of the first function and the second function; and
performing the selected function separately from the contextual help application displayed on the graphical user interface.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a location of a cursor over the first specific help object within the contextual help application.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising detecting a location of the cursor over the second specific help object within the graphical user interface.
4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to provide dynamic contextual help, by performing the steps of:
displaying a category of content on a graphical user interface;
analyzing content displayed by the graphic user interface to determine categories or types of content displayed;
displaying a contextual help application on the graphical user interface separately from the displayed content, the contextual help application displayed in response to the determined category or type of the displayed content;
automatically displaying one or more specific help objects in the contextual help application correlating to the analyzed categories or types of content displayed by the graphic user interface and changing the one or more specific help objects displayed in the contextual help application in response to a change in display of the categories or types of content;
receiving input selecting a first specific help object and simultaneously displaying an indication object near a first function displayed on the graphical user interface;
receiving input selecting a second specific help object and concurrently moving the indication object from the first function to a second function displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first function and the second function correspond to the first specific help object and the second specific help object, respectively;
receiving input selecting one or both of the first function and the second function; and
performing the selected function separately from the contextual help application displayed on the graphical user interface.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 , further comprising detecting a location of a cursor over the first specific help object within the contextual help application.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , further comprising detecting a location of the cursor over the second specific help object within the graphical user interface.
7. A computer system for providing dynamic contextual help, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to:
display a category of content on a graphical user interface;
analyze content displayed by the graphical user interface to determine categories or types of content displayed;
display a contextual help application on the graphical user interface separately from the displayed content, the contextual help application displayed in response to the determined category or type of displayed content;
automatically display one or more specific help objects in the contextual help application correlating to the analyzed categories or types of content displayed by the graphic user interface and changing the one or more specific help objects displayed in the contextual help application in response to a change in display of the categories or types of content;
receive input selecting a first specific help object and simultaneously displaying an indication object near a first function displayed on the graphical user interface;
receive input selecting a second specific help object and concurrently moving the indication object from the first function to a second function displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the first function and the second function correspond to the first specific help object and the second specific help object, respectively;
receive input selecting one or both of the first function and the second function; and
perform the selected function separately from the contextual help application displayed on the graphical user interface.
8. The computer system of claim 7 , further comprising detecting a location of a cursor over the first specific help object within the contextual help application.
9. The computer system of claim 8 , further comprising detecting a location of the cursor over the second specific help object within the graphical user interface.