 Network fault recovery by controllable switching of subnetworks |
| A token passing ring of the present invention has a main network providing a serial communication ... |
|
| Pattern writing method during X-ray mask fabrication |
| The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others are ... |
|
| Digital network including early packet discard mechanism with adjustable threshold |
| The invention provides a new and improved digital network including an early packet discard ... |
|
| Method for protecting content using watermarking |
| It is the principal object of the invention to describe a digital watermarking scheme wherein the ... |
|
| Self-organizing network |
| A network incorporating the invention is a wireless network that uses an ad-hoc "contour" routing ... |
|
| VLAN frame format |
| OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Described herein is a method and frame format for preserving ... |
|
| Method for managing pages of a designated memory object according to selected memory management policies |
| In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method for use in a computer. A user of the ... |
|
| Integrated multidimensional database |
| Overview A multi-user, computer-implemented database (DA) allows laboratory (lab) researchers to ... |
|
| System for electronically managing, finding, and/or displaying biomolecular interactions |
| What is claimed is: 1. A system for electronically managing, finding, and/or visualizing ... |
|
| File management method and program that manage multiple files as single combination file |
| The present invention is created in order to resolve the problem identified above, and an object ... |
|
|
System and methods for interactively generating and testing help systems
| Details |
Inventors: Garcia, Carlos J.; Simerly, David K.;
Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc. (Cupertino, CA)
Primary Examiner: Huynh; Ba
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Carr & Ferrell LLP
An authoring system for interactively generating and testing help systems preferably comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a display device, an input device, a data storage device and a memory. The memory further comprises a code generator, display routines, linking routines, indexing routines, a plurality of topic records, a plurality of table records and a plurality of graphic files. The present invention stores the information explaining the features and functionality of an application program in topic records. The authoring system of the present invention uses the topic records for organization and for displaying the data to the user. The CPU under direction of routines in the memory displays the contents of each topic record using the graphic files, and creates, updates and deletes topic records. The display routines are also used in conjunction with test routines to display the data as it will be presented by the help system during operation. Methods for creating, revising and testing help systems include: methods for creating, deleting and editing topic records in a help system; methods for creating, deleting and editing links between topic records in a help system; methods for inserting, deleting and editing objects in a topic record of a help system; methods for creating, deleting and editing tables in a help system; and methods for producing the help system from the topic records. |
|
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention overcomes the limitations and shortcomings of the prior art with an authoring system and method for interactively generating and testing help systems.
The authoring system of the present invention includes a central processing unit (CPU) that connects with a display device, an input device, a data storage device, and memory.
The memory advantageously comprises: a code generator, display routines, linking routines, indexing routines, a list of topic records, a list of table records and a plurality of graphic files.
The routines in the memory are used by the CPU to provide an authoring system for generating help systems.
The authoring system of the present invention stores the information explaining the features and functionality of an application program in topic records.
Each topic record preferably includes a plurality of fields including formatting data, links and other types of data.
Each topic record is preferably used to describe one feature of the application program for which the help system is designed.
The authoring system of the present invention uses the topic records for organization and for displaying the data to the user.
The CPU under direction of routines in the memory displays the contents of each topic record using the graphic files.
The display routines are also used in conjunction with test routines to display the data as it will be presented by the help system during operation.
The CPU also uses the routines in memory to create, update and delete topic records.
The authoring system of the present invention for generating help systems is particularly advantageous because it is easy to use, it stores the help system information, and it operates in a WYSIWYG manner.
The present invention also comprises methods for creating, revising and testing help systems.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises several methods including: methods for creating, deleting and editing topic records in a help system; methods for creating, deleting and editing links between topic records in a help system; methods for inserting, deleting and editing objects in a topic record of a help system; methods for creating, editing and deleting a tables in a help system; and methods for testing links, tables and pictures
|
|
File Sharing 
