[softwarelist] Re: Ovation Pro Windows - Tooltips

>While trying the evening before last, to show a mixed audience (RISC OS
>and Windows) the common and different features of OPro on the two
>platforms

Could they see any difference... (a lack of difference might be a 
criticism)

>Inevitably, one of our Windows members asked "Where are the Tooltips?".

Position the pointer over a tool...

So there are some tool tips in the program.

My feeling is that interactive help in general is a good thing. However 
it does tend to get in the way most of the time. In my opinion pressing 
Shift+F1 and getting help on just the thing I want to know at that 
moment about is great.

However many a time I play a game of trying to see what is underneath 
the "helpful" tool tip that Windows is putting in my way. You can also 
play another game where most of the time information pops up, but 
sometimes it doesn't. This is moving away from help, towards 
information.

I didn't invent or write Bubble Help for RISC OS, but I had a lot to do 
with making it available and getting it included with Ovation Pro. I 
wonder how many people actually used it and for how long. All too often 
the people who need help don't know how to get it - Shift+F1 is a good 
example, so are the !Help files on RISC OS.

I did some tooltips for Windows, and then stopped. I can go further, 
e.g. extend the system from tools to buttons or to the info palette. I'd 
certainly include an option to turn off tool tips.

The other point, is that usually when I want help on an option it is not 
available. Happens with the billion dollar software from MicroSoft, 
happens with mine too.


-- 
David Pilling
email: david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   web: http://www.davidpilling.net
  post: David Pilling P.O. Box 22 Thornton Cleveleys Blackpool. FY5 1LR UK
   fax: +44(0)870-0520-941

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