CompuServe Messages

Both you and Don seem to agree that context sensitive help is desirable. The issue you part on is how to determine context. It's certainly tough when you have a) two primary input devices, the mouse and keyboard, and b) multiple programs running on the same screen. Any scheme you come up with is necessarily frought with compromises[sp?]. While I agree the Help key should have system wide meaning I come down more on Don's side of context detection. What is the probability the user will want help on something he or she isn't currently using (i.e. not the active window)? Low enough, I think. System help for sizing gadgets, scroll bars, etc. is too trivial to warrant storage space, IMHO. Menu Help? How about a pointer in the HELP IDCMP message to another message, in this case MENUPICK? Replying to the HELP message would also constitute a reply to the linked message(s). — Art