Issue 711991: IDE needs easy access to builtin help() (original) (raw)

Just, I'm assigning this to you for feedback. Feel free to assign back after providing it.

I think we need access to the help()-style documentation in the IDE, especially when browsing objects and such it would be very helpful.

What I'm thinking of at the moment is a window called "Help for Selection" (any better ideas?), and if that window is opened it will display the help() text for the current selection. It would follow focus, i.e. when you select a different window or a different object in the same window it would change.

An alternative design would be that you would have to use a command "Show Help for Selection" which would bring up a static window with the help() contents.

A third possibility (best of both worlds?) would be a window that has a checkbox "Follow Selection", initially true. If you deselect it the window would stay open statically, and a subsequent "Show Help for Selection" command would bring up a new window with the checkbox checked.

Logged In: YES user_id=92689

I would just go for "Show Help for Selection". I'm not so sure how useful following the selection would be (thinking of a scenenario where you lookup some info based on the selection, then continue editing, following the help. It would be irritating if the help would disappear or change then.