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List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: QWhatsThis - how to use it in dialogs now ?
From:       Christoph_Schönfeld
Date:       1999-12-01 23:47:09
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Hi,

a different approach to solve the "What's This?" problem just came to my
mind after I had read most of the messages in this thread. Maybe it's crap -
then, please tell me - but I thought it was at least worth posting :)


There could be a button in kpanel/kicker/taskbar called "Explain..." or
"Tell me...". Clicking on it would toggle "help mode" on and off:
 - the button would be toggled and a ? would be attached to the mouse
pointer, just to give the user some visual feedback that he is in help mode,
 - pointing at widgets that have an associated help text would cause a
balloon help to pop up. Perhaps it is also better to require a second click
before the ballon comes up?

The major difference to all prior suggestions is the external (but
centralized!) placement of the help activation button. IMHO this is a good
step in terms of introducing a consistent and easy-to-use help system for
all KDE applications. With this solution there is, as far as I
see/understand, no need to modify WM's (for the additional ? sign in the
title bar as discussed in this thread) and noone needs to bother about the
best place for this button within application windows, rmb popups or menus.
On non-KDE systems, you'd just put the button in its own small application
and start it with X-Windows.
(I don't suspect there are many people who use KDE applications without KDE,
is that correct?!?)

I'm quite new to kde programming, so I don't have a good clue about any
possible implementations. Maybe a slot KApplication::setHelpMode(bool
enabled) would do?


greetings,
Christoph

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