Title

Using Graphical Study Trees To Present Help Knowledge

Abstract

Computer systems and application programs frequently provide online tutorial texts concerning their operation. This explanatory material is intended for new, novice, and infrequent users. It is called help documentation, and is usually accessed through a 'HELP' command. The identification of relevant help texts is difficult for a user, and is a special case of the general information retrieval problem. This paper discusses methods for the retrieval of help knowledge items using graphical, on-screen, tree structures. The configuration of these 'study trees' conforms to the hierarchical nature of the tutorial information being referenced. Selection of natural language terms affords initial entry to the trees. A user of the help system browses the trees directly on-screen and consults the subject help texts at will. The study tree presentation facilitates selection of pertinent help texts and relates the collection of help material into an integrated whole. These graphical, knowledge-base manipulation and access methods are implemented as a computer program named STP. 'Study Tree Presenter.' STP is a special-purpose 'hypertext shell.'

Publication Date

3-1-1989

Publication Title

Microcomputers for information management

Volume

6

Issue

1

Number of Pages

47-67

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

0024626777 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0024626777

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