Make Context Help Window a mouse over window

[Davidek]

I confess. I like the Context Help Window. Gives me the rundown on a VI at a glance; name, intended function, required inputs, default values  (if the creator has documented the VI correctly, but we always do that, right? 😉 and fast access to the help file if more detail is needed.

But it gets in the way. A seperate windows, always on top and changing size at the wrong moment. I keep having to ctrl-h to kill or start it all the time. Wouldn't it be better if the context help appeared when you mouse over and then keep your mouse over an object for a time? Just like a tip strip at runtime. Lets you control when you want to see the info and for what, eliminating all those instances when you've left it on and accedentally move you mouse over a large cluster or class wire making the context help ballon over half your screen just as you were supposed to select something.

Let the Mouse Over Help be pinable (just like the functions and controls palettes are when you bring them up by right-clicking) so you can keep a help window open if you want.

Sorry for the lack of mockup images and the like, in a bit of a hurry, but I think you get he main idea anyway. Tell me what you think.

Best Regards

David

[PaulRB]

You could always get a second monitor! Kudos.

[Davidek]

Haha, Already have one, but it's a bit cumbersome to carry with me when travelling.....

[Manzolli]

Even with two monitors (I'm going for 3 in the next project) the problem happens. Some VIs FP takes the whole screen and respective BD even more.

I configured my mouse middle button (the wheel) as <Ctrl+H> shortcut. Then I hide and show the help window easily using the mouse.

The problem of waiting couple seconds before shows the help, is waiting! Sometimes you want to have the information really fast.

By the way, I have also configured "Tools Palette", "Copy" and "Paste". Pretty handy.

[Chris_H1]

I have the same complaint.  Suddenly the context help window blows up to show you all about the "While Loop"!  Right, exactly what I need!  Now I have to put the cursor somewhere else to get the window back to a managable size.

Here is a workaround:  grab the corner of the context help window and resize it to something reasonable.  How small is up to you.  Now the help window may get smaller than that but it will not exceed that size.  This works for as long as you are in LV.  I am currently using 2011 and I do not remember how far back this particular tip works, but try it and see if it helps. 

I like having the context help window up because even after 15 years of using LabVIEW I still don't "read" icons...for the most part, the name of the icon tells me what it does, not the picture on the icon.