Visual wizard launch pad

A method for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system. The method includes providing the plurality of wizards organized into groups; providing a launch button on a launch pad, wherein the launch button is associated with at least one wizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the at least one wizard; providing information pertaining to the at least one wizard when a pointer is positioned over the launch button. The method further includes providing a high-level visual overview of a process corresponding to the plurality of wizards to assist a user when the user may not be familiar with the process before the user selects the launch button to execute the at least one wizard, wherein the high-level overview comprises a relationship between the at least one wizard and other wizards on the computer system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to graphical user interfaces in computer systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many software applications provide “wizards” to guide and assist users to perform specific tasks through the applications. Several wizards may also exist for each application.FIG. 1illustrates a conventional workstation or computer which has wizards. Several wizards102exist on the computer104. The user106must know which of the wizards102to execute to perform a particular function. However, frequently several tasks, each with its own wizard, must be executed in order to perform the function. In this situation, the user106must know which wizards102to execute, how the wizards102relate to each other, and in which order the wizards102are to be executed in order to perform the function properly.

For example, assume that the user106wishes to replicate data in a database system. In order to do so, the user106need to perform four tasks: setup, define the source, define the subscription, and capture or apply. Assume also that there is a wizard102for each of these tasks. In order to perform the replication, the user106must execute the setup wizard, the define source wizard, the define subscription wizard, and the capture/apply wizard, in this order. However, the user106may be a novice or unfamiliar with the database system, or may be dealing with a complex database system. Thus, the user106may not understand the system enough to know which wizards102to execute and when. The user106may not even know what wizards102exist to help him/her perform the replication function. The user106must then expend time and energy to learn or discover how to use the wizards. This leads to a high risk of mistakes and a loss of productivity which increases costs to the database owner.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a method for providing an improved interface between a user and wizards in a computer system. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for interfacing with a plurality of wizards in a computer system. The method includes providing the plurality of wizards organized into groups; providing a launch button on a launch pad, wherein the launch button is associated with at least one wizard, wherein selection of the launch button executes the at least one wizard; providing information pertaining to the at least one wizard when a pointer is positioned over the launch button. The method further includes providing a high-level visual overview of a process corresponding to the plurality of wizards to assist a user when the user may not be familiar with the process before the user selectes the launch button to execute the at least one wizard, wherein the high-level overview comprises a relationship between the at least one wizard and other wizards on the computer system. The high-level visual overview includes a visual object for toggling between a conceptual view and the how to information, wherein the visual object is a graphical element which represents hardware and/or software elements of an application on the computer system which is affected by an execution of the at least one wizard. The high-level visual overview further comprises, and wherein the hight-level visual overview further includes at least one of: a description of a function of the at least one wizard; an order in which the at least one wizard and the other wizards should be executed; elements of the computer system affected by the at least one wizard; and how to information showing how to use a user interface of an application on the computer system to accomplish a tack, and wherein the how to information comprises at least one of graphics, a sound chip, and a textual description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The method in accordance with the present invention provides launch pads on the display of a computer system as interactive interfaces between a user and wizards which exist on the computer system. To more particularly describe the features of the present invention, please refer toFIGS. 2 through 6in conjunction with the discussion below.

FIG. 2is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system in accordance with the present invention. First, a link on a launch pad is provided, via step202. The link is associated with a wizard. Selection of the link would launch or execute the wizard. Then, information pertaining to the wizard is provided on the launch pad, via step204.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a first preferred embodiment of a method for providing an interface with a plurality of wizards in a computer system in accordance with the present invention. First, links on a launch pad302is provided, via step202. The links on the launch pad302link to the plurality of wizards304which exist on the computer306. Computer software may exist on the computer306which provides the launch pad302. But one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the software may also exist in other places, such as a server, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. When the user308interfaces with the launch pad302, information pertaining to each wizard304is provided, via step204.

In the preferred embodiment, the launch pad302is provided when the user initiates an application. The links may be launch buttons, each button being associated with a wizard. The launch buttons allow the user308to determine which wizards304are available for the application. To obtain a description of a wizard, the user308may hover a pointing device, such as a mouse, over the associated launch button. The wizard may then be activated by a mouse click on the launch button. Through the descriptions of the wizards, the user308is guided to the correct order in which to execute the wizards304and given information as to the effect of each wizard.

FIGS. 4A through 4Eillustrate an example launch pad in accordance with the present invention. In this example, assume that the user308wishes to replicate data in a complex database system. The user308initiates the replication application, which in turn initiates the replication launch pad400, illustrated inFIG. 4A. The replication launch pad400comprises a brief description of the replication process402and links, or launch buttons404a-404d. Each launch button404a-404dlinks to a wizard which pertains to a task required for data replication. The “Replication Setup” launch button404alinks to the replication setup wizard; the “Define Source” launch button404blinks to the define source wizard; the “Define Subscription” launch button404clinks to the define subscription wizard; and the “Apply/Capture” launch button404dlinks to the apply/capture wizard. Although the launch buttons404a-404dare shown displayed vertically, they may be displayed in any configuration without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. With each launch button404a-404dis a short description of the task which each wizard will help the user308perform. The user308may obtain more information about each wizard by positioning the mouse pointer over a launch button.

For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4B, the user can position the mouse pointer over the “Replication Setup” button404a. A brief description406of the replication setup wizard appears, explaining the task which this wizard will assist the user308to perform, and the effect on the database system. To help the user308, visual objects408a-408kmay be used to graphically illustrate the effect of the wizard. “Visual objects”, as used in this specification, refer to graphical elements which represent hardware and, or software elements of an application affected by the execution of a wizard. In this example, visual objects408aand408brepresent the source in the database system; visual object408crepresents a log; visual object408drepresents a change data table; visual objects408e-408grepresent the target; and visual object408hrepresents the control tables. Visual Object408i, in the form of a shaded area, illustrates the elements in the database system which is affected by the capture process, i.e., the log408c, change data table408d, and control tables408h. The visual object408j, in the form of another shaded area, illustrates the elements in the database system which is affected by the apply process, i.e., the change data table408d, the target408e-408g, and the control tables408h. Visual objects408k, in the form of arrows, illustrate the process flow or interaction among the affected elements. Thus, inFIG. 4B, in addition to providing the description406, visual objects408a,408c,408d,408h,408iand408jare highlighted to illustrate that these elements of the database system are affected by the replication setup process.

As illustrated inFIG. 4C, when the user308positions the pointer over the Define Source launch button404b, a short description410of the define source wizard appears, and visual objects408a,408b, and408jare highlighted. As illustrated inFIG. 4D, when the user308positions the pointer over the Define Subscription launch button404c, a short description412of the define subscription wizard appears, and visual objects408d-408gare highlighted. As illustrated inFIG. 4E, when the user308positions the pointer over the Apply/Capture launch button404d, a short description414of the apply/capture wizard appears, and visual objects408a-408jare highlighted. To further assist the user308, the launch buttons404a-404dare placed in the order in which the wizards should be executed to perform the replication function. The user308may then click on the launch buttons404a-404dto execute the wizards.

As illustrated inFIG. 4A-4E, the launch pad400in accordance with the present invention provides the user308with the high level concepts pertaining to the function the user308is interested in performing. Because the launch pad400is interactive in nature, its use is intuitive for the user, which speeds the learning of the high level concepts provided. With the information provided by the launch pad400, the user308knows which wizards are available for a particular function, the order in which these wizards should be executed, how each wizard relates to the others, and what system elements are affected by each wizard. The user308may perform the function more quickly and with less mistakes, boosting his/her productivity.

Although the present invention is described in the context of a database system, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the launch pad provided via the method in accordance with the present invention may be used in any context without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Although the present invention is described with the illustrated visual objects, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other visual objects may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, instead of using shaded areas to indicate affected elements of the system, other types of indicators may be used, including animated visual objects.

Additional objects may be provided in the launch pad to help a user understand the low level steps involved in a task associated with a wizard in accordance with the present invention. For purposes of this discussion, these objects will be referred to as “how to” information. In the preferred embodiment, the “how to” information are screen grabs of the user interface that show the user how to use the regular user interface of an application (not the launch pad) in order to accomplish the low level task. However, “how to” information may also be any other type of object, such as a sound clip or a textual description. When the user positions the mouse over the launch buttons, the graphic changes to give the user information about the low level task to be performed. A button or toggle may be used to change between the launch pad view illustrated inFIGS. 4A-4E, referred to herein as the conceptual view, and the “how to” information.

FIGS. 5A-5Eillustrate an example launch pad with “how to” information in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 5A, the user can position the mouse pointer over the “Define a subject area” button502a. The “how to” information504aare then shown. These information indicate to the user that in order to define a subject area, the user must select the “subject Area” folder506, bring up the context menu508for the folder506, and click on the “Create Subject Area” option510. Text512amay also be shown to further describe the low level task. In the preferred embodiment, a thumbnail514of the conceptual launch pad view is provided, where when the user selects the thumbnail514, the launch pad returns the user to the conceptual view. Other methods may be used to change between the conceptual and the “how to” view, such as a toggle button.

Similarly, as illustrated inFIGS. 5B-5F, the user can also position the mouse pointer over the other buttons502b-502f, which will show the respective “how to” information504b-fand their text512b-512f. Any type of objects may be used as “how to” information. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 5E, “how to” information can show the movement of an object516from a toolbar to a modeling canvas518.

Although the preferred embodiment is described as toggling the user between the conceptual view and the “how to” information, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that they may be displayed in other configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, both views may be displayed simultaneously in the same or separate window.

FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment of a method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the wizards available on the computer606are organized into groups604a-604cbased upon a predetermined criteria, such as function. A plurality of launch pads602a-602care used to link to each group604a-604cof wizards. For example, the group604amay be wizards which pertain to the process of creating a new database in the system, the group604bmay be wizards which pertain to the process of data replication, and the group604cmay be wizards which pertain to the deletion of records from a database in the database system. In this embodiment, when the user308initiates one of the processes, the corresponding launch pad602a,602b, or602c, is in turn initiated. The user308may be then interact with each launch pad602a-602cin the same manner as described above.

FIG. 7is a block diagram illustrating a third preferred embodiment of a method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a main menu702of launch pads is provided to the user308with which the user308may select the function-specific launch pad602a-602c.

The launch pads provided to the user308may be predefined. However, to provide flexibility, a toolkit may be provided as well to enable developers to build their own launch pads.

A method for providing an interface with wizards in a computer system has been disclosed. The method in accordance with the present invention provides launch pads as interactive interfaces between a user of a computer system and wizards which exist on the computer system. The launch pads comprise links to wizards available for the performance of a particular task. The user interfaces with the launch pad to obtain information associated with each wizard and also to execute the wizards. The information is provided in the form of text and/or visual objects. The text and visual objects assist the user in understanding the function of each wizard, the relationships between the wizards, and the order in which they should be executed in order to perform the task properly. The user has an overview of the complete process before the execution of each wizard. The user may perform tasks more quickly and with less mistakes, boosting his/her productivity.