A computer-implemented system for providing context-sensitive sidebar window display in a windowed operating environment, comprising: an electronic storage (14, 23) comprising a document comprising digital data; a user interface comprising an electronic desktop; and a computer (12a - 12e, 24a - 24c) comprising a processor and memory within which code for execution by the processor is stored, comprising: an application program on the electronic desktop that is operating on the document through an application window and which initially generates a context-sensitive sidebar window, comprising: contextual information relevant to the document that has been determined by a kernel (22, 25a - 25c) which is configured to extract the contextual information of the document; wherein the contextual information is the information that is extracted by analysis of both content of the document and usage of the document, and a presenter (34a, 34b) presenting part of the contextual information regarding the state of the current task performed on the document in the application window, wherein the selected part of the contextual information is configured to be presented in the sidebar window positioned visually adjacent to the application window, and the contextual information presented in and the positioning of the sidebar window is configured to be continually updated in step with the current state of the document and the application window, and a single-button sidebar module presenting the sidebar window as a single button comprised of a plurality of graphics representing the current state of the document and varying a graphical appearance of the single button to show a value of one of a plurality of attributes of the contextual information associated with the document at a time, wherein the varying of the graphical appearance comprises changes of color and shape and the plurality of attributes of contextual information comprises an indication that annotations exist for the document, an indication that other versions of the document exist, an indication that a newer version of the document exists, an indication that the document has been bookmarked and an indication that the document has been sent as an email attachment and an indication that the document has been shared with other users, an electronic storage (14, 23) comprising a document comprising digital data; a user interface comprising an electronic desktop; and a computer (12a - 12e, 24a - 24c) comprising a processor and memory within which code for execution by the processor is stored, comprising: an application program on the electronic desktop that is operating on the document through an application window and an application program on the electronic desktop that is operating on the document through an application window and contextual information relevant to the document that has been determined by a kernel (22, 25a - 25c) which is configured to extract the contextual information of the document; wherein the contextual information is the information that is extracted by analysis of both content of the document and usage of the document, and a presenter (34a, 34b) presenting part of the contextual information regarding the state of the current task performed on the document in the application window, wherein the selected part of the contextual information is configured to be presented in the sidebar window positioned visually adjacent to the application window, and the contextual information presented in and the positioning of the sidebar window is configured to be continually updated in step with the current state of the document and the application window, and a single-button sidebar module presenting the sidebar window as a single button comprised of a plurality of graphics representing the current state of the document and varying a graphical appearance of the single button to show a value of one of a plurality of attributes of the contextual information associated with the document at a time, wherein the varying of the graphical appearance comprises changes of color and shape and the plurality of attributes of contextual information comprises an indication that annotations exist for the document, an indication that other versions of the document exist, an indication that a newer version of the document exists, an indication that the document has been bookmarked and an indication that the document has been sent as an email attachment and an indication that the document has been shared with other users,