REAL Software Forums

My help tags show on the screen for about 5 seconds. That is not enough time for the user to read and digest them. This would be very annoying. How can I increase and/or control the amount of time the help tags are displayed?

Thanks

Is there a function in the Windows Functionality Suite that might let you change this ?
Does one even exist on Windows that would let you alter it ?

This has come up before viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2965

One workaround I have seen used a lot is to also show the contents of the help tag in a status bar at the bottom of the dialog.
(A simple static text would also do the job)
Just update the text in each control's mouseenter event to match the help tag of the control.

Unless the help tag is a short story...

Following Jefftulin's suggestion I have used his way to work around this. It is so simple and obvious when you think of it!
- First place a staticText control in the window where you want the help tag to appear.
- Put the text of the help tag in the mouseEnter event of the control for which you want to
provide help and reference the staticText control.
- Put a statement in the mouseExit event that uses an empty string to clear out the staticText
control.

For example suppose you want to provide help for a gizmo button.
- place a staticText control near the button and name it gizmoHelp.
- in the mouseEnter event of gizmo, type the following code
gizmoHelp.text = "Here is the help for this button."
- in the mouseExit event of gizmo, type the following code
gizmoHelp.text = ""

When the mouse cursor is moved to the button, the help text appears in the position of the staticText control and stays as long as the mouse cursor is not moved.. When the mouse cursor is moved out of the button, the help text disappears. This gives the user control over the amount of time the help text appears, all day if they wish.

Thank you, Jefftullin.

Elton