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It's a help when you're learning a new prog -- not all UI can or should be intuitive. I've never found it a hinderance.
You can create a user option to enable or disable tooltips completely. You don't say what development environment you're using, but in VS.NET you can set properties for tooltips such as
automatic delay for the ToolTip
the period of time the ToolTip remains visible if the mouse pointer is stationary within a control with specified ToolTip text.
the time that passes before the ToolTip appears.
the length of time that must transpire before subsequent ToolTip windows appear as the mouse pointer moves from one control to another.
whether a ToolTip window is displayed even when its parent control is not active.
Etc.
John Cornellier
2002-11-08 18:09:14, "Writer Whirler" <a_whirler -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
>I am writing a user guide for an online trading system. This time around,
>they want some onscreen type help for some of the screens. We discussed a
>"What's This" type of thing, where you have to click on something on the
>screen (like a field name) to get a little pop-up window that describes what
>you need to enter into the field. We also discussed just a hover-type help,
>where the pop-up window appears if you hover the cursor over the field (no
>clicking needed.) The hover seems to be the most favored.
>However, as I think about this, will be it annoying for the user (who may
>not want any explanation) to have windows popping up as they are trying to
>work? The windows may only pop up for a short time...I'm also unclear as to
>how long they stay, or how they close - does moving off the field close the
>window? This is a new thing for me, and I haven't talked to developement yet
>to see what is possible...There are going to be multiple instances on a
>screen.
>Does anyone out there have any experience with this type of help? Is it a
>help or a hindrance? Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks.
>
>WW
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