Context help: what's this?

[Matthias Ettrich <ettrich troll no>]

Yet another suggestion for the specs:

         NET_WM_CONTEXT_HELP

A simple, standard-compliant wm protocol similar to WM_TAKE_FOCUS
(Those who don't know these, please see XSetWMProtocols, XGetWMProtocols for
details).

If a window propagates that it speaks this protocol, the WM may offer a way to
invoke context help on the window. This can be done with a '?'-button, a menu
item or whatever. When the user selects or invokes context help, the WM sends 
a client message to the window. Format is the same as with the other wm
protocols:

  ev.xclient.type = ClientMessage;
  ev.xclient.window = wm_protocols;
  ev.xclient.message_type = net_wm_context_help;
  ev.xclient.format = 32;
  ev.xclient.data.l[0] = net_wm_context_help;
  ev.xclient.data.l[1] = <the wm's current time>;


Some background information: the '?' button on dialogs is standard on
MS-Windows. It is a nifty possibility to provide useful and fast help without
cluttering the dialog windows with yet another pushbutton. The '?' invokes
so-called "What's This?" help, that lies somewhere between tool-tips and a
full-blown help system. Dialogs also often have a "help" button, but this is
supposed to fire up the real help system.


Matthias