Using the Context Help Window

The Context Help window displays basic information about LabVIEW objects when you move the cursor over each object. Objects with context help information include VIs, functions, constants, structures, palettes, properties, methods, events, and dialog box components.

Complete the following steps to practice using the Context Help window.

1. Open the Chart Property Node VI in the labview\examples\general\cntrlref.llb.
2. If necessary, display the Context Help window by clicking the Show Context Help Window button on the toolbar. You also can display the Context Help window by selecting Help»Show Context Help or by pressing the <Ctrl-H> keys.
   
   (Mac OS) Press the <Command-Shift-H> keys. (Linux) Press the <Alt-H> keys.
3. Complete the following steps to practice displaying information about different types of objects in the Context Help window.
   1. Move the cursor over the VI icon in the upper right corner of the front panel window. A description of the VI appears in the Context Help window. You can create a description of a VI you create. The description you create appears in the Context Help window when you move the cursor over the VI icon.
   2. Move the cursor over the STOP button. A description of the button appears in the Context Help window. You can create a description of an object to display in the Context Help window. The description you create appears in the Context Help window when you move the cursor over the object.
   3. Display the block diagram and move the cursor over the Wait (ms) function. A description of the function appears in the Context Help window.
   4. Click the blue Detailed help link or the Detailed help button in the Context Help window. The LabVIEW Help topic for that function appears and describes the function and its parameters. You can link a VI you create to a topic in a help file.
   5. Click the Show Optional Terminals and Full Path button in the Context Help window. The label of the optional terminal appears in the Context Help window. You can set a VI terminal to required, recommended, or optional.
   6. Click the Lock button in the Context Help window and move the cursor over other objects on the block diagram. Clicking the Lock button locks the current contents of the Context Help window so the contents of the window do not change when you move the cursor over different objects. You also can lock the contents of the window by selecting Help»Lock Context Help or by pressing the <Ctrl-Shift-L> keys.
      
      (Mac OS) Press the <Command-Shift-L> keys. (Linux) Press the <Alt-Shift-L> keys.
   7. Click the Lock button again to unlock the contents of the window.