Of course, it would be ideal to create a program so simple and easy to use that it doesn't need any explanation at all; it should be as simple as reading a book.

Although PhpGedView is very complicated, you should not notice that as you use it; almost everything can be used without explanation. But, since we may have a lot of visitors and users who are not very experienced with the use of a computer or with the Internet, we offer you some help at certain places.

You will find the following items in the Help menu:

Help with this Page

For all pages there is a general "Page Help" available. You can click this item in the menu to get "Page Help", where you will be informed about the items on that very page.

Page Help is often brief. If you need more help or information about a certain item on the page than Page Help provides you can use the "Contextual Help" feature.

Help Contents

When you click this menu item, you will get a Help page that displays an index of the major Help topics. The amount of Help information available will be increased as time permits.

FAQ List

The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page can contain an overview or a list of questions and answers on the use of this genealogy site.

The use to which the FAQ page is put is entirely up to the site administrator. The site administrator controls the content of each item and also the order in which the items are shown on the page.

Search Help Text

You can search PhpGedView's Help system. The Search Help Text feature gives you a high degree of control over the way the search functions; you should be able to find what you are looking for easily.

Hide / Show Contextual Help

This last menu item could be the most useful for you. Clicking this link will either switch on or off the "Contextual Help".

With Contextual Help switched on, you may find a Question Mark or similar icon beside some links, drop-down boxes, or buttons. When you click this icon, a Help screen will pop up. This Help screen contains information about that object.

Of course, when you click "Hide Contextual Help", all the Question Marks or icons will disappear until you click "Show...." again.