Abstract: A system and a method for graphical interconnection of hardware signals of a device, (e.g., a controller device) are provided. The graphical interconnection can now be implemented in a simple manner so that a user can perform this function intuitively and without knowledge of the address convention used in the engineering system. This may be achieved by the inventive system and by the inventive method by the hardware signals being interconnected graphically with program elements of a programming environment using drag & drop features in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A help system, an automation device with such a help system and a method for providing help data are disclosed. The help system includes a first offline help facility which is installed as part of an application on a data processing device, the first help facility providing a user with help data based upon context data defined by the user, the help data being stored in the first help facility and thus on the data processing device. A second online help facility is provided which is accessed by the data processing device via the internet such that the context data defined by the user in relation to the first help facility is automatically adopted in the second help facility as context data, the second help facility providing the user with additional help data based on this context data, the help data being stored in the second help facility.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system and a method for graphical interconnection of hardware signals of a device, especially of a controller device are provided. The object of the invention is to design the graphical interconnection in a simple manner so that a user can perform this function intuitively and without knowledge of the address convention used in the engineering system. This object is achieved by the inventive system and by the inventive method by the hardware signals being interconnected graphically with program elements of a programming environment using drag & drop. A clean copy of the Abstract that incorporates the above amendments is provided herewith on a separate page.

Abstract: Help system, automation device with a help system and method for providing help data The invention relates to a help system. The help system comprises a first help facility (2) which is preferably installed as part of an application on a data processing device (3), the first help facility (2) providing a user with help data on the basis of context data defined by the user, in particular on the basis of search terms, said help data being stored in the first help facility (2) and thus on the data processing device. A second help facility (5) is provided according to the invention, which is accessed by the data processing device preferably via the internet such that the context data defined by the user in relation to the first help facility (2) is automatically adopted in the second help facility as context data, the second help facility (5) providing the user with additional help data based on this context data, said help data being stored in the second help facility (5).