Abstract: The present invention is contained in a system for facilitating the identification, discovery, and monitoring of servers and services within a distributed network. The present invention is a system for dynamically discovering all of the servers and services on a network. The dynamic discovery of servers includes first enumerating all of the domains within a network and second enumerating all of the known servers in each of the discovered domains. Next, the system acquires and stores additional server contact information necessary to robustly connect to the server. Finally, the system determines the role of a server in a specified domain within a network. The system will continually monitor the connections to the servers and may use the server contact information to connect to a server or service when a network failure occurs.

Abstract: The information exchanging facility is used by one wizard page to request the information it needs although it need not know where the information may have come from. This allows wizard pages that have already been developed in one wizard to be reused and placed into new wizards. This information exchanging facility is part of an architectural software framework that aids in the design of an interactive help utility, such as a wizard, that guides a user through steps of a particular task.

Abstract: A computer-implemented user interface includes at least two hierarchically related element nodes. One node is a parent element node that is associated with a first set of property value components. Another node is a child element node that is associated with a second set of property value components. The first set of property value components is different than the second set. A property value component contained in at least one of the first and second sets is directly identified with a property identifier.

Abstract: A method and system for making resources available is provided, in which a hierarchy, such as a tree having expandable and collapsible branches, is presented on a user interface. The hierarchy represents a logical arrangement of resources that available to a user. The hierarchy may be organized in a variety of ways, such as by resource category, functional area, project, sub-project, or task grouping. The resources made available may, for example, allow employees of an organization to perform tasks. When a user selects a node on the hierarchy, a group of links that are usable to open files or execute programs is presented. These links may be used to access the available resources and, for example, accomplish tasks of the organization.

Abstract: The present invention is contained in a system for facilitating the identification, discovery, and monitoring of servers and services within a distributed network. The present invention is a system for dynamically discovering all of the servers and services on a network. The dynamic discovery of servers includes first enumerating all of the domains within a network and second enumerating all of the known servers in each of the discovered domains. Next, the system acquires and stores additional server contact information necessary to robustly connect to the server. Finally, the system determines the role of a server in a specified domain within a network. The system will continually monitor the connections to the servers and may use the server contact information to connect to a server or service when a network failure occurs.

Abstract: The information exchanging facility is used by one wizard page to request the information it needs although it need not know where the information may have come from. This allows wizard pages that have already been developed in one wizard to be reused and placed into new wizards. This information exchanging facility is part of an architectural software framework that aids in the design of an interactive help utility, such as a wizard, that guides a user through steps of a particular task.