[[Property:title|Browsing Information]]
[[Property:weight|0]]
[[Property:uuid|2260eabd-cbc9-c385-6295-96474249953f]]
[[Image:information tool v64]]  

Figure 1: The Information Tool

==Information Tree==

On the left of the tool window is the information tree. The tree displays all locations which contain annotations, as well as a subtree of tags by which annotations can be organized. Clicking or pressing enter on a node of the tree displays the list of annotations associated with that node. In Figure 1, the node APPLICATION, a class, has been selected, and its annotations are listed on the right.

You can navigate to the following types of nodes in the information tree:
*  Target
*  Cluster
*  Library
*  Class
*  Feature
*  Targets without tags
*  Listed tag

==Annotation List==

The annotation list appears on the right of the tool window.

The following columns are available in the list:
*  '''Location''' - the development object where that piece of annotation belongs to. Typical locations are target, cluster, class and feature.
*  '''Name''' - the name of the annotation.
*  '''[[Protocols|Protocol]]''' - the type of the Source. 
*  '''Source''' - the address of the resource, typically a URL or file path. Variables can be used.
*  '''Tags''' - terms or phrases used to categorize annotations. Tags are separated by '''","'''
*  '''Override''' - checkbox is checked if an implicit, automatically generated annotation is being overridden by the annotation in this list entry. If this list entry is itself an implicit annotation, this column shows the automatic annotation [[Image: automatic annotation icon]] icon. Override is defined only for  annotations on classes.
*  '''Others''' - other related attributes. Attributes are separated by '''","''' 

{{note|EIS ignores any attributes in '''Others''' which are not used by the '''protocol'''. }}


{{tip| Clicking on title of each column sorts that column. }}


==Opening Resources==

The resources associated with a particular annotation can be opened by double-clicking on the annotation in the Information Tool list. Alternatively, you can use the arrow keys to highlight the annotation in the Information Tool list and then press enter. EIS opens the resource associated with the annotation using the external tool for the resource's protocol. So, for example, Raw URL resources will be opened in the default web browser.

While using EiffelStudio, pressing '''F1''' while the cursor is in the editor pane will access annotations associated with the Eiffel object that is currently shown in the editor pane. If only one annotation is available, then its resource is automatically opened by EIS. If more than one annotation is available, the '''Select help document''' dialog box (see Figure 2) appears providing the name and type of the available resources. You can use the dialog to choose which resources you wish to display.


[[Image:select help document dialog]]

Figure 2: The Select Help Document dialog box


==Sweeping Information==

Sweeping annotation information will update the Information Tool with current data for all the annotations in the current system. There are two approaches to sweeping information:
*  '''Automatic''' - EIS automatically sweeps information at times when Information tool is visible. On the bottom toolbar, clicking the ''automatic sweeping'' toggle button [[Image:automatic sweeping icon]] to the ''down'' position activates automatic sweeping. Clicking the button back to the ''up'' position disables automatic sweeping.
*  '''Manual''' - Clicking the ''manual sweeping'' button [[Image:manual sweeping icon]] on the bottom toolbar triggers an immediate manual sweep.

The progress bar in the bottom of the tool indicates the progress of a currently executing sweep..




