Floating Help

Float is a floating interactive help application that is intended as a direct replacement for Help that comes with RISC OS. Instead of displaying the help messages in a fixed window, Float uses small panes that follow the mouse around.

The application is Open Source meaning that you can freely use and copy it: please read the license contained in the Help file for more details.

[IconBar Screen Shot]

Some help from an application icon

All the display options are fully configurable, most from the Choices window and the rest by editing a text file. Full instructions are given in the Help file for doing this. It is possible to hide the help from window furniture as this can be irritating once the basics have been learnt.

Float supports the full set of interactive help messages, including the expansions used by Help and window tool help.

[Desktop Screen Shot]

Float displaying some help about a Zap toolbar

Download Float
Float is released under Version 1.1 of the European Union Public Licence. Its source code can be found on GitHub, and copies can also be obtained from PackMan or the PlingStore.

In order to use Float, you will require:

  • a minimum of RISC OS 4.02, and
  • the Nested Window Manager, which is a standard part of RISC OS  4, 5 or Six, or can be soft-loaded on RISC OS 3.

Version History

0.01 (20 February 1999)

0.02 (6 March 1999)

0.03 (16 March 1999)

0.04 (6 June 1999)

0.05 (27 April 2000)

0.06 (17 October 2000)

0.07 (10 February 2001)

0.10 (19 February 2001)

0.11 (1 March 2001)

0.20 (25 June 2001)

0.21 (27 June 2001)

0.22 (29 June 2001)

0.23 (30 June 2001)

0.24 (3 July 2001)

0.25 (2 August 2001)

0.26 (15 August 2001)

0.27 (26 February 2002)

0.28 (17 June 2002)

0.29 (19 June 2002)

0.30 (25 June 2002)

0.31 (1 August 2002)

0.32 (18 August 2002)

0.34 (29 October 2002)

0.35 (7 December 2002)

0.36 (19 May 2003)

1.00 (18 January 2015)

First full release.

1.01 (5 March 2017)

Update to first full release.