Index: lams_central/src/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/authoring/Application.as
===================================================================
diff -u -r9d76eec6f52b6b504919c3e99518a7d51d90cfaa -r15b142be62e070649bc68a5b4e3ff4e2022dd88a
--- lams_central/src/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/authoring/Application.as	(.../Application.as)	(revision 9d76eec6f52b6b504919c3e99518a7d51d90cfaa)
+++ lams_central/src/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/authoring/Application.as	(.../Application.as)	(revision 15b142be62e070649bc68a5b4e3ff4e2022dd88a)
@@ -637,6 +637,13 @@
 			_canvas.model.setPIHeight(_PI.piFullHeight());
 		}
 	}
+	
+	public function help():Void{
+		var ca = _canvas.model.selectedItem
+		if (CanvasActivity(ca) != null){
+			_canvas.getHelp(ca);
+		}
+	}
     
 	/**
 	* get the ddm form the canvas.. this method is here as the ddm used to be stored inthe application.
@@ -676,7 +683,14 @@
         return _workspace;
     }
 
-   
+   /**
+    * Opens the help->about dialog
+    */
+    public function showAboutDialog() {
+        var dialog:MovieClip = PopUpManager.createPopUp(Application.root, LFWindow, true,{title:"About - LAMS Author",closeButton:true,scrollContentPath:'helpaboutDialog'});
+		//dialog.addEventListener('contentLoaded',);
+		// dict: title:Dictionary.getValue('ls_win_helpabout_title')
+    }
     
 	 /**
     * Returns the Dialogue conatiner mc
Index: lams_central/src/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/authoring/ToolActivity.as
===================================================================
diff -u -r4d9ecf33966287be43eeca655490e1b43fe373aa -r15b142be62e070649bc68a5b4e3ff4e2022dd88a
--- lams_central/src/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/authoring/ToolActivity.as	(.../ToolActivity.as)	(revision 4d9ecf33966287be43eeca655490e1b43fe373aa)
+++ lams_central/src/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/authoring/ToolActivity.as	(.../ToolActivity.as)	(revision 15b142be62e070649bc68a5b4e3ff4e2022dd88a)
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 
 	
 	private var _toolDisplayName:String;
+	private var _toolSignature:String;
 	
 	//generated by the LAMS server, has to do a round trip to populate them
 	private var _toolContentID:Number;
@@ -149,6 +150,9 @@
 			if(StringUtils.isWDDXNull(dto.toolDisplayName)) { _toolDisplayName = null }
 			else { _toolDisplayName = dto.toolDisplayName; }
 			
+			if(StringUtils.isWDDXNull(dto.toolSignature)) { _toolSignature = null }
+			else { _toolSignature = dto.toolSignature; }
+			
 			if(StringUtils.isWDDXNull(dto.toolContentID)) { _toolContentID = null }
 			else { _toolContentID = dto.toolContentID; }
 			
@@ -171,7 +175,7 @@
 		dto.authoringURL = (_authoringURL) ?  _authoringURL : Config.STRING_NULL_VALUE;	
 		dto.helpURL = (_helpURL) ? _helpURL : Config.STRING_NULL_VALUE;
 		dto.toolDisplayName = (_toolDisplayName) ?  _toolDisplayName: Config.STRING_NULL_VALUE;	
-		
+		dto.toolSignature = (_toolSignature) ? _toolSignature: Config.STRING_NULL_VALUE;
 		//if(isCopy) { Application.getInstance().getCanvas().getCanvasModel().setDefaultToolContentID(this); }
 		
 		dto.toolContentID = (_toolContentID) ?  _toolContentID: Config.NUMERIC_NULL_VALUE;	
@@ -226,6 +230,7 @@
 		n.authoringURL = _authoringURL;
 		n.helpURL = _helpURL;
 		n.toolDisplayName = _toolDisplayName;
+		n.toolSignature = _toolSignature;
 		n.toolContentID = _toolContentID;
 		n.toolID = _toolID;
 		n.supportsContribute = _supportsContribute;
@@ -274,9 +279,28 @@
 	public function get toolDisplayName ():String {
 		return _toolDisplayName;
 	}
+	
 	/**
 	 * 
 	 * @usage   
+	 * @param   newtoolSignature 
+	 * @return  
+	 */
+	public function set toolSignature (newtoolSignature:String):Void {
+		_toolSignature = newtoolSignature;
+	}
+	/**
+	 * 
+	 * @usage   
+	 * @return  
+	 */
+	public function get toolSignature ():String {
+		return _toolSignature;
+	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * 
+	 * @usage   
 	 * @param   newtoolContentID 
 	 * @return  
 	 */