System and methods are provided for an interactive help file for a host software user interface. According to one aspect, a host interface screen having actionable fields is provided and a first virtual button is generated and displayed on the host interface screen. The host interface screen is segmented into zones and, in response to activation of the first virtual button, a plurality of second virtual buttons are generated and displayed on the host interface screen. Following activation of a second virtual button, one or more help files are retrieved, and the host interface screen is transformed such that zones of the host interface screen that are not associated with the activated second virtual button are deactivated, the zone associated with the activated second virtual button is overlaid with a set of annotated links associated with help files, and the transformed host interface screen is displayed.