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A software wizard or setup assistant is a user interface type that presents a user with a sequence

of dialog boxes that lead the user through a series of well-defined steps. Tasks that are complex,
infrequently performed, or unfamiliar may be easier to perform using a wizard. In contrast, anexpert
system guides a user through a series of (usually yes/no) questions to solve a problem.
By 2001, wizards had become commonplace in most consumer-oriented operating systems,
although not always under the name "wizard." In Mac OS X, for example, they are called
"assistants"; some examples include the "Setup Assistant," which is run at initial bootup of
the Macintosh, and the "Network Setup Assistant," which has a similar function to the MS-Windows
"New Connection Wizard." GNOME refers to its wizards as "assistants."
Many web applications, for instance online booking sites, make use of the wizard paradigm to
complete lengthy interactive processes, sometimes becoming similar to automated online
assistants. Oracle Designer also uses wizards extensively.

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