diff --git a/sys/apps/inspect.lua b/sys/apps/inspect.lua
index 6cc4048..1d4f95b 100644
--- a/sys/apps/inspect.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/inspect.lua
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ local multishell = _ENV.multishell
 
 local name = ({ ... })[1] or error('Syntax: inspect COMPONENT')
 local events = { }
-local page
-local lastEvent
+local page, lastEvent, focused
 
 local function isRelevant(el)
 	return page.testContainer == el or el.parent and isRelevant(el.parent)
@@ -43,11 +42,12 @@ end
 
 page = UI.Page {
 	testContainer = UI.Window {
-		ey = 10,
+		ey = '50%',
 		testing = component.example(),
 	},
 	tabs = UI.Tabs {
-		y = 11,
+		backgroundColor = colors.red,
+		y = '50%',
 		properties = UI.Tab {
 			tabTitle = 'Properties',
 			grid = UI.ScrollingGrid {
@@ -66,18 +66,29 @@ page = UI.Page {
 			index = 2,
 			tabTitle = 'Methods',
 			grid = UI.ScrollingGrid {
+				ex = '50%',
 				headerBackgroundColor = colors.red,
 				sortColumn = 'key',
 				columns = {
 					{ heading = 'key', key = 'key' },
 				},
 			},
+			docs = UI.TextArea {
+				x = '50%',
+				backgroundColor = colors.black,
+			},
+			eventHandler = function (self, event)
+				if event.type == 'grid_focus_row' and focused then
+					self.docs:setText(focused:getDoc(event.selected.key) or '')
+				end
+			end,
 		},
 		events = UI.Tab {
 			index = 1,
 			tabTitle = 'Events',
 			UI.MenuBar {
 				y = -1,
+				backgroundColor = colors.red,
 				buttons = {
 					{ text = 'Clear' },
 				}
@@ -124,6 +135,7 @@ page = UI.Page {
 	},
 	eventHandler = function (self, event)
 		if event.type == 'focus_change' and isRelevant(event.focused) then
+			focused = event.focused
 			local t = { }
 			for k,v in pairs(event.focused) do
 				table.insert(t, {
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui.lua
index 5686f93..6e464ad 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui.lua
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ local UI = Manager()
 --[[-- Basic drawable area --]]--
 UI.Window = class()
 UI.Window.uid = 1
+UI.Window.docs = { }
 UI.Window.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'Window',
 	x = 1,
@@ -482,13 +483,14 @@ function UI.Window:layout()
 	end
 
 	if type(self.x) == 'string' then
-		self.x = calc(self.x, self.parent.width)
+		self.x = calc(self.x, self.parent.width) + 1
+		-- +1 in order to allow both x and ex to use the same %
 	end
 	if type(self.ex) == 'string' then
 		self.ex = calc(self.ex, self.parent.width)
 	end
 	if type(self.y) == 'string' then
-		self.y = calc(self.y, self.parent.height)
+		self.y = calc(self.y, self.parent.height) + 1
 	end
 	if type(self.ey) == 'string' then
 		self.ey = calc(self.ey, self.parent.height)
@@ -539,6 +541,22 @@ function UI.Window:setParent()
 
 	self:layout()
 
+	-- Experimental
+	-- Inherit properties from the parent container
+	-- does this need to be in reverse order ?
+	local m = getmetatable(self)  -- get the class for this instance
+	repeat
+		if m.inherits then
+			for k, v in pairs(m.inherits) do
+				local value = self.parent:getProperty(v)
+				if value then
+					self[k] = value
+				end
+			end
+		end
+		m = m._base
+	until not m
+
 	self:initChildren()
 end
 
@@ -555,6 +573,13 @@ function UI.Window:resize()
 	end
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.add = [[add(TABLE)
+Add element(s) to a window. Example:
+page:add({
+	text = UI.Text {
+	  x=5,value='help'
+	}
+})]]
 function UI.Window:add(children)
 	UI:mergeProperties(self, children)
 	self:initChildren()
@@ -574,6 +599,8 @@ function UI.Window:setCursorBlink(blink)
 	self.parent:setCursorBlink(blink)
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.draw = [[draw(VOID)
+Redraws the window in the internal buffer.]]
 function UI.Window:draw()
 	self:clear(self.backgroundColor)
 	if self.children then
@@ -585,6 +612,21 @@ function UI.Window:draw()
 	end
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.getDoc = [[getDoc(STRING method)
+Gets the documentation for a method.]]
+function UI.Window:getDoc(method)
+	local m = getmetatable(self)  -- get the class for this instance
+	repeat
+		if m.docs and m.docs[method] then
+			return m.docs[method]
+		end
+		m = m._base
+	until not m
+end
+
+UI.Window.docs.sync = [[sync(VOID)
+Invoke a screen update. Automatically called at top level after an input event.
+Call to force a screen update.]]
 function UI.Window:sync()
 	if self.parent then
 		self.parent:sync()
@@ -614,9 +656,11 @@ function UI.Window:setTextScale(textScale)
 	self.parent:setTextScale(textScale)
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.clear = [[clear(opt COLOR bg, opt COLOR fg)
+Clears the window using the either the passed values or the defaults for that window.]]
 function UI.Window:clear(bg, fg)
 	if self.canvas then
-		self.canvas:clear(bg or self.backgroundColor, fg or self.textColor)
+		self.canvas:clear(bg or self:getProperty('backgroundColor'), fg or self:getProperty('textColor'))
 	else
 		self:clearArea(1 + self.offx, 1 + self.offy, self.width, self.height, bg)
 	end
@@ -635,18 +679,18 @@ function UI.Window:clearArea(x, y, width, height, bg)
 	end
 end
 
-function UI.Window:write(x, y, text, bg, tc)
+function UI.Window:write(x, y, text, bg, fg)
 	bg = bg or self.backgroundColor
-	tc = tc or self.textColor
+	fg = fg or self.textColor
 
 	if self.canvas then
-		self.canvas:write(x, y, text, bg, tc)
+		self.canvas:write(x, y, text, bg or self:getProperty('backgroundColor'), fg or self:getProperty('textColor'))
 	else
 		x = x - self.offx
 		y = y - self.offy
 		if y <= self.height and y > 0 then
 			self.parent:write(
-				self.x + x - 1, self.y + y - 1, tostring(text), bg, tc)
+				self.x + x - 1, self.y + y - 1, tostring(text), bg, fg)
 		end
 	end
 end
@@ -752,12 +796,20 @@ function UI.Window:print(text, bg, fg)
 	return self.cursorX, self.cursorY
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.focus = [[focus(VOID)
+If the function is present on a class, it indicates
+that this element can accept focus. Called when receiving focus.]]
+
+UI.Window.docs.setFocus = [[setFocus(ELEMENT el)
+Set the page's focus to the passed element.]]
 function UI.Window:setFocus(focus)
 	if self.parent then
 		self.parent:setFocus(focus)
 	end
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.capture = [[capture(ELEMENT el)
+Restricts input to the passed element's tree.]]
 function UI.Window:capture(child)
 	if self.parent then
 		self.parent:capture(child)
@@ -793,6 +845,8 @@ function UI.Window:pointToChild(x, y)
 	}
 end
 
+UI.Window.docs.getFocusables = [[getFocusables(VOID)
+Returns a list of children that can accept focus.]]
 function UI.Window:getFocusables()
 	local focusable = { }
 
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/canvas.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/canvas.lua
index d0d4ee9..cb46ede 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/canvas.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/canvas.lua
@@ -355,7 +355,9 @@ end
 function Canvas:__blitClipped(device, offset)
 	if self.parent then
 		-- contain the rendered region in the parent's region
-		local p = Region.new(1, 1, self.parent.width, self.parent.height)
+		local p = Region.new(1, 1,
+			self.parent.width + offset.x - self.x + 1,
+			self.parent.height + offset.y - self.y + 1)
 		self.regions:andRegion(p)
 	end
 
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Checkbox.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Checkbox.lua
index 54343e5..567833e 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Checkbox.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Checkbox.lua
@@ -21,21 +21,20 @@ UI.Checkbox.defaults = {
 		mouse_click = 'checkbox_toggle',
 	}
 }
+UI.Checkbox.inherits = {
+	labelBackgroundColor = 'backgroundColor',
+}
+function UI.Checkbox:postInit()
+	self.width = self.label and #self.label + 4 or 3
+end
+
 function UI.Checkbox:draw()
-	local bg = self.backgroundColor
-	if self.focused then
-		bg = self.backgroundFocusColor
-	end
-	if type(self.value) == 'string' then
-		self.value = nil  -- TODO: fix form
-	end
-	local text = string.format('[%s]', not self.value and ' ' or self.checkedIndicator)
+	local bg = self.focused and self.backgroundFocusColor or self.backgroundColor
 	local x = 1
 	if self.label then
-		self:write(1, 1, self.label)
+		self:write(1, 1, self.label, self.labelBackgroundColor)
 		x = #self.label + 2
 	end
-	self:write(x,     1, text, bg)
 	self:write(x,     1, self.leftMarker, self.backgroundColor, self.textColor)
 	self:write(x + 1, 1, not self.value and ' ' or self.checkedIndicator, bg)
 	self:write(x + 2, 1, self.rightMarker, self.backgroundColor, self.textColor)
@@ -46,11 +45,12 @@ function UI.Checkbox:focus()
 end
 
 function UI.Checkbox:setValue(v)
-	self.value = v
+	self.value = not not v
 end
 
 function UI.Checkbox:reset()
 	self.value = false
+	self:draw()
 end
 
 function UI.Checkbox:eventHandler(event)
@@ -63,7 +63,13 @@ function UI.Checkbox:eventHandler(event)
 end
 
 function UI.Checkbox.example()
-	return UI.Checkbox {
-		x = 2, y = 2,
+	return UI.Window {
+		ex1 = UI.Checkbox {
+			label = 'test',
+			x = 2, y = 2,
+		},
+		ex2 = UI.Checkbox {
+			x = 2, y = 4,
+		},
 	}
 end
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/DropMenuItem.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/DropMenuItem.lua
index 09263da..ff28047 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/DropMenuItem.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/DropMenuItem.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
 local colors = _G.colors
 
---[[-- DropMenuItem --]]--
 UI.DropMenuItem = class(UI.Button)
 UI.DropMenuItem.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'DropMenuItem',
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Menu.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Menu.lua
index 8f1c837..0e18682 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Menu.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Menu.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 local class = require('opus.class')
 local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
---[[-- Menu --]]--
 UI.Menu = class(UI.Grid)
 UI.Menu.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'Menu',
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuBar.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuBar.lua
index 217fccd..1b544cc 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuBar.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuBar.lua
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ function UI.MenuBar:addButtons(buttons)
 				x = self.lastx,
 				width = #(button.text or 'button') + self.spacing,
 				centered = false,
+				backgroundColor = self.backgroundColor,
 			}
 			self.lastx = self.lastx + buttonProperties.width
 			UI:mergeProperties(buttonProperties, button)
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuItem.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuItem.lua
index 2f0efe8..61bc0b1 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuItem.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/MenuItem.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
 local colors = _G.colors
 
---[[-- MenuItem --]]--
 UI.MenuItem = class(UI.Button)
 UI.MenuItem.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'MenuItem',
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Notification.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Notification.lua
index 7b11543..701733e 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Notification.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Notification.lua
@@ -92,25 +92,26 @@ function UI.Notification:eventHandler(event)
 end
 
 function UI.Notification.example()
-	return UI.Window {
-		notify = UI.Notification {
+	return UI.ActiveLayer {
+		notify1 = UI.Notification {
 			anchor = 'top',
 		},
+		notify2 = UI.Notification { },
 		button1 = UI.Button {
 			x = 2, y = 3,
-			text = 'success',
+			text = 'example 1',
 			event = 'test_success',
 		},
 		button2 = UI.Button {
 			x = 2, y = 5,
-			text = 'error',
+			text = 'example 2',
 			event = 'test_error',
 		},
 		eventHandler = function (self, event)
 			if event.type == 'test_success' then
-				self.notify:success('Example text')
+				self.notify1:success('Example text')
 			elseif event.type == 'test_error' then
-				self.notify:error('Example text', 0)
+				self.notify2:error('Example text', 0)
 			end
 		end,
 	}
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/ScrollingGrid.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/ScrollingGrid.lua
index 93a35e6..06dd5b8 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/ScrollingGrid.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/ScrollingGrid.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ local class = require('opus.class')
 local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 local Util  = require('opus.util')
 
---[[-- ScrollingGrid  --]]--
 UI.ScrollingGrid = class(UI.Grid)
 UI.ScrollingGrid.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'ScrollingGrid',
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/SlideOut.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/SlideOut.lua
index 1e9558f..789220f 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/SlideOut.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/SlideOut.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 local class = require('opus.class')
 local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
---[[-- SlideOut --]]--
 UI.SlideOut = class(UI.Window)
 UI.SlideOut.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'SlideOut',
@@ -62,9 +61,12 @@ end
 function UI.SlideOut.example()
 	-- for the transistion to work properly, the parent must have a canvas
 	return UI.ActiveLayer {
+		y = 1,	-- TODO: if this is set to anything greater than 1, then
+				-- the layer is not rendered in the correct location
+				-- a general issue in canvas layers
 		backgroundColor = colors.cyan,
 		button = UI.Button {
-			x = 2, y = 2,
+			x = 2, y = 5,
 			text = 'show',
 		},
 		slideOut = UI.SlideOut {
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tab.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tab.lua
index 2f86b2f..1e31de6 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tab.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tab.lua
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 local class = require('opus.class')
 local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
-local colors = _G.colors
-
 UI.Tab = class(UI.ActiveLayer)
 UI.Tab.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'Tab',
 	tabTitle = 'tab',
-	backgroundColor = colors.cyan,
 	y = 2,
 }
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBar.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBar.lua
index 72e07f6..e684cae 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBar.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBar.lua
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ local class = require('opus.class')
 local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 local Util  = require('opus.util')
 
-local colors = _G.colors
-
 UI.TabBar = class(UI.MenuBar)
 UI.TabBar.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'TabBar',
 	buttonClass = 'TabBarMenuItem',
-	selectedBackgroundColor = colors.cyan,
+}
+UI.TabBar.inherits = {
+	selectedBackgroundColor = 'backgroundColor',
 }
 function UI.TabBar:enable()
 	UI.MenuBar.enable(self)
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBarMenuItem.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBarMenuItem.lua
index 0a7799c..f9f549b 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBarMenuItem.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TabBarMenuItem.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
 local colors = _G.colors
 
---[[-- TabBarMenuItem --]]--
 UI.TabBarMenuItem = class(UI.Button)
 UI.TabBarMenuItem.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'TabBarMenuItem',
@@ -13,6 +12,9 @@ UI.TabBarMenuItem.defaults = {
 	unselectedBackgroundColor = colors.lightGray,
 	backgroundColor = colors.lightGray,
 }
+UI.TabBarMenuItem.inherits = {
+	selectedBackgroundColor = 'selectedBackgroundColor',
+}
 function UI.TabBarMenuItem:draw()
 	if self.selected then
 		self.backgroundColor = self.selectedBackgroundColor
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tabs.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tabs.lua
index c9c0075..2b0c824 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tabs.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Tabs.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 local Util  = require('opus.util')
 
 UI.Tabs = class(UI.Window)
+UI.Tabs.docs = { }
 UI.Tabs.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'Tabs',
 }
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@ function UI.Tabs:add(children)
 	end
 end
 
+UI.Tabs.docs.selectTab = [[selectTab(TAB)
+Make to the passed tab active.]]
 function UI.Tabs:selectTab(tab)
 	local menuItem = Util.find(self.tabBar.children, 'tabUid', tab.uid)
 	if menuItem then
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextArea.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextArea.lua
index ea7540f..2b8c342 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextArea.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextArea.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 local class = require('opus.class')
 local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
---[[-- TextArea --]]--
 UI.TextArea = class(UI.Viewport)
 UI.TextArea.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'TextArea',
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua
index 523208c..929cb3c 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ local function transform(directive)
 end
 
 UI.TextEntry = class(UI.Window)
+UI.TextEntry.docs = { }
 UI.TextEntry.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'TextEntry',
 	--value = '',
@@ -92,6 +93,8 @@ function UI.TextEntry:draw()
 	end
 end
 
+UI.TextEntry.docs.reset = [[reset()
+Clears the value and resets the cursor.]]
 function UI.TextEntry:reset()
 	self.entry:reset()
 	self.value = nil--''
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Viewport.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Viewport.lua
index acb84cd..35cd0eb 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Viewport.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Viewport.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ local UI    = require('opus.ui')
 
 local colors = _G.colors
 
---[[-- Viewport --]]--
 UI.Viewport = class(UI.Window)
 UI.Viewport.defaults = {
 	UIElement = 'Viewport',