title: searching for a sort of "reverse" AJAX-IE: is this possible?
body: <p>I have a web-app that is a sort of calendar application and there are several tabs across the top.  I currently have those tabs open to new pages so the users back button still works as expected.</p>
  
  <p>I recently integrated a "help" box that is a div that is within the header and remains constant through all pages.  Within that help box, the user can click a button and step-by-step instructions guide the user through functionality of the site.</p>
  
  <p>The problem is whenever the user needs to click the tabs to get to a new page (per the step-by-step guide) that box resets itself and the user would need to reclick the button to continue on with the instructions.</p>
  
  <p>I was considering making the tabs AJAX based, but that would break the back button, and I think that would be worse for the user experience.</p>
  
  <p>Is there some way to have the help box be handled with session data or something like that to have it maintain it's state as new pages are served?</p>
  
  <p>The help box is currently a div in the header and is using jQuery for some fade effects, etc:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;div class="helpbox"&gt;
       &lt;h2 class="title2a adjust"&gt;&lt;a class="nodecoration" href="javascript:animatedcollapse.toggle('collapse1')"&gt;Quick Start&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
       &lt;div id="collapse1" class="helpbox2"&gt;
  
                &lt;ul id="helpbo"&gt;
                    &lt;li class="helpchange"&gt;&lt;a href="#"&gt;Add Items&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li class="helpchange"&gt;&lt;a href="#"&gt;Create Timeline&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li class="helpchange"&gt;&lt;a href="#"&gt;Set Reminder&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li class="helpchange"&gt;&lt;a href="#"&gt;Detailed Help Topics&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
                &lt;/ul&gt;
                &lt;hr class="ninetypercent"&gt;&lt;/hr&gt;
  
                &lt;div class="instructions helpitems" id="animators"&gt;
                  &lt;div class="container"&gt;&lt;ul&gt;
                  &lt;li&gt;Make sure the &lt;b&gt;Monthly&lt;/b&gt; tab is highlighted on the top right of the screen.&lt;/li&gt;
                  &lt;li&gt;Click on the day that you want to add an event.&lt;/li&gt;
                  &lt;li&gt;You can create a main event-which you can apply a timeline to, or you can create a simple to-do item.&lt;/li&gt;
                  &lt;li&gt;Fill in the details.  If you are creating a main event, you can add a timeline.  If you don't know how to do that, read the &lt;b&gt;Create Timeline&lt;/b&gt; help link above.&lt;/li&gt;
                  &lt;li&gt;Click &lt;b&gt;Save&lt;/b&gt; when you're done.&lt;/li&gt;
                  &lt;li&gt;Your event or to-do will now show up in your calendar.&lt;/li&gt;
  
                    &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  
                    &lt;div class="container"&gt;&lt;ul&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Click on the &lt;b&gt;Admin&lt;/b&gt; tab on the top right of the screen.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;In the main display, next to &lt;b&gt;Manage&lt;/b&gt; click &lt;b&gt;Add Timeline&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;A new blank timeline template will appear.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Give a descriptive title of your timeline. You can always go back and edit things later if you need to.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;The first column, &lt;b&gt;Days From Event&lt;/b&gt;, is the number of days before or after the main event that you want the to-do item to happen.  It must be a number-negative numbers for the days before the event and positive number for days after the event.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Fill in the &lt;b&gt;Days From Event&lt;/b&gt;, the &lt;b&gt;Title&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;Description&lt;/b&gt; of each to-do item you want to create.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Click &lt;b&gt;Add More To-Do Items&lt;/b&gt; to add another item.  Add as many items as you need.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;If you have added &lt;b&gt;Team Members&lt;/b&gt;, you can assign tasks to members in the &lt;b&gt;assigned to&lt;/b&gt; column.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;When you have finished your new timeline, click &lt;b&gt;Save Timeline&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Your new timeline is now ready to be applied to your main events&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  
                    &lt;div class="container"&gt;&lt;ul&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;You can set a reminder for a main event or a to-do item.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Make sure the &lt;b&gt;Monthly&lt;/b&gt; tab is selected on the top right of the screen.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;First, &lt;b&gt;Create or Select&lt;/b&gt; the event that you want to set a reminder for.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;If you have selected an existing event, click &lt;b&gt;Edit Event&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Click&lt;/b&gt; the &lt;b&gt;Checkbox&lt;/b&gt; next to the word &lt;b&gt;Reminder&lt;/b&gt;. &lt;/li&gt;
                    &lt;li&gt;Set the date and time you'd like your reminder, and you'll get an email reminder then.&lt;/li&gt;
  
                    &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  
                    &lt;div class="container"&gt;&lt;ul&gt;
                                      &lt;li&gt;For more detailed help on specific features, please click on the &lt;b&gt;Help&lt;/b&gt; tab at the top right of the screen.&lt;/li&gt;
                                      &lt;li&gt;There, you will find several &lt;b&gt;Tutorial Videos&lt;/b&gt; That can walk you through more of the complex features.&lt;/li&gt;
  
                    &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  
  
                &lt;/div&gt;
              &lt;div class="closebutton"&gt;
                   &lt;a href="javascript:animatedcollapse.toggle('collapse1')"&gt;close&lt;/a&gt;
              &lt;/div&gt;
  
  
        &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
  </code></pre>