--- a/gui/src/FilesDockWidget.cpp
+++ b/gui/src/FilesDockWidget.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@
   QStyle *style = QApplication::style ();
   m_directoryIcon = style->standardIcon (QStyle::SP_FileDialogToParent);
   m_directoryUpAction = new QAction (m_directoryIcon, "", m_navigationToolBar);
+  m_directoryUpAction->setStatusTip (tr ("Move up one directory."));
+
   m_currentDirectory = new QLineEdit (m_navigationToolBar);
+  m_currentDirectory->setStatusTip (tr ("Enter the path or filename."));
 
   m_navigationToolBar->addAction (m_directoryUpAction);
   m_navigationToolBar->addWidget (m_currentDirectory);
@@ -72,6 +75,8 @@
   m_fileTreeView->setColumnHidden (1, true);
   m_fileTreeView->setColumnHidden (2, true);
   m_fileTreeView->setColumnHidden (3, true);
+  m_fileTreeView->setStatusTip (tr ("Doubleclick a file to open it."));
+
   setCurrentDirectory (m_fileSystemModel->fileInfo (rootPathIndex).
 		       absoluteFilePath ());
 

--- a/gui/src/HistoryDockWidget.cpp
+++ b/gui/src/HistoryDockWidget.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@
   m_historyListView->setModel (&m_sortFilterProxyModel);
   m_historyListView->setAlternatingRowColors (true);
   m_historyListView->setEditTriggers (QAbstractItemView::NoEditTriggers);
+  m_historyListView->setStatusTip (tr ("Doubleclick a command to transfer it to the terminal."));
   m_filterLineEdit = new QLineEdit (this);
+  m_filterLineEdit->setStatusTip (tr ("Enter text to filter the command history."));
   QVBoxLayout *layout = new QVBoxLayout ();
 
   setWindowTitle (tr ("Command History"));

--- a/gui/src/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/gui/src/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -222,8 +222,11 @@
 
   // Setup dockable widgets and the status bar.
   m_variablesDockWidget = new VariablesDockWidget (this);
+  m_variablesDockWidget->setStatusTip (tr ("View the variables in the active workspace."));
   m_historyDockWidget = new HistoryDockWidget (this);
+  m_historyDockWidget->setStatusTip (tr ("Browse and search the command history."));
   m_filesDockWidget = new FilesDockWidget (this);
+  m_filesDockWidget->setStatusTip (tr ("Browse your files."));
   m_statusBar = new QStatusBar (this);
 
   // Setup essential MDI Windows.
@@ -237,11 +240,10 @@
     m_centralMdiArea->addSubWindow (m_documentationWidget,
 				    Qt::WindowTitleHint | Qt::
 				    WindowMinMaxButtonsHint);
-  m_documentationWidgetSubWindow->
-    setObjectName ("DocumentationWidgetSubWindow");
+  m_documentationWidgetSubWindow->setObjectName ("DocumentationWidgetSubWindow");
   m_documentationWidgetSubWindow->setWindowTitle (tr ("Documentation"));
-  m_documentationWidgetSubWindow->
-    setWindowIcon (QIcon ("../media/help_index.png"));
+  m_documentationWidgetSubWindow->setWindowIcon (QIcon ("../media/help_index.png"));
+  m_documentationWidgetSubWindow->setStatusTip (tr ("Browse the Octave documentation for help."));
 
   m_octaveTerminalSubWindow =
     m_centralMdiArea->addSubWindow (m_octaveTerminal,
@@ -250,6 +252,7 @@
   m_octaveTerminalSubWindow->setObjectName ("OctaveTerminalSubWindow");
   m_octaveTerminalSubWindow->setWindowTitle (tr ("Terminal"));
   m_octaveTerminalSubWindow->setWindowIcon (QIcon ("../media/terminal.png"));
+  m_octaveTerminalSubWindow->setStatusTip (tr ("Enter your commands into the Octave terminal."));
 
   m_ircWidgetSubWindow = m_centralMdiArea->addSubWindow (m_ircWidget,
 							 Qt::
@@ -259,6 +262,7 @@
   m_ircWidgetSubWindow->setObjectName ("ChatWidgetSubWindow");
   m_ircWidgetSubWindow->setWindowTitle (tr ("Chat"));
   m_ircWidgetSubWindow->setWindowIcon (QIcon ("../media/chat.png"));
+  m_ircWidgetSubWindow->setStatusTip(tr ("Instantly chat with other Octave users for help."));
 
   QMenu *controlMenu = menuBar ()->addMenu (tr ("Octave"));
   QAction *settingsAction = controlMenu->addAction (tr ("Settings"));