1. In an interactive processing system having a function of outputting a help message, a help control method, comprising the steps of: storing help messages in a message database; storing inference rules in a rule database; obtaining through use of a user program at least a history of past statuses resulting from execution of commands by said user program; applying inference rules, stored in said rule database, to said history of past statuses for selecting held messages, each of said inference rules being related to a relationship between a status of said user program and a help message to be outputted; and obtaining, from help messages stored in said message database, a help message selected on the basis of a result of said applying step.