diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/config/ConfigPlugin.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/config/ConfigPlugin.java
index 29d5b40f..55dc3b1c 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/config/ConfigPlugin.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/config/ConfigPlugin.java
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ public class ConfigPlugin implements IPlugIn {
         ActionFactory.getInstance().createConfigAction(plugInPort, "Hi-Quality Rendering",
             IPlugInPort.HI_QUALITY_RENDER_KEY, false), CONFIG_MENU);
     swingUI.injectMenuAction(
-        ActionFactory.getInstance().createConfigAction(plugInPort, "Highlight Connected Areas",
-            IPlugInPort.HIGHLIGHT_CONTINUITY_AREA, false, IPlugInPort.HIGHLIGHT_CONTINUITY_AREA), CONFIG_MENU);
+        ActionFactory.getInstance().createConfigAction(plugInPort, "Highlight Connected Areas", IPlugInPort.HIGHLIGHT_CONTINUITY_AREA, 
+            false), CONFIG_MENU);
     swingUI.injectMenuAction(
         ActionFactory.getInstance().createConfigAction(plugInPort, "Mouse Wheel Zoom", IPlugInPort.WHEEL_ZOOM_KEY,
             false), CONFIG_MENU);
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java
index d017a70f..25515b3d 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
 
   private static final Logger LOG = Logger.getLogger(StatusBar.class);
 
-  public static String UPDATE_URL = "http://www.diy-fever.com/update.xml";
+  public static String UPDATE_URL = "http://www.diy-fever.com/update.xml";
+  private static String HIGHLIGHT_CONNECTED_TIP = "Click on a component to highlight area directly or indirectly connected to the area below the cursor. To continue editing, this mode needs to be switched OFF";
   private static final Format sizeFormat = new DecimalFormat("0.##");
 
   private JComboBox zoomBox;
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
   private MemoryBar memoryPanel;
   private JLabel statusLabel;
   private JLabel positionLabel;
-  private JLabel sizeLabel;
+  private JLabel sizeLabel;  
 
   private IPlugInPort plugInPort;
   private ISwingUI swingUI;
@@ -169,6 +170,14 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
       public void valueChanged(String key, Object value) {
         refreshPosition((Boolean)value);
       }
+    });
+    
+    ConfigurationManager.getInstance().addConfigListener(IPlugInPort.HIGHLIGHT_CONTINUITY_AREA, new IConfigListener() {
+      
+      @Override
+      public void valueChanged(String key, Object value) {
+        refreshStatusText();
+      }
     });
   }
 
@@ -463,6 +472,7 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
         break;
       case STATUS_MESSAGE_CHANGED:
         statusMessage = (String) params[0];
+        refreshStatusText();
         break;
       case MOUSE_MOVED:
         mousePositionIn = (Point2D) params[1];
@@ -487,7 +497,7 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
       getPositionLabel().setText(String.format("x:%.2f%s y:%.2f%s", mousePosition.getX(), unit, mousePosition.getY(), unit));
   }
 
-  private void refreshStatusText() {
+  private void refreshStatusText() {    
     String statusText = this.statusMessage;
     if (componentSlot == null) {
       if (componentNamesUnderCursor != null && !componentNamesUnderCursor.isEmpty()) {
@@ -534,6 +544,11 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
           break;
       }
     }
+    
+    // override any other status with this when in highlight mode, as we cannot do anything else
+    Boolean highlightConnectedAreasMode = ConfigurationManager.getInstance().readBoolean(IPlugInPort.HIGHLIGHT_CONTINUITY_AREA, false);
+    if (highlightConnectedAreasMode)
+      statusText = HIGHLIGHT_CONNECTED_TIP;
     
     final String finalStatus = statusText;
     SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml b/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml
index 29a62f28..7ffec6b6 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml
@@ -2581,7 +2581,11 @@
 				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 					<changeType>NEW_FEATURE</changeType>
 					<description>Ability to tag components and building blocks as favorites</description>
-				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>			
+				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>	
+				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
+					<changeType>IMPROVEMENT</changeType>
+					<description>When in "Highlight Connected Area" mode, the status bar shows useful information making it harder to forget what the mode does</description>
+				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>		
 				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 					<changeType>BUG_FIX</changeType>
 					<description>"Highlight Connected Areas" doesn't follow multiple chained wires and jumpers</description>