Multi-view masters for graphical designs

• US 10,592,589 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axure Software Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Axure Software Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsu, Victor, Smith, Martin, Gardner, Ian, Gourley, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunez, Jordany
• Application Number:
  US16/106,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20200065355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method for generating and using multi-view masters involves selecting a master in a design environment. A widget is added to the master. A first view is selected for the master. A first widget characterization of the widget is received. The first widget characterization is associated with the first view of the master. A second view of the master is selected. A second widget characterization of the widget is received. The second widget characterization is associated with the second view of the master. An instance of the master is placed in a containing context. A first instance view selection is received, the first instance view selecting the first view of the master for the first instance of the master. The first instance of the master is displayed within the containing context, the widget being displayed in accordance with the first widget characterization associated with the first view of the master.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, in a design environment, a first master selection, the first master selection selecting a first master;

adding, in the design environment, a first instance of a widget to the first master;

receiving, in the design environment, a first view selection for the first master, the first view selection selecting a first view from a plurality of views of the first master;

receiving, in the design environment, a first widget characterization of the first instance of the widget, the first widget characterization being associated with the first view of the first master;

receiving, in the design environment, a second view selection for the first master, the second view selection selecting a second view from the plurality of views;

receiving, in the design environment, a second widget characterization of the first instance of the widget, the second widget characterization being associated with the second view of the first master;

placing, in the design environment, a first instance of the first master in a containing context, the first instance of the first master comprising a second instance of the widget, the second instance of the widget being an instance of the first instance of the widget;

receiving, in the design environment, a first instance view selection, the first instance view selection selecting the first view of the first master for the first instance of the first master; and

displaying, in the design environment, the first instance of the first master within the containing context, the second instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the first widget characterization associated with the first view of the first master.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in the design environment, a second instance view selection, the second instance view selection selecting the second view of the first master for the first instance of the first master; and

displaying, in the design environment, the first instance of the first master within the containing context, the second instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the second widget characterization associated with the second view of the first master.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first instance view selection comprises:

receiving an input from an input interface of the design environment, the input selecting the first view of the first master.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first instance view selection comprises:

determining, in the design environment, a property of the containing context; and

determining, in the design environment, that the first view of the first master corresponds to the property of the containing context.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the property of the containing context is a style or a dimension of the containing context.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first instance view selection comprises:

determining, in the design environment, a widget characterization of the first instance of the first master; and

determining, in the design environment, that the first view of the first master corresponds to the widget characterization of the first instance of the first master.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the widget characterization of the first instance of the first master is a style or a dimension of the first instance of the first master.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing, in the design environment, a second instance of the first master in the containing context, the second instance of the first master comprising a third instance of the widget, the third instance of the widget being another instance of the first instance of the widget;

receiving, in the design environment, a second instance view selection, the second instance view selection selecting the second view of the first master for the second instance of the first master;

displaying, in the design environment, the first instance of the first master within the containing context, the second instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the first widget characterization associated with the first view of the first master; and

displaying, in the design environment, the second instance of the first master within the containing context, the third instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the second widget characterization associated with the second view of the first master.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, in the design environment, a third widget characterization of the first instance of the widget;

displaying, in the design environment, the first instance of the first master within the containing context, the second instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the first widget characterization associated with the first view of the first master and the third widget characterization; and

displaying, in the design environment, the second instance of the first master within the containing context, the third instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the second widget characterization associated with the second view of the first master and the third widget characterization.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the first view of the first master is a first descendent view of a parent view of the first master;

the second view of the first master is a second descendent view of the parent view of the first master; and

the third widget characterization of the widget is associated with the parent view of the first master.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing in a second master, in the design environment, a first instance of a third master;

placing in the first master, in the design environment, a first instance of the second master;

receiving, in the design environment, a second instance view selection, the second instance view selection selecting, from a second plurality of views, a second view of the second master for the first instance of the second master; and

receiving, in the design environment, a third instance view selection, the third instance view selection selecting, from a third plurality of views, a third view of the third master for the first instance of the third master.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the containing context is a second master.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first widget characterization comprises one or more of a first color of the widget, a first dimension of the widget, or a first relative position of the widget; and

the second widget characterization comprises one or more of a second color of the widget, a second dimension of the widget, or a second relative position of the widget.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first widget characterization comprises one or more of a first absolute position of the widget, or a first anchoring rule of the widget; and

the second widget characterization comprises one or more of a second absolute position of the widget, or a second anchoring rule of the widget.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first instance view selection comprises:

generating a view selection interface in the design environment, the view selection interface comprising a first selectable option and a second selectable option, the first selectable option identifying the first view selection, and the second selectable option identifying the second view selection; and

receiving an input, the input selecting the first selectable option.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering, in a prototype environment, a prototype, the rendered prototype displaying the first instance of the first master within an instance of the containing context, the second instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the first widget characterization associated with the first view of the first master;

receiving, in the prototype environment, a second instance view selection, the second instance view selection selecting the second view of the first master for the first instance of the first master; and

rendering, in the prototype environment, the rendered prototype displaying the first instance of the first master within the instance of the containing context, the second instance of the widget being displayed in accordance with the second widget characterization associated with the second view of the first master.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the prototype is a webpage; and

the prototype environment is an external player.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the prototype is a mobile application; and

the prototype environment is an external player.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the second instance view selection comprises:

receiving an input from an input interface of the prototype environment, the input selecting the second view of the first master.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the second instance view selection comprises:

determining, in the prototype environment, a property of the instance of the containing context; and

determining, in the prototype environment, that the second view of the first master corresponds to the property of the instance of the containing context.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the property of the containing context is a style or a dimension of the instance of the containing context.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the second instance view selection comprises:

determining, in the prototype environment, a widget characterization of the first instance of the first master; and

determining, in the prototype environment, that the second view of the first master corresponds to the widget characterization of the first instance of the first master.

23. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the widget characterization of the first instance of the first master is a style or a dimension of the first instance of the first master.