Customization of object property layout for a user interface

• US 20030063124A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Melhem, Wassim, Seelemann, Dirk A., Sroujian, Therese, Parsons, Cecil L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A process flow development tool is given a capability of determining the properties corresponding to a particular type of object and allowing a user to decide how and where the properties will be shown in a Properties dialog for individual objects of the particular type. The capability allows the tool to present a dialog that allows the user to customize, for the particular type of object, the layout for the properties in the Properties dialog. This layout may then be stored in an organizer object associated with the particular type of object.

Claims

1. A method of providing, to a user, a capability to customize a property layout for objects of a given type of object, said method comprising:

determining a set of properties of said given type of object;

displaying said set of said properties in a user interface;

receiving an indication, from said user, of a grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties; and

storing information describing said grouping in a property organizer object associated with said given type of object.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication, from said user, of a layout for said grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties; and

storing information describing said layout in said property organizer object.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, before said determining:

receiving a further indication, from said user, of a desire to customize property layout for said given type of object; and

presenting a user interface for receiving indications, from said user, of a preferred property layout.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a selection of a given property in said grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties; and

receiving an indication to alter a vertical order of presentation of said given property relative properties in said grouping and not included in said selection.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a selection of a given property in said grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties;

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a desire to delete said given property from said grouping; and

removing said given property from said grouping.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, where said grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties is a first grouping:

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a selection of a given property in said first grouping;

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a desire to move said given property from said first grouping to a second grouping;

removing said given property from said first grouping; and

adding said given property to said second grouping.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a selection of a given property in said grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties;

receiving an indication, via said user interface, of a desire to customize a size, spacing and indentation of said given property.

8. A computer system for process flow development comprising:

means for determining a set of properties for a type of object;

means for displaying said set of said properties in a user interface;

means for receiving an indication, from said user, of a grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties; and

means for storing information describing said grouping in a property organizer object associated with said given object.

9. A computer system for process flow development comprising:

a processor for determining a set of properties for a type of object;

a display, in communication with said processor, for displaying said set of said properties in a user interface;

an input peripheral, in communication with said processor, for receiving an indication, from said user, of a grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties; and

a memory, in communication with said processor, for storing information describing said grouping in a property organizer object associated with said given object.

10. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when performed by a computer system for process flow development, cause the processor to:

determine a set of properties of a type of object;

display said set of said properties in a user interface;

receive an indication, from said user, of a grouping of particular ones of said set of said properties; and

store information describing said grouping in a property organizer object associated with said given object.

11. A method of customizing the display of properties of an object of a class, comprising:

allowing a user to group selected properties of said class; and

storing said grouped selected properties in an organizer object in association with said class.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising allowing a user to select said selected properties of said class.

13. A method for displaying an object, comprising:

during instantiation of said object from a class, determining whether an organizer object is associated with said class; and

where said organizer object is associated with said class, displaying properties of said instantiated object as specified by said organizer object.

14. A method of providing, to a user, a properties user interface for a given object, where said properties user interface has a customized property layout, said method comprising:

presenting a menu, to said user, including a properties menu item;

receiving an indication, from said user, of a selection of said properties menu item; and

displaying a properties user interface with a layout specified by an associated property organizer object.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, before said presenting:

receiving a request from said user to present a menu in respect of said given object;

determining whether said given object has an associated property organizer object; and

performing said presenting said menu including a properties menu item only if said given object has an associated property organizer object.

16. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when performed by a computer system for process flow development, cause the processor to:

present a menu, to said user, including a properties menu item;

receive an indication, from said user, of a selection of said properties menu item; and

display a properties user interface with a layout specified by an associated property organizer object.