Object oriented explorer type environment

• US 20030081007A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Cyr, James, Green, Channell, Hold, Martin, Kuhnen, Regina, MacGinite, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US09/984,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20030081007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An object oriented Explorer type environment includes a first pane and a second pane linked such that one may interact with the first pane to call up data within the second pane. The first pane includes a plurality of objects, each object including a control object defined to call up a static method upon activation of the object. The static method calls up data in the second pane for viewing by an operator of the Explorer type environment.

Claims

1. An object oriented Explorer type environment including a first pane and a second pane, the first pane and second pane being linked such that one may interact with the first pane to call up data within the second pane, the environment comprising:

a first pane including a plurality of objects, each object including a control object defined to call up a static method upon activation of the object, the static method calling up data in the second pane for viewing by an operator of the Explorer type environment.

2. The environment according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of objects is associated with an icon within the first pane.

3. The environment according to claim 2, wherein activation is initiated by clicking on one of the plurality of objects with a cursor.

4. The environment according to claim 3, wherein different static methods a called based upon the manner in which an operator clicks on one of the plurality of objects.

5. The environment according to claim 4, wherein the cursor is controlled my a mouse including left and right buttons, and different static methods are called upon by single clicking the left button of the mouse, double clicking the left button of the mouse, single clicking the right button of the mouse and double clicking the right button of the mouse.

6. The environment according to claim 1, wherein activation is initiated by clicking on one of the plurality of objects with a cursor.

7. The environment according to claim 6, wherein different static methods a called based upon the manner which an operator clicks on one of the plurality of objects.

8. The environment according to claim 7, wherein the cursor is controlled my a mouse including left and right buttons, and different static methods are called upon by single clicking the left button of the mouse, double clicking the left button of the mouse, single clicking the right button of the mouse and double clicking the right button of the mouse.

9. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the first pane and second pane are respectively the left pane and right pane of a single window.

10. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the first pane provides an operator with a tree view control application.

11. The environment according to claim 10, wherein the second pane provides an operator with a list view control application.

12. The environment according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of objects under the tree view control application is permanently and directly linked with specific data under the list view control application of the second pane.

13. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the second pane provides an operator with a list view control application.

14. The environment according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of objects associated with icons is respectively instantiated with a control object.

15. The environment according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of objects associated with icons is permanently and directly linked with specific data shown in the second pane.

16. A method for linking a first pane and a second pane within an Explorer type environment, comprising the following steps:

defining at least one object within the first pane;

creating a control object defined to call up a static method, the static method calling up data in the second pane for viewing by an operator of the Explorer type environment;

assigning the control object to the at least one object, wherein the control object is defined to call up the static method upon activation of the object, the static method calling up data in the second pane for viewing by an operator of the Explorer type environment.

17. The method according to claim 16, further including a plurality of objects and wherein the step of defining includes associating each object with an icon within the first pane.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein activation is initiated by clicking on the object with a cursor.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein different static methods a called based upon the manner in which an operator clicks on the object.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the cursor is controlled my a mouse including left and right buttons, and different static methods are called upon by single clicking the left button of the mouse, double clicking the left button of the mouse, single clicking the right button of the mouse and double clicking the right button of the mouse.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein activation is initiated by clicking on the object with a cursor.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein different static methods a called based upon the manner in which an operator clicks on the object.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cursor is controlled my a mouse including left and right buttons, and different static methods are called upon by single clicking the left button of the mouse, double clicking the left button of the mouse, single clicking the right button of the mouse and double clicking the right button of the mouse.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first pane and second pane are respectively the left pane and right pane of a single window.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first pane provides an operator with a tree view control application.

28. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second pane provides an operator with a list view control application.

29. The method according to claim 16, wherein step of assigning further includes instantiating respective the object associated with the icon with a control object.

30. The method according to claim 16, further including a plurality of objects and the step of permanently and directly linking each object associated with icons with specific data shown in the second pane.

26. The method according to clam 25, wherein the second pane provides an operator with a list view control application.

27. The method according to claim 26, further including a plurality of objects and the step of permanently and directly linking each object under the tree view control application with specific data under the list view control application of the second pane.