Method and system for selectively enforcing presentation themes
First Claim
1. In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising an element, the element comprising a property, a method for searching for a value to provide to the property, the method comprising:
- searching for a default property sheet that is designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property;
if no default property sheet is found that is designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for an in-line rule that provides a value to the property;
if no in-line rule is found that provides a value to the property, then searching for a non-default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property; and
if no non-default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a default property sheet that is not designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a theme property sheet system that supports presentation themes by coordinating values provided to elements used in a user interface. When an interface user expresses a preference for a particular presentation theme, that theme'"'"'s property sheet is given precedence over other mechanisms for setting property values. By appropriately setting these values in the interface, the theme property sheet enhances the coherence of the interface. The theme property sheet allows an interface designer to add new presentation elements to a user interface without being concerned about presentation themes. The default for each property as set by the designer is overridden, when necessary, by the theme sheet. In a few particular cases, an application designer needs to override even the user'"'"'s theme preferences. A mechanism is provided to support these exceptional cases.
30 Citations
57 Claims
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1. In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising an element, the element comprising a property, a method for searching for a value to provide to the property, the method comprising:
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searching for a default property sheet that is designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property;
if no default property sheet is found that is designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for an in-line rule that provides a value to the property;
if no in-line rule is found that provides a value to the property, then searching for a non-default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property; and
if no non-default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a default property sheet that is not designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for searching for a value to provide to a property of an element of a user interface, the method comprising:
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searching for a default property sheet that is designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property;
if no default property sheet is found that is designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for an in-line rule that provides a value to the property;
if no in-line rule is found that provides a value to the property, then searching for a non-default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property; and
if no non-default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a default property sheet that is not designated as important and that includes a rule that provides a value to the property.
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11. In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising an element, the element comprising a property, a method for providing a value to the property, the method comprising:
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if a default property sheet is designated as important and includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then applying the rule of the important default property sheet to provide a value to the property;
else if an in-line rule exists to provide a value to the property, then applying the in-line rule to provide a value to the property;
else if a non-default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the non-default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property;
else if a default property sheet is not designated as important and includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the rule of the non-important default property sheet to provide a value to the property. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for providing a value to a property of an element of a user interface, the method comprising:
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if a default property sheet is designated as important and includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then applying the rule of the important default property sheet to provide a value to the property;
else if an in-line rule exists to provide a value to the property, then applying the in-line rule to provide a value to the property;
else if a non-default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the non-default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property;
else if a default property sheet is not designated as important and includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the rule of the non-important default property sheet to provide a value to the property.
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25. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a default property sheet data structure, the default property sheet data structure comprising:
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a first field comprising data representing a rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of a user interface;
a second field comprising data representing a rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and
a third field comprising data representing whether the default property sheet is designated as important. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a property, a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising:
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adding to the default property sheet a first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of the user interface;
adding to the default property sheet a second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and
designating the default property sheet as important or as not important. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising:
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adding to the default property sheet a first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of a user interface;
adding to the default property sheet a second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and
designating the default property sheet as important or as not important.
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38. In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a property, a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising:
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determining whether a first candidate rule meets criteria for addition;
if the first candidate rule meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of the user interface;
determining whether a second candidate rule meets the criteria for addition;
if the second candidate rules meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and
designating the default property sheet as important or as not important. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising:
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determining whether a first candidate rule meets criteria for addition;
if the first candidate rule meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of a user interface;
determining whether a second candidate rule meets the criteria for addition;
if the second candidate rules meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and
designating the default property sheet as important or as not important.
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49. In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising an element, the element comprising a property, a method for providing a value to the property, the method comprising:
if a non-default property sheet is designated as important and includes a rule to provide a value to the property, and if a default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, and if the default property sheet rule is more specific than the non-default property sheet rule, then applying the more specific rule of the default property sheet to provide a value to the property. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for providing a value to a property of an element of a user interface, the method comprising:
if a non-default property sheet is designated as important and includes a rule to provide a value to the property, and if a default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, and if the default property sheet rule is more specific than the non-default property sheet rule, then applying the more specific rule of the default property sheet to provide a value to the property.
Specification