Modeless child windows for application programs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method in a computer system for displaying modeless windows, the computer system running an application, the method comprising:
- displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a modeless window in the document window and anchored to an edge of the document window;
within the modeless window, displaying information associated with the application; and
when the modeless window is in a collapsed state, determining a preferred position of the modeless window based upon a size of its open state.
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Abstract
A computer system that assists the user of computer drawing programs is described. The computer system runs an application that displays modeless windows by first displaying an application window that presents information associated with the application. After the application window is created, the computer system displays a modeless child window that overlaps the application window, and within the modeless child window information associated with the application is presented.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for displaying modeless windows, the computer system running an application, the method comprising:
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displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a modeless window in the document window and anchored to an edge of the document window;
within the modeless window, displaying information associated with the application; and
when the modeless window is in a collapsed state, determining a preferred position of the modeless window based upon a size of its open state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system that is running an application to displaying modeless windows by:
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displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a modeless window in the document window and anchored to an edge of the document window;
within the modeless window, displaying information regarding the application; and
when the modeless window is in a collapsed state, determining a preferred position of the modeless window based upon a size of its open state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method in a computer system for displaying modeless windows, the computer system running an application, the method comprising:
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displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a first modeless window in the document window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that within it displays information associated with the application;
displaying a second modeless window in the document window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that within it displays information associated with the application; and
moving a present location of the first modeless window if a window movement command from a user is received that causes the second modeless window to be moved to a position which would overlap a preferred location of the first modeless window. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system that is running an application to displaying modeless windows by:
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displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a first modeless window in the document window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that within it displays information associated with the application;
displaying a second modeless window in the document window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that within it displays information associated with the application; and
moving a present location of the first modeless window if a window movement command from a user is received that causes the second modeless window to be moved to a position which would overlap a preferred location of the first modeless window. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method in a computer system for displaying modeless windows, the computer system running an application, the method comprising:
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displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a modeless window in the document window that displays information regarding the application; and
collapsing the modeless window such that a title bar is displayed when user input selects a display position that is not near the modeless window. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system that is running an application to displaying modeless windows by:
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displaying an application window having a client area;
within the client area, displaying a document window;
displaying a modeless window in the document window that displays information regarding the application; and
collapsing the modeless window such that a title bar is displayed when user input selects a display position that is not near the modeless window. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of communicating information to a user about a computer program that includes a display window, the method comprising:
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displaying a first modeless child window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that contains information about the computer program to the user, the modeless child window having a preferred location;
displaying a second modeless child window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that contains information about the computer program to the user, the modeless child window having a preferred location;
receiving a window movement command from a user that causes the second modeless child window to be moved to a position in which it would overlap the first modeless child window in its preferred location;
in response to determining that the second modeless child window would overlap the first modeless child window, moving the first modeless child window to a new location in which the second modeless child window does not overlap the first child window; and
anchoring the first modeless child window in a position that does not interfere with the preferred location of the second modeless child window. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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60. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system running a computer to communicate information to a user about a computer program that includes a display window by:
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displaying a first child modeless window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that contains information about the computer program to the user, the modeless child window having a preferred location;
displaying a second child modeless window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected and that contains information about the computer program to the user, the modeless child window having a preferred location;
receiving a window movement command from a user that causes the second modeless child window to be moved to a position in which it would overlap the first modeless child window in its preferred location;
in response to determining that the second modeless child window would overlap the first child window, moving the first modeless child window to a new location in which the second modeless child window does not overlap the first child window; and
anchoring the first modeless child window in a position that does not interfere with the preferred location of the second modeless child window.
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66. A computer system for displaying modeless windows to a user of a computer program comprising:
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a window display system that displays a window having a client area;
a second window display system that displays a document window within the client area;
a third window display system that displays a modeless child window that does not prevent functionality of the document window after being selected, and the third system displays the child window anchored to the edge of the document window and determines a preferred position of the modeless child window based upon a size of its open state even when the modeless child window is in a collapsed state; and
a content display system that displays information regarding the application within the modeless child window.
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67. A computer system for communicating information to a user about a computer program that includes a display window comprising:
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a window display system that displays a modeless child window containing information about the computer program to the user;
a window attacher for anchoring the modeless child window to an edge of the display window;
an opening process that opens the modeless child window responsive to input received from the user;
a closing process that closes the child window responsive to other input received from the user; and
a preferred position process that determining a preferred position of the modeless child window based upon a size of its open state when the modeless window is in a collapsed state.
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Specification