File dialog user interfaces and creation of same
First Claim
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1. A method of creating a dialog user interface, comprising:
- (a) receiving from a first computer program a request to generate a file dialog graphical user interface, wherein (i) the file dialog has a format defined by a second computer program, (ii) the format defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (iii) the format includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, (iv) the format permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and
(b) generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the at least one identified UI control in an extensibility region of the generated dialog.
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Abstract
An OS generates a file dialog in response to a request from an application program. The file dialog has a format with a dedicated extensibility region. Multiple user interface controls from a predefined collection of UI control types can be placed within the extensibility region. An application requesting display of a file dialog requests one or more controls of the types in the predefined collection. The OS then places the requested controls in the extensibility region of the displayed dialog. The application need not provide data explicitly indicating the positions within the dialog of the requested controls.
199 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of creating a dialog user interface, comprising:
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(a) receiving from a first computer program a request to generate a file dialog graphical user interface, wherein (i) the file dialog has a format defined by a second computer program, (ii) the format defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (iii) the format includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, (iv) the format permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and
(b) generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the at least one identified UI control in an extensibility region of the generated dialog. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method for creating a dialog user interface, said steps comprising:
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(a) receiving from a first computer program a request to generate a file dialog graphical user interface, wherein (i) the file dialog has a format defined by a second computer program, (ii) the format defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (iii) the format includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, (iv) the format permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (v) the request identifies at least one UI control of a type in the collection; and
(b) generating the requested file dialog in the second program, in response to the request of step (a) and according to the format, so as to include the at least one identified UI control in an extensibility region of the generated dialog. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A software architecture, stored on one or more computer-readable media, for creating dialog user interfaces, comprising:
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(a) at least one component configured to generate on a computer display a file dialog user interface having a format defined by the at least one component, wherein the format (i) defines a graphical display area for the file dialog, the defined area having plural regions, one of the plural regions being an extensibility region having a predefined position relative to one or more other of the plural regions, (ii) includes a predefined collection of user interface (UI) control types, each UI control type of the collection being capable of receiving user input, and (iii) permits inclusion in the extensibility region of multiple UI controls of one or more types selected from the collection, and (b) at least one application program interface to access the at least one component, the at least one application program interface configured to accept data indicative of one or more UI controls of a type in the collection and to be included in a file dialog. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification