In situ user interface template editing

• US 20060248480A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stoner, Charles Robert, Faraday, Peter, Motter, DoRon Banu
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/866
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

In order to work with user interface documents containing instances of reusable templates which describe both the appearance and behavior for a user interface element, editing functionality is provided. The user interface document can be edited by selecting items from a view of the user interface document and indicating an edit to be performed. Edits may be to an underlying template or templates, or to properties of selected items. The scope of the edit is determined by user indication and/or defaults of user preference. Locks are provided in order to prevent accidental editing of some locked element or template. A graphical tree view, a list view (text-based tree view), or an artboard view may be presented to a user in order to facilitate the selection and editing process.

Claims

1. A method for editing a user interface comprising at least one user interface element specified at least in part by a template instance, each of said template instances specified at least in part by at least one template, said method comprising:

receiving a user selection of one or more selected template instances from among said template instances;

determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired;

if template editing relating to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances; and

if property editing related to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances.

2. The method of claim 1, where said step of determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired comprises:

determining whether an indication has been made that template editing is desired; and

if no such indication has been made, determining that property editing related to said user selection is desired.

3. The method of claim 1, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances comprises:

determining whether said selected template instances correspond to a single specific template; and

if so, editing said single specific template.

4. The method of claim 3, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances further comprises:

saving said edited single specific template as a new template.

5. The method of claim 3, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances further comprises:

determining if said template corresponding to said selected instances is indicated to be locked; and

allowing changes to said template only if said template is not indicated to be locked.

6. The method of claim 5, where said template is part of a hierarchy of templates, and where said step of allowing changes to said template only if said template is not indicated to be locked comprises:

allowing changes to said template only if said template and any template which said template descends from in said hierarchy are not indicated to be locked.

7. The method of claim 1, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances comprises:

determining two or more target templates corresponding to said selected instances; and

providing functionality for performing an edit to said target templates, said functionality allowing a user to edit all of said target templates concurrently.

8. The method of claim 1, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances comprises:

selecting an existing template; and

using said existing template to specify, at least in part, said selected instances.

9. The method of claim 1, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances comprises:

receiving a new value for said at least one property;

setting a value for said at least one property to said new value in each of said selected instances in which said property is valid.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing functionality for accepting user indication that a template is indicated to be locked; and

providing functionality for accepting user indication that a template is not indicated to be locked.

12. The system of claim 11, where said editing type determiner comprises:

template editing indication determiner for determining whether an indication has been made that template editing is desired; and

property editing determiner for, if no such indication has been made, determining that property editing related to said user selection is desired.

11. A system for editing a user interface comprising at least one user interface element specified at least in part by a template instance, each of said template instances specified at least in part by at least one template, said system comprising:

a user input for receiving a user selection of one or more selected template instances from among said template instances;

an editing type determiner for determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired;

a template editor for, if template editing relating to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected instances; and

a property editor for, if property editing related to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances.

13. The system of claim 11, where said template editor comprises:

template determiner for determining whether said selected template instances correspond to a single specific template; and

single template editor for, if said selected template instances correspond to a single specific template, editing said single specific template.

14. The system of claim 13, where said single template editor saves said edited single specific template as a new template.

15. The system of claim 13, where said single template editor:

determines if said template corresponding to said selected instances is indicated to be locked; and

allowing changes to said template only if said template is not indicated to be locked.

16. The system of claim 15, where said template is part of a hierarchy of templates, and where said single template editor allows changes to said template only if said template and any template which said template descends from in said hierarchy are not indicated to be locked.

17. The system of claim 11, where template editor further:

determines two or more target templates corresponding to said selected instances; and

provides functionality for performing an edit to said target templates, said functionality allowing a user to edit all of said target templates concurrently.

18. The system of claim 11, where said template editor further:

selects an existing template; and

uses said existing template to specify, at least in part, said selected instances.

19. The system of claim 11, where said property editor further:

receives a new value for said at least one property;

sets a value for said at least one property to said new value in each of said selected instances in which said property is valid.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

lock acceptor for accepting user indication that a template is indicated to be locked; and

unlock acceptor for accepting user indication that a template is not indicated to be locked.

21-26. -26. (canceled)