Interface and method for extensible grouping of screen elements in real time

• US 20070028181A1
• Filed: 07/30/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Paul, Brookler, David, Tinari, Phil
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces

Abstract

When a set of screen elements are identified as a family a bounded extent is placed around the identified elements. Items can be automatically grouped based on their association with a set of data defined in a DBMS as a family, for example. When one of the elements within the group is moved, the extent automatically resizes to a new geometry that fits around each of the elements within the group. If an element within the group is moved against the extent and then extended beyond the boundaries of the extent, the extent automatically resizes to cover a bigger area; if an element within the group that is against the extent is moved inside the boundary of the extent, the extent automatically resizes to cover a smaller area. It is possible to nest a set of these extensible groups within a single extensible group thereby providing maximum flexibility while still maintaining optimal flexibility. In addition, it is possible to “unlink” an item so that it maintains its association with the group but does not effect the extent.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method for extensibly grouping screen elements within a graphical user interface comprising:

obtaining a plurality of initial screen elements from a data repository;

providing said plurality of initial screen elements from said data repository to a graphical user interface;

determining an association between two or more of said plurality of initial screen elements to derive a plurality of associated screen elements;

rendering an extent to surround associated elements from said plurality of associated screen elements where said extent comprises a contiguous area around said plurality of associated screen elements and has at least one visible border element; and

adjusting said border element when at least one of said plurality of associated screen elements is moved beyond an interior edge of said at least one visible border element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said data repository comprises a database having image data capable of serving as said plurality of initial screen elements.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said graphical user interfaces comprises a region that enables said plurality of initial screen elements to be inserted into a document for purposes of subsequent publication.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said association defines that said two or more of said plurality of associated screen elements belong to a same family.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said association identifies that said two or more of said plurality of associated screen elements are assigned to a group.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining a distance between each of said plurality of associated screen elements and maintaining said distance when any one of said plurality of associated screen elements is moved across said graphical user interface so that said plurality of associated screen elements move as a collective block.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said association identifies that said two or more of said plurality of associated screen elements are assigned to a soft group.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of associated screen elements assigned to said soft group are surrounded by said extent but maintain the ability to move within said graphical user interface independent of one another.

9. In a computer system, a method for extensibly grouping screen elements within a graphical user interface comprising:

identifying a plurality of screen elements as having commonalities;

designating said plurality of screen elements as belonging to a group wherein said group indicates said commonalties between two or more of said plurality of screen elements are present;

rendering an extent to surround said plurality of screen elements that belong to said group where said extent comprises a contiguous area that encompasses said plurality of screen elements and has a plurality of border elements that define the screen region within which said screen elements are positioned;

moving said screen element from a first position within the bounds of said extent to a second position; and

adjusting at least one of said plurality of border elements from said first position to said second position when at least one of said plurality of screen elements is moved against an interior edge of said at least one border element.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said commonalities comprise a family relationship between said plurality of screen elements.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said designating comprises receiving input from a user that indicates which of said plurality of screen elements are associated with said group.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one border element comprises a line that resides adjacent to the outermost one of said screen elements positioned within said extent.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said second position is defined by the location of at least one of said screen elements and is proximate to said at least one screen element.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of screen elements within said extent are designated with visual queues assigned to all of said screen elements having said commonalities.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said extent runs across a plurality of pages of a document to be published.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of screen elements designated as being within said group are fixed in proximity to one another an move as a collective block.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of screen elements designated as being within said group are freely moveable in a manner independent of one another.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one border element of said extent functions as a mask and thereby obscures said plurality of screen elements that pass beyond said at least one border element.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising inwardly adjusting at least one of said plurality of border elements from said second position to a third position when at least one of said plurality of screen elements is moved inward towards the center of said extent.

20. A system for associating a family of layout elements and then grouping those layout elements within an extensibly bounded region of a graphical user interface in a way that provides visual queues about how each of the respective screen elements within the interface are associated comprising:

a database having a plurality of screen elements;

a publication interface configured to obtain said plurality of screen elements form said database and identify present said plurality of screen elements to a user for said user to identify said plurality of screen elements as having commonalities;

a selection component configured to obtain input from said user that designates said plurality of screen elements as belonging to a family wherein said family indicates said commonalties between two or more of said plurality of screen elements are present;

a graphical user interface component comprising an extent configured to surround said plurality of screen elements that belong to said family where said extent comprises a contiguous area that encompasses said plurality of screen elements and has a plurality of border elements that define the screen region within which said screen elements are positioned;

said selection component configured to provide a mechanism to move said screen element from a first position within the bounds of said extent to a second position; and

said graphical user interface component configured to adjust least one of said plurality of border elements from said first position to said second position when at least one of said plurality of screen elements is moved against an interior edge of said at least one border element.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said plurality of screen elements designated as being within said family are grouped so as to fix said plurality of screen elements in proximity to one another and enable movement as a collective block.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said plurality of screen elements designated as being within said family are freely moveable in a manner independent of one another.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein said plurality of screen elements within said extent are designated with visual queues assigned to all of said screen elements having said commonalities.