Method and apparatus for maintaining data integrity when displaying multiple dialog windows
First Claim
1. A method of manipulating data by performing a user selected action on said data within a dialog window stored by a data processing apparatus having a windowing user interface comprising the steps of:
- detecting by said windowing user interface a first request by said user for manipulating data within a first logically defined division of an application program executing on said data processing apparatus,creating and displaying a first dialog window having a first mode data identifier in response to said first request for manipulating data by said user,storing said first mode data identifier for said first dialog window within a data structure for said first logically defined division in said data processing apparatus indicating said first dialog window is being displayed, anddetecting by said windowing user interface a second request by said user for manipulating data within a second logically defined division of said application program executing on said data processing apparatus, creating a second mode data identifier for sad second logically defined division in response to said second request, and rejecting said second request when said first mode data identifier stored for said first logically defined division conflicts with said second mode data identifier by comparing said first mode data identifier with said second mode data identifier.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a data processing apparatus having a windowing user interface a user may manipulate data using dialog boxes. If the user requests the creation of more than one dialog box then the system checks to see if a dialog box for the active logically defined division within the application has already been raised and whether the request for the second dialog box would if granted allow the user to interfere with data integrity. If the system determines that data integrity could be jeopardized by creating the second dialog box then the request is refused. The freedom of action of the user is only restricted to the extent needed to protect data integrity. The system links dialog boxes and other items within a given logically defined division of an application together in a chain structure and allows a user to switch focus between them using cursor keys thereby clearly visually indicating the relationship between them.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of manipulating data by performing a user selected action on said data within a dialog window stored by a data processing apparatus having a windowing user interface comprising the steps of:
-
detecting by said windowing user interface a first request by said user for manipulating data within a first logically defined division of an application program executing on said data processing apparatus, creating and displaying a first dialog window having a first mode data identifier in response to said first request for manipulating data by said user, storing said first mode data identifier for said first dialog window within a data structure for said first logically defined division in said data processing apparatus indicating said first dialog window is being displayed, and detecting by said windowing user interface a second request by said user for manipulating data within a second logically defined division of said application program executing on said data processing apparatus, creating a second mode data identifier for sad second logically defined division in response to said second request, and rejecting said second request when said first mode data identifier stored for said first logically defined division conflicts with said second mode data identifier by comparing said first mode data identifier with said second mode data identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A data processing apparatus having a display, a windowing user interface and dialog window control logic for:
-
detecting by said windowing user interface a user input from a user input device for manipulating data by performing user selected actions on said data in a dialog window displayed on the display for a first logically defined division of an application program executing on said data processing apparatus, creating and displaying a first dialog window having at least one mode data identifier containing information of the currently displayed first dialog windows for manipulating data within said first logically defined division, storing said mode data identifier in a data structure by said data processing apparatus for said first dialog window for said first logically defined division, and detecting by said windowing user interface a second request for manipulating data within a second logically defined division in said application program, creating a second mode data identifier for said second logically defined division in response to said second request, and rejecting said second request when said first mode data identifier stored for said first logically defined division and said second mode data identifier for said second request are compared and determined to be of a type conflicting with a previous user selected action in said first dialog window. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification