System for providing locale dependent user interface for presenting control graphic which has different contents or same contents displayed in a predetermined order

• US 5,551,055 A
• Filed: 12/23/1992
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taligent, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Matheny, John R., White, Christopher, Davis, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US07/996,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/700, 395/275, 395/164, 395/882, 395/892
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for updating an application to conform to unique requirements of a specific locale. The update involves language translation, graphic substitution, and interface element reorientation. For example, the text used in labels, titles, and messages depends upon the selected language. Its direction and orientation may affect the placement and orientation of a menu, menubar, title, scrollbar, or toolbar. Similarly, the selection of icons and other graphical symbols may be culturally dependent. Once localized, user interface elements are stored in a disk dictionary. A disk dictionary is an object that, when given a key, returns a value after reading it in from disk. This disk dictionary is managed by an object called an archive. An archive is responsible for putting together the individual user interface elements that make up a particular presentation.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface command system for use in a computer system having a display and a processor, the system displaying a control graphic on the display, said control graphic presenting information on the display, and executing a command in response to manipulation of the control graphic by a user, the system is configured to display said control graphic in a different particular manner according to associated locales respectively, and comprising:

a memory for storing a command data structure, a plurality of control graphics, and a plurality of locale information for each of said control graphics;

a pre-runtime mechanism operating on the processor for saving parameters in the command data structure indicative of a plurality of command executions;

tracking apparatus for modifying the command data structure as the user manipulates a displayed control graphic to select and execute one of the plurality of command executions and provide for proper control execution;

a locale selector for selecting one of said plurality of locale information; and

display control apparatus, coupled to said memory, said pre-runtime mechanism, said tracking apparatus, and said locale selector, for generating one of said control graphics in a specific manner based on said selected locale information and wherein for different locales said control graphic has different information contents or same information contents displayed in a predetermined order.

2. A command system as recited in claim 1, including processor means for storing a particular user interface element in a presentation.

3. A command system as recited in claim 2, including processor means for storing the presentation in a memory device.

4. A command system as recited in claim 1, including display means for displaying commands from the command data structure based on a particular locale.

5. A command system as recited in claim 1, including a dictionary object for managing the command data structure.

6. A method for implementing a graphical user interface command system for use in a computer system having a display and a processor, the system displaying a control graphic on the display, said control graphic presenting information on the display, and executing a command in response to manipulation of the control graphic by a user, the system is configured to display said control graphic in a different particular manner according to associated locales respectively, and comprising the steps of:

storing a command data structure, a plurality of control graphics, and a plurality of locale information for each of said control graphics;

saving parameters in the command data structure indicative of a plurality of command executions;

modifying the command data structure as the user manipulates a displayed control graphic to select and execute one of the plurality of command executions and provide for proper control execution;

selecting one of said plurality of locale information; and

generating one of said control graphics in a specific manner based on said selected locale information and wherein for different locales said control graphic has different information contents or same information contents displayed in a predetermined order.

7. A method for implementing a command system as recited in claim 6, including the step of storing a particular user interface element in a presentation.

8. A method for implementing a command system as recited in claim 7, including the step of storing the presentation in a memory device.

9. A method for implementing a command system as recited in claim 6, including the step of displaying commands from the command data structure based on a particular locale.

10. A method for implementing a command system as recited in claim 6, including the step of managing the command data structure.

11. A graphical user interface command system for use in a computer system having a display and a processor, the system displaying a control graphic on the display, said control graphic presenting information on the display, and executing a command in response to manipulation of the control graphic by a user, the system is configured to display said control graphic in a different particular manner according to associated locales respectively, and comprising:

a pre-runtime mechanism operating on the processor for storing a plurality of control graphics in the memory for the control;

a command logic routine stored in the memory operable to perform a command for the control;

a locale selector responsive to a geographic locale for displaying one of the plurality of control graphics to represent the control on the display;

tracking apparatus responsive to a selection of the one control graphic for executing the command logic routine; and

display control apparatus, coupled to said memory, said pre-runtime mechanism, said tracking apparatus, and said locale selector, for generating one of said control graphics in a specific manner based on said selected locale information and wherein for different locales said control graphic has different information contents or same information contents displayed in a predetermined order.