Menu editor for a graphical user interface

• US 5,760,776 A
• Filed: 12/13/1995
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle Corporation
• Inventors: Clark, Stephen Mark Andrew, McGurrin, Scott H., Muench, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Katbab, A.
• Application Number:
  US08/571,445
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 395/333, 395/334, 395/352, 395/353, 395/357, 345/146, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method of manipulating one of a plurality of branches of a menu structure within a window of a menu editor in a graphical user interface is described. A handle associated with a first branch of the plurality of branches is provided. The first branch is associated with a first menu item of the menu structure. The handle is selected. The first branch is moved in response to a cursor control device to associate the first branch with a second menu item of the menu structure. The first branch is disassociated with the first menu item. The first branch is associated with the second menu item of the menu structure.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating a menu structure, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle associated with a menu bar;

b) selecting the handle; and

c) moving the menu bar in response to a cursor control device.

2. A method of manipulating a menu structure comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle associated with a first branch of the menu structure, the first branch associated with a first menu item of a menu bar;

b) selecting the handle;

c) moving the first branch in response to a cursor control device;

d) disassociating the first branch from the first menu item; and

e) associating the first branch with a second menu item of said menu bar.

3. A method of manipulating a menu structure comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle associated with a sub-branch of a first branch of the menu structure, the sub-branch associated with a menu item of the first branch;

b) selecting the handle;

c) moving the sub-branch in response to a cursor control device;

d) disassociating the sub-branch from the first menu item; and

e) associating the sub-branch with a second menu item of the first branch.

4. A method of manipulating a menu structure comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle associated with a sub-branch of a first branch of the menu structure, the sub-branch associated with a menu item of the first branch;

b) selecting the handle;

c) moving the sub-branch in response to a cursor control device;

d) disassociating the sub-branch from the menu item of the first branch; and

e) associating the sub-branch with a menu item of a second individual branch.

5. A method of manipulating one of a plurality of branches of a menu structure comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle associated with a first branch of the plurality of branches, the first branch associated with a first menu item of the menu structure;

b) selecting the handle;

c) moving the first branch in response to a cursor control device;

c) disassociating the first branch from the first menu item; and

d) associating the first branch with a second menu item of the menu structure.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first menu item and the second menu item are part of the same branch.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first menu item and the second menu item are not part of the same branch.

8. A computer system having a processor, a memory, and a graphical user interface comprising, in combination:

a) a menu bar;

b) a handle associated with said menu bar; and

c) a cursor control device for grabbing said handle and moving said menu bar.

9. A computer system having a processor, a memory, and a graphical user interface comprising, in combination:

a) a first branch of a menu structure, said first branch associated with a first menu item of a menu bar;

b) a handle associated with said first branch; and

c) a cursor control device for grabbing said handle, moving said first branch, disassociating said first branch from said first menu item, and associating said first branch with a second menu item of said menu bar.

10. A computer system having a processor, a memory, and a graphical user interface comprising, in combination:

a) a sub-branch of a first branch of a menu structure, said sub-branch associated with a first menu item of said first branch;

b) a handle associated with said sub-branch; and

c) a cursor control device for grabbing said handle, moving said sub-branch, disassociating said sub-branch from said first menu item, and associating said sub-branch with a second menu item of said first branch.

11. A computer system having a processor, a memory, and a graphical user interface comprising, in combination:

a) a sub-branch of a first branch of a menu structure, said sub-branch associated with a first menu item of said first branch;

b) a handle associated with said sub-branch; and

c) a cursor control device for grabbing said handle, moving said sub-branch, disassociating said sub-branch from said first menu item of said first branch, and associating said sub-branch with a menu item of a second branch of said menu structure.

12. A computer system having a processor, a memory, and a graphical user interface comprising, in combination:

a) a first branch of a plurality of branches of a menu structure, said first branch associated with a first menu item of said menu structure;

b) a handle associated with said first branch; and

c) a cursor control device for grabbing said handle, moving said first branch, disassociating said first branch from said first menu item, and associating said first branch with a second menu item within said menu structure.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein said first menu item and said second menu item are part of the same branch within said menu structure.

14. The computer system of claim 12 wherein said first menu item and said second menu item are not part of the same branch within said menu structure.