Method for merging items of containers of separate program modules

• US 6,229,539 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Parker, David C., Morcos, Peter G., Baldwin, Lawrence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/220,269
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 345/333, 345/334, 345/335, 345/339, 345/356, 345/340, 345/352, 345/347
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Merging a first set of items from a first container in a first program module and a second set of items from a second container in a second program module. An inquiry is conducted to decide which of the first set of items and the second set of items are eligible to be donated. Eligible items are combined by combining the eligible items of the first set of items with the eligible items from the second set of items. A merged container contains at least one item of the first set of items and at least one item from the second set of items. This merged container can be displayed to present the items included within that container. The containers typically comprise command bars and the items typically comprise controls.

Claims

1. A method for merging a first set of controls from a first command bar in a first program module and a second set of controls from a second command bar in a second program module, said method comprising the steps of:

determining which of the first set of controls are eligible to be donated;

determining which of the second set of controls are eligible to be donated;

combining the eligible controls from the first set of controls with the eligible controls from the second set of controls ; and

displaying a merged command bar including at least one control from the first set of controls and at least one control from the second set of controls.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the eligible controls from the first set of controls with the eligible controls from the second set of controls comprises the steps of:

comparing the eligible controls from the first set of controls to the second set of controls; and

arranging the eligible controls from the first set of controls in the merged command bar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of comparing and arranging the eligible control from the first set of controls comprise the steps of:

determining whether the eligible control from the first set of controls is equivalent to a control from the second set of controls; and

if the eligible control from the first set of controls is equivalent to a control from the second set of controls, placing the eligible control from the first set of controls in the same position as the equivalent control from the second set of controls.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of comparing and arranging the eligible controls from the first set of controls comprise the steps of:

determining whether the control that precedes the eligible control from the first set of controls in the first command bar is equivalent to a control from the second set of controls; and

if the control that precedes the eligible control from the first set of controls in the first command bar is equivalent to a control from the second set of controls, placing the eligible control from the first set of controls after the equivalent control from the second set of controls.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of comparing and arranging the eligible controls from the first set of controls comprise the steps of:

determining whether an eligible control from the first set of controls is first in the first command bar; and

if the eligible control is first in the first command bar, placing the eligible control first in the merged command bar.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the first command bar and the second command bar are equivalent; and

if the first command bar and the second command bar are not equivalent, displaying the first command bar including the controls from the first set of controls.