Method and computer program product for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications

• US 6,359,634 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Petty, Douglas R., Cragun, Brian John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/139,785
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 345/350, 345/352, 345/340, 345/333, 345/326, 345/777, 345/776, 345/775, 345/739, 345/769, 345/789, 345/781, 345/810, 345/811
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

A method and computer program product are provided for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications. An initial tabbed dialog is processed. Each page to be added to the initial tabbed dialog is identified. A location is identified for each identified added page to the initial tabbed dialog. A modified tabbed dialog including each added page at the respective identified location is displayed. A user selected position setting can be used to identify a location for each identified added page to the initial tabbed dialog. This position setting can be based upon a priority or a usage value. Also, a drag and drop routine can be used to identify a location for each identified added page to the initial tabbed dialog.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications comprising the steps of:

processing a tabbed dialog;

obtaining a stored page pocket list for said tabbed dialog;

said tabbed dialog being a container for multiple property pages;

identifying each property page to be added to said tabbed dialog;

identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog so that each said added property page is inserted at any location within said tabbed dialog;

each said location including a defined open page pocket;

displaying a modified tabbed dialog including each said added property page at said identified location within said tabbed dialog.

2. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog so that each said added property page is inserted at any location within said tabbed dialog includes the step of sorting tabbed dialog entries according to a position setting.

3. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of sorting tabbed dialog entries according to said position setting includes the steps of identifying a priority value and utilizing said priority value for identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog.

4. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of sorting tabbed dialog entries according to said position setting includes the steps of identifying a usage value and utilizing said usage value for identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog.

5. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog so that each said added property page is inserted at any location within said tabbed dialog includes the steps of identifying a drag and drop routine, identifying a drop position and utilizing said drop position for calculating a priority for said identified added property page.

6. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 1 further includes the steps of;

for each entry in said page pocket list,

checking whether said page pocket list entry is a property page,

responsive to each said page pocket list entry being an identified property page, adding said identified property page to the tabbed dialog and wherein the steps of identifying each property page to be added to said tabbed dialog and identifying said location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog include the steps of

responsive to each said page pocket list entry being an identified page pocket, for each entry in a page registry, checking whether each said page registry entry matches said tabbed dialog and said identified pocket; and

responsive to each said page registry entry matching said tabbed dialog and said identified page pocket, adding said identified page registry entry page to the tabbed dialog.

7. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying each property page to be added to said tabbed dialog includes the step of checking for a buddy page for each said identified property page to be added to said tabbed dialog.

8. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of maintaining a page table, said page table storing a loaded value used for identifying each property page to be added to said tabbed dialog.

9. The computer implemented method for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of storing a page info record, said page info record including a tabbed dialog ID and a loaded value used for identifying each property page to be added to said tabbed dialog.

10. A computer program product for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said server computer system, cause the server computer system to perform the steps of:

processing a tabbed dialog;

obtaining a stored page pocket list for said tabbed dialog;

said tabbed dialog being a container for multiple property pages;

identifying each property page to be added to said tabbed dialog;

identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog so that each said added property page is inserted at any location within said tabbed dialog;

each said location including a defined open page pocket;

displaying a modified tabbed dialog including each said added property page at said identified location within said tabbed dialog.

11. The computer program product for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 10 wherein the step of identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added property page to said tabbed dialog so that each said added property page is inserted at any location within said tabbed dialog includes the step of sorting tabbed dialog entries according to a position setting, said position setting being based on one of a priority value and a usage value.

12. The computer program product for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications as recited in claim 10 wherein the step of identifying a location within said tabbed dialog for each said identified added page to said tabbed dialog so that each said added property page is inserted at any location within said tabbed dialog includes the step of identifying a drag and drop routine, identifying a drop position and utilizing said drop position for calculating a priority for said identified added property page.