Method for displaying controls in a system using a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of data fields comprising:
- a data structure represented by said plurality of data fields said data structure comprising;
a first data field contained in said data structure, said first data field containing data representing a command bar;
a second data field contained in said data structure, said second data field containing data representing a plurality of controls included in the command bar, the controls being chosen from a group including simple menu items and interactive controls; and
a third data field contained in said data structure, said third data field containing data representing the display state of the command bar, said display state of the command bar being chosen from a group comprising a toolbar-like display state and a menu-like display state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a computer employing a graphical user interface (GUI), a method for displaying controls in command bars, which replace conventional menu bars and toolbars. Command bars employ a unified data structure that allows all types of controls to be included in both menu-like command bars and toolbar-like command bars. Command bars may be customized by dragging controls from a list of available commands or from another command bar. By not restricting the types of controls that can appear in each command bar, controls may be grouped to associate drop down menu controls with pushbutton controls. Menu-like command bars and toolbar-like command bars may be merged in a way that provides an intuitive and advantageous listing of commands. Menu popups may be torn off using a clearly indicated drag handle.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of data fields comprising:
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a data structure represented by said plurality of data fields said data structure comprising;
a first data field contained in said data structure, said first data field containing data representing a command bar;
a second data field contained in said data structure, said second data field containing data representing a plurality of controls included in the command bar, the controls being chosen from a group including simple menu items and interactive controls; and
a third data field contained in said data structure, said third data field containing data representing the display state of the command bar, said display state of the command bar being chosen from a group comprising a toolbar-like display state and a menu-like display state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a computer system including a shared program module including at least one function for manipulating the command bars and shared memory for storing data associated with the command bars, a method for implementing command bars in an application program module, comprising the steps of:
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in the application program module, calling a function to display a menu-like command bar including an interactive control, said function utilizing a single data structure capable of representing a menu-like command bar or a toolbar-like command bar;
in response to an input signal, receiving from the shared program module an indication of the selection of the interactive control;
in response to the indication, determining a function associated with the control; and
performing the function associated with the control. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method for providing command bars, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a tool-bar like command bar including at least one menu control utilizing a single data structure capable of representing a menu-like command bar or a toolbar-like command bar, receiving an indication that the menu control has been selected;
in response to the selection of the menu control, displaying a menu-like command bar including at least one interactive control. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for customizing a command bar including a menu control, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a first command bar including a menu control utilizing a single data structure capable of representing a menu-like command bar or a toolbar-like command bar;
displaying a container including an available control;
receiving from an input device an indication that the available control has been moved to the menu control in response to the available control being moved to the menu control, displaying a menu popup associated with the menu control;
receiving from the input device an indication that the available control has been moved to a position in the menu popup;
displaying the available control in the position in the menu popup. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for removing a menu popup from a command bar, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a command bar utilizing a single data structure capable of representing a menu-like command bar or a toolbar-like command bar;
displaying an original menu popup including a drag handle, the menu popup being connected to the command bar;
receiving from the input device an indication that the drag handle has been dragged away from the command bar;
receiving from the input device an indication that the drag handle has been dropped; and
displaying a removed menu popup in a position corresponding to the drop indication. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for removing a menu popup from a command bar, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a command bar utilizing a single data structure capable of representing a menu-like command bar or a toolbar-like command bar;
displaying an original menu popup including a drag handle, the original menu popup being connected to the command bar;
receiving from the input device an indication that the drag handle has been selected; and
in response to the drag handle being selected, displaying a removed menu popup in a default position separate from the command bar. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification