Graphical user interface layout customizer

• US 6,738,079 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ryan, Chris, Santos, Tom J., Albers, Michael C., Vertelney, Harry S., Kellerman, Terry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US09/585,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 345/661, 345/674, 345/760, 345/762, 345/763, 345/967, 345/764, 345/769, 345/779, 345/835, 345/778, 345/840, 345/788, 345/798, 345/800, 345/801, 707/513, 715/517, 715/503, 715/520, 715/521
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

Graphical user interface and computer program products are disclosed for providing a unique user interface that allows a GUI developer significant flexibility and strength in designing a layout for an application user interface in a Java™ environment. This is done while keeping the process for the developer simple and efficient. The developer can “drag and drop” components from a palette to a container. Once in the container, the developer can specify row and column types and attachment/alignment options for the component. This can be done using a simple icon set. The developer can also dynamically add new rows and columns to the layout design. Adjustments to the position and size of a component are made automatically and numerous row and column types can be specified.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for constructing a user interface, the graphical user interface comprising:

a container having one or more rows and one or more columns, the container divided into a plurality of cells, a cell being defined by the intersection of a row and a column wherein a row and a column of the container is represented outside the container by one of a strut symbol, a spring symbol, a preferred strut symbol, and a preferred spring symbol;

a border enclosing the container;

a column-addition icon for adding a column dynamically; and

a toolbar for displaying a plurality of icons including a set of row or column sizing type icons including an adjustable, natural-size type icon.

2. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 further comprising a row-addition icon for adding a row dynamically.

3. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein a first cell in the plurality of cells in the container has a margin between the first cell and a second cell.

4. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein the margin conforms to the Java™

look and feel guidelines.

5. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein a preferred spring symbol indicates that the size of component in the container is variable, will shrink no smaller than a preferred size for the component, and can vary with the size of the container.

6. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein the set of row or column sizing type icons included in the plurality of icons displayed in the toolbar further includes the strut symbol, the spring symbol, the preferred strut symbol, and the preferred spring symbol.

7. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein the toolbar further includes a grid layout icon for alternating between design mode and runtime mode.

8. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of icons displayed in the toolbar further includes a set of alignment icons.

9. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the set of alignment icons further includes a set of horizontal placement icons and a set of vertical placement icons.

10. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 9 wherein a horizontal placement icon in combination with a vertical placement icon aligns a component such that a preferred size is enabled in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction.

11. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 9 wherein to align a component an icon from the set of horizontal placement icons is chosen and an icon from the set of vertical placement icons is chosen.

12. A graphical user interface comprising:

a panel having a panel size;

a plurality of rows, a row having a height;

a plurality of columns, a column having a width; and

a first symbol representing a preferred spring row or column type and placed in a manner that associates it with a particular column holding a component having a preferred size or a particular row holding the component, wherein the width of the particular column and the height of the particular row are variable in length, wherein the length is not less than the preferred size of the component and the length varies with the panel size.

13. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 12 further including an add-row button and an add-column button.

14. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 12 wherein the panel further includes margins between the plurality of rows and the plurality of columns.

15. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 12 further including a plurality of alignment icons that adjusts the placement of content within a cell.

16. A computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to display a graphical user interface used for constructing a user interface, the computer-readable medium including programmed instructions for:

displaying a container having one or more rows and one or more columns, divided into a plurality of cells, a cell defined by the intersection of a row and a column wherein a row and a column of the container is represented outside the container by one of a strut symbol, a spring symbol, a preferred strut symbol, and a preferred spring symbol;

displaying a border enclosing the container;

displaying a column-addition icon for adding a column dynamically; and

displaying a toolbar for displaying a plurality of icons including a set of row or column sizing type icons including an adjustable, natural-size type icon.

17. A computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to display a graphical user interface, the computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions for:

displaying a panel having a panel size;

displaying a plurality of rows, a row having a height;

displaying a plurality of columns, a column having a width; and

displaying a first symbol representing a preferred spring row or column type and placed in a manner that associates it with a particular column holding a component having a preferred size or a particular row holding the component, wherein the width of the particular column and the height of the particular row are variable in length wherein the length is not less than the preferred size of the component and the length varies with the panel size.

18. The computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to display a graphical user interface of claim 17 further including displaying an add-row button and an add-column button.

19. The computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to display a graphical user interface of claim 17 wherein the panel further includes displaying margins between the plurality of rows and the plurality of columns.

20. The computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to display a graphical user interface of claim 17 further including displaying a plurality of alignment icons that adjusts the placement of content within a cell.