Dynamic resizing of dialogs
First Claim
1. A method of resizing a dialog window of a computer software application, the dialog window having at least one dialog window element disposed thereon, comprising:
- altering the size of the dialog window dynamically to a selected size during running of the computer software application;
determining whether the selected size of the dialog window is less than a minimum size for the dialog window, the minimum size comprising a value established in the computer software application wherein the value is discarded upon closing the dialog window and the value is calculated upon opening the dialog window;
if the selected size of the dialog window is less than the minimum size, then altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size and preventing a user from manually shrinking the dialog window below the minimum size;
notifying a dialog window control module that dialog window interface is being resized to the minimum size;
notifying the dialog window element that it is to be repositioned on the dialog window according to a set of rules governing the position of the dialog window elements on the dialog window;
repositioning the dialog window element according to the set of rules, wherein repositioning the dialog window element includes moving the dialog window element from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is the same relative position on the dialog window after the dialog window has been resized, as the first position of the dialog window element prior to altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size; and
displaying the dialog window.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system is provided for dynamically resizing dialogs of a computer software application while the application is running. Dialog windows may be resized by user action, such as by hooking on to one side or to a corner of the dialog window and dragging the side or corner in or out to expand or contract the dialog window. In response to the user'"'"'s action, the operating system of the user'"'"'s computer notifies a dialog window manager that the dialog window is being resized. An autolayout module lays out the dialog window to its new size, placing all controls contained therein in their proper locations and with their proper dimensions according to the rules associated with the dialog window.
45 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of resizing a dialog window of a computer software application, the dialog window having at least one dialog window element disposed thereon, comprising:
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altering the size of the dialog window dynamically to a selected size during running of the computer software application; determining whether the selected size of the dialog window is less than a minimum size for the dialog window, the minimum size comprising a value established in the computer software application wherein the value is discarded upon closing the dialog window and the value is calculated upon opening the dialog window; if the selected size of the dialog window is less than the minimum size, then altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size and preventing a user from manually shrinking the dialog window below the minimum size; notifying a dialog window control module that dialog window interface is being resized to the minimum size; notifying the dialog window element that it is to be repositioned on the dialog window according to a set of rules governing the position of the dialog window elements on the dialog window; repositioning the dialog window element according to the set of rules, wherein repositioning the dialog window element includes moving the dialog window element from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is the same relative position on the dialog window after the dialog window has been resized, as the first position of the dialog window element prior to altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size; and displaying the dialog window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of resizing a dialog window of a computer software application, the dialog window having a plurality of controls disposed thereon, comprising:
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running the computer software application; altering the size of the dialog window dynamically by user action to a selected size while the computer software application is running; determining whether the selected size of the dialog window is less than a minimum size for the dialog window, the minimum size comprising a value established in the computer software application wherein the value is discarded upon closing the dialog window and the value is calculated upon opening the dialog window; if the selected size of the dialog window is less than the minimum size, then altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size and preventing a user from manually shrinking the dialog window below the minimum size; notifying a dialog window manager module that the dialog window is being resized to the minimum size; notifying each of the plurality of controls that it is to be repositioned on the dialog window according to a set of rules governing the position of controls on the dialog window; repositioning the plurality of controls according to the set of rules, wherein repositioning the plurality of controls includes moving the plurality of controls from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is the same relative position on the dialog window after the dialog window has been resized, as the first position of the plurality of controls prior to altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size; and displaying the dialog window. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer resize a dialog window of a computer software application, the dialog window having at least one dialog window element disposed thereon by performing:
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altering the size of the dialog window dynamically to a selected size during running of the computer software application; determining whether the selected size of the dialog window is less than a minimum size for the dialog window, the minimum size comprising a value established in the computer software application wherein the value is discarded upon closing the dialog window and the value is calculated upon opening the dialog window; if the selected size of the dialog window is less than the minimum size, then altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size and preventing a user from manually shrinking the dialog window below the minimum size; notifying a dialog window control module that the dialog window is being resized to the minimum size; notifying the dialog window element that it is to be repositioned on the dialog window according to a set of rules governing the position of dialog window elements on the dialog window; repositioning the dialog window element according to the set of rules, wherein repositioning the dialog window element includes moving the dialog window element from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is the same relative position on the dialog window after the dialog window has been resized, as the first position of the dialog window element prior to altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size; and displaying the dialog window. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for resizing a dialog window of a computer software application, the dialog window having a plurality of controls disposed thereon, comprising:
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a computer operating system operative to run the computer software application; a dialog manager module operative to alter the size of the dialog window to a selected size in response to user action while the computer software application is running; determine whether the selected size of the dialog window is less than a minimum size for dialog window, the minimum size comprising a value established in the computer software application wherein the value is discarded upon closing the dialog window and the value is calculated upon opening the dialog window; if the selected size of the dialog window is less than the minimum size, then alter the size of the dialog window to the minimum size and prevent a user from manually shrinking the dialog window below the minimum size; the computer operating system further operative to notify a dialog window manager module that the dialog window is being resized to the minimum size; the dialog manager module further operative to notify each of the plurality of controls that it is to be repositioned on the dialog window according to a set of rules governing the position of controls on the dialog window; an autolayout module operative to communicate to the dialog manager module to reposition the plurality of controls according to the set of rules; reposition the plurality of controls according to the set of rules, wherein repositioning the plurality of controls includes moving the plurality of controls from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is the same relative position on the dialog window after the dialog window has been resized, as the first position of the plurality of controls prior to altering the size of the dialog window to the minimum size; and the operating system further operative to display the dialog window. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification