In situ user interface template editing

• US 7,398,473 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stoner, Charles Robert, Faraday, Peter, Motter, DoRon Banu
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kieu D
• Application Number:
  US11/120,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 715/764, 715/765, 715/255
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

In order to work with user interface documents containing instances of reusable templates which describe both the appearance and behavior for a user interface element, editing functionality is provided. The user interface document can be edited by selecting items from a view of the user interface document and indicating an edit to be performed. Edits may be to an underlying template or templates, or to properties of selected items. The scope of the edit is determined by user indication and/or defaults of user preference. Locks are provided in order to prevent accidental editing of some locked element or template. A graphical tree view, a list view (text-based tree view), or an artboard view may be presented to a user in order to facilitate the selection and editing process.

Claims

1. A method for editing a user interface comprising at least one user interface element specified at least in part by one or more template instances, each of said template instances specified at least in part by at least one template, said method comprising:

receiving a user selection of one or more selected template instances from among said template instances;

determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired;

if template editing relating to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected template instances by;

determining at least one target template corresponding to said selected template instances; and

providing functionality for performing an edit to said at least one target template; and

applying the edit to all template instances corresponding to the at least one target template; and

if property editing related to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances, the functionality for user editing of the at least one property of said selected instances comprising

creating a user interface element to which a template is to be applied, the user interface element having a plurality of properties and a template reference;

determining whether the template to be applied to the user interface element is a new template, an existing template, or a copy of the existing template;

if the template to be applied to the user interface element is a new template, creating an empty template, storing the empty template, and changing the template reference to reflect the stored template;

if the template to be applied to the user interface element is a copy of the existing template, creating the copy of the existing template, storing the copy of the existing template, and changing the template reference to reflect the stored template;

unlocking the template to be applied to the element;

receiving a user selection of at least one property of the user interface element;

setting the at least one selected property of the user interface element to a new value; and

locking the template to be applied to the user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, where said step of determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired comprises:

determining whether an indication has been made that template editing is desired; and

if no such indication has been made, determining that property editing related to said user selection is desired.

3. The method of claim 1, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances comprises:

receiving a new value for said at least one property;

setting a value for said at least one property to said new value in each of said selected instances in which said property is valid.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing functionality for accepting a user indication that a template is indicated to be locked; and

providing functionality for accepting a user indication that a template is not indicated to be locked.

5. A computer-readable storage medium for editing a user interface comprising at least one user interface element specified at least in part by one or more template instances, each of said template instances specified at least in part by at least one template, said computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a user selection of one or more selected template instances from among said template instances;

determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired;

if template editing relating to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected template instances by;

determining at least one target template corresponding to said selected template instances; and

providing functionality for performing an edit to said at least one target template; and

applying the edit to all template instances corresponding to the at least one target template; and

if property editing related to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected template instances, the functionality for user editing of the at least one property of said selected instances comprising

creating a user interface element to which a template is to be applied, the user interface element having a plurality of properties and a template reference;

determining whether the template to be applied to the user interface element is a new template, an existing template, or a copy of the existing template;

if the template to be applied to the user interface element is a new template, creating an empty template, storing the empty template, and changing the template reference to reflect the stored template;

if the template to be applied to the user interface element is a copy of the existing template, creating the copy of the existing template, storing the copy of the existing template, and changing the template reference to reflect the stored template;

unlocking the template to be applied to the element;

receiving a user selection of at least one property of the user interface element;

setting the at least one selected property of the user interface element to a new value; and

locking the template to be applied to the user interface element.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, where said step of determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired comprises:

determining whether an indication has been made that template editing is desired; and

if no such indication has been made, determining that property editing related to said user selection is desired.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, where said step of providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances comprises:

receiving a new value for said at least one property;

setting a value for said at least one property to said new value in each of said selected instances in which said property is valid.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

providing functionality for accepting a user indication that a template is indicated to be locked; and

providing functionality for accepting a user indication that a template is not indicated to be locked.

9. A system for editing a user interface comprising at least one user interface element specified at least in part by one or more template instances, each of said template instances specified at least in part by at least one template, said system comprising:

a processor operative to execute computer-executable instructions; and

memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising;

receiving a user selection of one or more selected template instances from among said template instances;

determining whether template editing relating to said user selection is desired or whether property editing related to said user selection is desired;

if template editing relating to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of a template corresponding to said selected template instances by;

determining at least one target templates corresponding to said selected template instances; and

providing functionality for performing an edit to said at least one target template; and

applying the edit to all template instances corresponding to the at least one target template; and

if property editing related to said user selection is desired, providing functionality for user editing of at least one property of said selected instances, the functionality for user editing of the at least one property of said selected instances comprising

creating a user interface element to which a template is to be applied, the user interface element having a plurality of properties and a template reference;

determining whether the template to be applied to the user interface element is a new template, an existing template, or a copy of the existing template;

if the template to be applied to the user interface element is a new template, creating an empty template, storing the empty template, and changing the template reference to reflect the stored template;

if the template to be applied to the user interface element is a copy of the existing template, creating the copy of the existing template, storing the copy of the existing template, and changing the template reference to reflect the stored template;

unlocking the template to be applied to the element;

receiving a user selection of at least one property of the user interface element;

setting the at least one selected property of the user interface element to a new value; and

locking the template to be applied to the user interface element.