Method and system for providing interface defaults

• US 7,505,987 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Carter, Benjamin F., Finocchio, Mark J., Kramer, Nicholas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/437,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 707/6, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

Disclosed is a default property sheet system that coordinates default values for elements used in a user interface. Interface designers add default values for the properties of the elements that they define. The default “value” is broadly understood. Not limited to fixed values, the default property sheet can provide a rule for calculating a default value. The rule can take into account, for example, aspects of the present environment. The order of searching for a rule that provides a value to a property of an interface element is defined. Other collections of value-setting rules, called “non-default property sheets,” can be created that take precedence over the default property sheet. The default property sheet can be a “theme of last resort.” If a property of an interface element is not given a value elsewhere, then the property is given the value specified in the default property sheet.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for searching for a value to provide to a property of an element of a user interface, comprising:

determining, using a computer comprising a processor and memory, whether a default property sheet is designated as important and contains a rule that provides a value to a property, then applying the rule to the property when the default property sheet is designated as important and contains the rule, wherein order of addition of rules to the default property sheet makes no difference, the order of addition of rules containing a rule-order independence allowing only two rule types, the two rule types comprising a first rule type comprising rules that have no tree selector and leftmost type is same as that of an element adding the rule, and a second rule type comprising rules that have a tree selector and where a last tree selector is a child selector rather than a descendant selector and where the last tree selector has a leftmost type that is same as an element adding the rule, and wherein the default property sheet increases in priority when designated as important;

if the default sheet is not designated as important, searching for an in-line rule that provides a value to the property;

if no in-line rule is found that provides a value to the property, then searching for a non-default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property; and

if no non-default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a default property sheet not designated as important that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, wherein the default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property is promoted from non-important to important in response to a user input;

if no default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a value inheritance rule that provides a value to the property; and

if no value inheritance rule is found that provides a value to the property, then providing a default value to the property.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the element of the user interface is selected from the group consisting of:

visual elements and audio elements.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the default property sheet includes rules that express a presentation theme for the user interface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the presentation theme for the user interface is selected from the group consisting of:

an accessibility theme, a system theme, and a branded application theme.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein searching for the non-default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property comprises:

searching for a non-default property sheet of the element that includes a rule that provides a value to the property; and

if no non-default property sheet of the element is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a non-default property sheet of an ancestor of the element that includes a rule that provides a value to the property.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of elements, wherein at least one element of the plurality of elements comprise a plurality of properties, and wherein there is at most one default property sheet for all of the elements of the user interface.

7. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions, executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for searching for a value to provide to a property of an element of a user interface, the method comprising:

determining, whether a default property sheet is designated as important and contains a rule that provides a value to a property, then applying the rule to the property when the default property sheet is designated as important and contains the rule, wherein order of addition of rules to the default property sheet makes no difference, the order of addition of rules containing a rule-order independence allowing only two rule types, the two rule types comprising a first rule type comprising rules that have no tree selector and whose leftmost type is same as an element adding the rule, and a second rule type comprising rules that have a tree selector and where a last tree selector is a child selector rather than a descendant selector and where the last tree selector has a leftmost type that is same as an element adding the rule, and wherein the default property sheet increases in priority when designated as important;

if the default sheet is not designated as important, searching for an in-line rule that provides a value to the property;

if no in-line rule is found that provides a value to the property, then searching for a non-default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property; and

if no non-default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a default property sheet not designated as important that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, wherein the default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property is promoted from non-important to important in response to a user input

if no default property sheet is found that includes a rule that provides a value to the property, then searching for a value inheritance rule that provides a value to the property; and

if no value inheritance rule is found that provides a value to the property, then providing a default value to the property.

8. A computer-implemented method for providing a value to a property of an element of a user interface, comprising:

determining, using a computer comprising a processor and memory, if a default property sheet designated as important and contains a rule that provides a value to a property exists, then applying the rule to provide the value to the property, wherein order of addition of rules to the default property sheet makes no difference, the order of addition of rules containing a rule-order independence allowing only two rule types, the two rule types comprising a first rule type comprising rules that have no tree selector and whose leftmost type is same as an element adding the rule, and a second rule type comprising rules that have a tree selector and where a last tree selector is a child selector rather than a descendant selector and where the last tree selector has a leftmost type that is same as an element adding the rule, and wherein the default property sheet increases in priority when designated as important;

else if an in-line rule exists to provide a value to the property, then applying the in-line rule to provide a value to the property;

else if a non-default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the non-default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property;

else if a default property sheet not designated as important includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property, wherein the default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property is promoted from non-important to important in response to a user input;

else if no default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then if a value inheritance rule exists to provide a value to the property, then applying the value inheritance rule to provide a value to the property; and

if no value inheritance rule exists to provide a value to the property, then providing a default value to the property.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the element of the user interface is selected from the group consisting of:

visual elements and audio elements.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the default property sheet includes rules that express a presentation theme for the user interface.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the presentation theme for the user interface is selected from the group consisting of:

an accessibility theme, a system theme, and a branded application theme.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the non-default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property comprises:

if a non-default property sheet of the element includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the rule of the non-default property sheet of the element to provide the value to the property;

else if a non-default property sheet of an ancestor of the element includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the rule of the non-default property sheet of the ancestor of the element to provide the value to the property.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of elements, wherein at least one element comprises a plurality of properties, and wherein there is at most one default property sheet for all of the elements of the user interface.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the default property sheet rule comprises:

providing a fixed value to the property.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the default property sheet rule comprises:

calculating a value, the calculated value based, at least in part, on the computing environment comprising the user interface; and

providing the calculated value to the property.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the default property sheet rule does not depend upon the order of rules in the default property sheet.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the default property sheet rule comprises:

if the default property sheet includes two rules to provide values to the property, and if one of the rules is more specific than the other rule, then applying the more specific rule to provide a value to the property.

18. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions executed on a computer causes the computer to perform a method for providing a value to a property of an element of a user interface, the method comprising:

if a default property sheet designated as important and contains a rule that provides a value to a property exists, then applying the rule to provide the value to the property, wherein order of addition of rules to the default property sheet makes no difference, the order of addition of rules containing a rule-order independence allowing only two rule types, the two rule types comprising a first rule type comprising rules that have no tree selector and whose leftmost type is same as an element adding the rule, and a second rule type comprising rules that have a tree selector and where a last tree selector is a child selector rather than a descendant selector and where the last tree selector has a leftmost type that is same as an element adding the rule, and wherein the default property sheet increases in priority when designated as important;

else if an in-line rule exists to provide a value to the property, then applying the in-line rule to provide a value to the property;

else if a non-default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the non-default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property;

else if a default property sheet not designated as important includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then applying the default property sheet rule to provide a value to the property, wherein the default property sheet that includes a rule that provides a value to the property is promoted from non-important to important in response to a user input

else if no default property sheet includes a rule to provide a value to the property, then if a value inheritance rule exists to provide a value to the property, then applying the value inheritance rule to provide a value to the property; and

if no value inheritance rule exists to provide a value to the property, then providing a default value to the property.