System and theme file format for creating visual styles

• US 7,694,229 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Evans, Christopher, Tinling, Aaron B., Stoakley, Richard W., Raiz, Gregory W., Fernandez, Roland L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US10/839,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 715762-765, 715/234, 715/235, 715/236, 715/744, 715/243, 715/743, 707/100, 707/102
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A method of specifying a visual style for a set of graphical components is provided for use on a computer system having a graphical operating environment. The method includes providing a schema file of available graphical components for which a visual style can be created. In the schema file, each component is defined by a unique class name. The method further includes selecting graphical components from the schema file that are desired to have a defined visual style. Properties are then assigned to these selected components according to the desired visual style, and pairs of selected graphical components and corresponding assigned properties for the defined visual style together are grouped together in a class data file that defines the overall appearance for the defined visual style.

Claims

1. A method of creating a visual style for a set of graphical components for use on a computer system having a graphical operating environment, comprising:

providing a schema file of available graphical components for which a visual style can be created, the visual style comprising a layout or shape of the graphical components and associated parts,

wherein each of the graphical components includes two or more associated parts that form the graphical component,

wherein the graphical components are controls that perform an associated known operation when selected by a user,

wherein the layout of the graphical components and the associated parts comprises one or more of a size or a position on a display device,

wherein each graphical component is defined by a unique class name, and

wherein each class includes at least one part identified by a part name and each part includes at least one state such that each graphical component is identified by at least a corresponding class name and a corresponding part name;

receiving a selection of one of the graphical components within a specified unique class and having a specified part name and a specified state from said schema file of graphical components, that are desired to have a defined visual style;

assigning properties to said selected graphical component according to said defined visual style; and

grouping pairs of selected graphical components and corresponding assigned properties for the defined visual style together in a class data file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each graphical component defined within the schema file of graphical components has a state name associated with each defined state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a list of available properties, within the schema file of graphical components, that may be selected in said selecting step for each defined graphical component, part and state.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding to the schema file by providing a second schema file of available graphical components for which a visual style can be created, each component within said second file being defined by a unique class name, the graphical components of said second file being defined differently than the graphical components of said first file.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of packaging all defined class data files into a directory for selection by a user of a computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a plurality of class data files, each corresponding to a defined visual style.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the class data files have both a predefined section of components in addition to the selected section of components of said paired graphical components and property values.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said predefined section of components includes a global section and a system metrics section.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said selected section of components is adapted to define a group name, a class control name, a part name and a state name.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said group name, said class control name, said part name and said state name are defined in a hierarchical fashion so that properties are used in order of said state name, said part name, said class control name and said group name.

11. A method of creating a visual style for a set of graphical components for use on a computer system having a graphical operating environment, comprising:

selecting a number of graphical components that are desired to have a defined visual style such that the number of graphical components are selected from a schema file that stores each graphical component in a class identified by a unique class name,

wherein each class includes at least one part having a part name for identifying the graphical component and each part includes at least one state,

wherein the graphical components are controls that perform an associated known operation when selected by a user,

wherein the at least one state describes a current appearance and a functional state of the graphical component, and

wherein the visual style comprises a layout and shape of the graphical components and associated parts, the layout of the graphical components and the associated parts comprising one or more of a size or a position on a display device;

assigning properties to said selected graphical components according to said defined visual style; and

grouping pairs of selected graphical components and corresponding assigned properties for the defined visual style together in a first class data file,

wherein the first class data file contains data on the defined visual style.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical components are defined within a schema file of available graphical components, each component being defined by a unique class name and one or more part names associated with the class name.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphical components defined within the schema file of graphical components have a state name associated with each defined state.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a list of available properties that may be selected in said selecting step for each defined graphical component.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating a plurality of class data files, each corresponding to a defined visual style.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of packaging all defined class data files into a directory for selection by a user of the computer.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising creating a second class data file, relating to a different size visual style, from the first class data file using a property size transformation.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising creating a second class data file, relating to a different color visual style, from the first class data file using a property color transformation.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said properties are defined in a hierarchical fashion, according to a group name, a class control name, a part name and a state name, so that properties are used in order of said state name, said part name, said class control name and said group name.