Graphical user interface check-list button control and method

• US 8,069,419 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Sanders, Roger Everette, Cox, Thomas Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Roswell; Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/837,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,877 Days
• Field of Search: 345/828, 345/845, 345/811, 345/826, 345841-843, 345/810, 345/765, 345/866, 395/161, 715/828, 715/845, 715/811, 715/826, 715/810, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/828
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system are provided for modifying a data list by a user within a graphical user interface. A first control is provided that operates within the graphical user interface. The first control is manipulated in order to access a second control. The second control includes the data list and allows modification of the data list after the second control is accessed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of selecting data records, comprising:

querying, using one or more processors, a database to access a plurality of data records;

providing, using the one or more processors, a graphical interface for selecting one or more of the accessed data records, wherein each of the plurality of data records is selectable;

providing, using the one or more processors, a button within a window of the graphical interface, wherein the button is a pull-down control button that includes an overview indicator that displays an unselected state when no data records are selected, and a selected state when at least one data record is selected;

generating, using the one or more processors, a pull-down display within the window when a button selection is received, wherein the pull-down display includes a list of the plurality of data records and a selectable control for each data record;

generating, using the one or more processors, a display of one or more database manipulation options based upon a command from the pull-down display, wherein a data record in the database is manipulated when an option is selected; and

displaying, using the one or more processors, the overview indicator when the pull-down display is closed, wherein the overview indicator indicates whether any data records on the list are in the selected state.

2. The method claim 1, further comprising:

storing the particular data record in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a pop-up window provides a menu of operations configured to perform actions on a selected data record appearing within the pull-down display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pull-down display is configured to display data records from two or more data sources including a database, a record source, and a dynamic record generator.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein one of the database manipulation options is to add a new data record to the database.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein one of the database manipulation options is to delete a data record from the database.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein one of the database manipulation options is to rename a data record.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an identification of whether a first data record is selected in the pull-down display is presented proximate to the first data record.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the pull-down display is configured to receive a command to select multiple data records as a group.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pull-down display identification of whether each of the plurality of data records is selected includes separate checkbox interface items corresponding to each of the one or more data records, wherein multiple checkbox interface items are configured to be concurrently selected, and wherein data records selected through their associated checkbox interface items are used as data by a software application.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the overview indicator includes a check-box, and wherein the button includes an icon.

12. A computer-implemented system for selecting data records, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable storage mediums containing software instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

querying a database to access a plurality of data records;

providing a graphical interface for selecting one or more of the accessed data records, wherein each of the plurality of data records is selectable;

providing a button within a window of the graphical interface, wherein the button is a pull-down control button that includes an overview indicator that displays an unselected state when no data records are selected, and a selected state when at least one data record is selected;

generating a pull-down display within the window when a button selection is received, wherein the pull-down display includes a list of the plurality of data records and a selectable control for each data record;

generating a display of one or more database manipulation options based upon a command from the pull-down display, wherein a data record in the database is manipulated when an option is selected; and

displaying the overview indicator when the pull-down display is closed, wherein the overview indicator indicates whether any data records on the list are in the selected state.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

storing the particular data record in a database.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a pop-up window provides a menu of operations configured to perform actions on a selected data record appearing within the pull-down display.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the pull-down display is configured to display data records from two or more data sources including a database, a record source, and a dynamic record generator.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

add a new data record to the database.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

delete a data record from the database.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

rename a data record.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein an identification of whether a first data record is selected in the pull-down display is presented proximate to the first data record.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receive a command to select multiple data records as a group.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the pull-down display identification of whether each of the plurality of data records is selected includes separate checkbox interface items corresponding to each of the one or more data records, wherein multiple checkbox interface items are configured to be concurrently selected, and wherein data records selected through their associated checkbox interface items are used as data by a software application.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the overview indicator includes a checkbox, and wherein the button includes an icon.

23. One or more computer-readable storage mediums encoded with instructions that when executed, cause one or more computers to perform a method of selecting data records, the method comprising:

querying a database to access a plurality of data records;

providing a graphical interface for selecting one or more of the accessed data records, wherein each of the plurality of data records is selectable;

providing a button within a window of the graphical interface, wherein the button is a pull-down control button that includes an overview indicator that displays an unselected state when no data records are selected, and a selected state when at least one data record is selected;

generating a pull-down display within the window when a button selection is received, wherein the pull-down display includes a list of the plurality of data records and a selectable control for each data record;

generating a display of one or more database manipulation options based upon a command from the pull-down display, wherein a data record in the database is manipulated when an option is selected; and

displaying the overview indicator when the pull-down display is closed, wherein the overview indicator indicates whether any data records on the list are in the selected state.

24. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein the method further includes:

storing the particular data record in a database.

25. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein a pop-up window provides a menu of operations configured to perform actions on a selected data record appearing within the pull-down display.

26. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein the pull-down display is configured to display data records from two or more data sources including a database, a record source, and a dynamic record generator.

27. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein one of the database manipulation options is to add a new data record to the database.

28. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein one of the database manipulation options is to delete a data record from the database.

29. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein one of the database manipulation options is to rename a data record.

30. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein an identification of whether a first data record is selected in the pull-down display is presented proximate to the first data record.

31. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein the pull-down display is configured to receive a command to select selecting multiple data records as a group.

32. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein the pull-down display identification of whether each of the plurality of data records is selected includes separate checkbox interface items corresponding to each of the one or more data records, wherein multiple checkbox interface items are configured to be concurrently selected, and wherein data records selected through their associated checkbox interface items are used as data by a software application.

33. The one or more computer-readable storage mediums of claim 23, wherein the overview indicator includes a check-box, and wherein the button includes an icon.

34. A computer-implemented graphical user interface for selecting from among a plurality of data records accessed from a database via a query, comprising:

a button within a window of the graphical user interface, wherein the button is a pull-down control button that includes an overview indicator that displays an unselected state when no data records are selected, and a selected state when at least one data record is selected;

a pull-down display within the window when a button selection is received, wherein the pull-down display includes a list of the plurality of data records and a selectable control for each data record;

a display of one or more database manipulation options based upon a command from the pull-down display, wherein a data record in the database is manipulated when an option is selected; and

wherein the overview indicator is displayed when the pull-down display is closed, wherein the overview indicator indicates whether any data records on the list are in the selected state.