User interface localization conflict indication

• US 8,386,941 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smet, Bart De
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/147,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/859, 715/774
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A method for indicating localization conflicts. The method includes receiving information about a first graphical user interface element and receiving information about a second graphical user interface element. Localization data associated with the first graphical user interface element and the second graphical user interface element is accessed. A determination is made as to if there is a conflict between the first graphical user interface element and the second graphical user interface element. An indication of the results of the determining of whether there is a conflict between the first graphical user interface element and the second graphical user interface element is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for indicating localization conflicts comprising:

receiving information associated with a first graphical user interface element;

receiving information associated with a second graphical user interface element;

accessing localization data associated with said first graphical user interface element and said second graphical user interface element, wherein said localization data is operable to comprise information corresponding to one or more languages;

determining if there is a conflict between said first graphical user interface element and said second graphical user interface element, wherein said conflict is based on said localization data and said determining is based on a growth in graphical user interface elements; and

displaying an indication of the results of said determining of whether there is a conflict between said first graphical user interface element and said second graphical user interface element, wherein said displaying said indication is a portion of a graphical user interface design interface.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said information associated with said first graphical user interface element comprises placement information.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said information associated with said first graphical user interface element comprises alignment information.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining of a conflict is based on a horizontal localization conflict check.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said displaying comprises indicating a horizontal localization conflict on a vertical graphical user element.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining of a conflict is based on a vertical localization conflict check.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said displaying comprises indicating a vertical localization conflict on a horizontal graphical user element.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first graphical user interface element comprises an image.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first graphical user interface element comprises a label.

10. An apparatus for facilitating design of a graphical user interface comprising:

a graphical user interface design module for presenting a graphical user interface for design of a graphical user interface for an application;

a graphical user interface element information module for storing information associated with selected graphical user interface elements;

a localization module for storing localization information associated with said selected graphical user interface elements, wherein said localization information is operable to comprise information corresponding to one or more languages;

a conflict detection module for detecting localization conflicts between said selected graphical user interface elements, wherein a processor is operable to perform said detecting of localization conflicts wherein said detecting is based on a growth in graphical user interface elements; and

a graphical user interface conflict indication module for indicating a conflict between selected graphical user interface elements, wherein said indication is a portion of said graphical user interface for design of said graphical user interface.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said graphical user interface design module facilitates graphical user interface design via a master template.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein conflict detection module detects a conflict between a graphical user interface element and a master template graphical user interface element.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said localization module facilitates display of graphical user interface element based on said localization information.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said information associated with said selected graphical user interface elements comprises alignment data and coordinate data.

15. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of indicating usage of screen space, said method comprising:

receiving a selection of a graphical user interface element to be placed;

retrieving placement and alignment data corresponding to said graphical user interface element to be placed;

retrieving localization data corresponding to said graphical user interface element to be placed, wherein said localization data is operable to comprise information corresponding to one or more languages;

comparing localization data corresponding to said graphical user interface element with localization data corresponding to already placed graphical user interface elements wherein said comparing is based on a growth in graphical user interface elements; and

displaying conditions associated with said graphical user element to be placed, wherein displaying of said conditions is within a graphical user interface design interface.

16. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the method further comprising:

receiving one or more languages for use in localizing graphical user interface elements.

17. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said displaying comprises indicating locations not occupied by graphical user elements with a first color.

18. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said displaying comprises indicating locations occupied by graphical user elements with a second color.

19. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said displaying comprises indicating locations of localization conflicts of graphical user elements with a third color.

20. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said displaying comprises indicating a graphical user interface element to be placed when localized will go off a screen with a fourth color.