METHOD FOR EXPOSING GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE LAYOUT LOGIC AND PARAMETERS

• US 20080104499A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Eischeid, Todd Michael, Anzelde, Thomas Rudolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A method is disclosed for exposing graphical user interface layout logic and parameters. The method may be used with any language or tool capable of creating a graphical user interface. The equations affecting an element'"'"'s properties in the graphical user interface are exposed to the designer. The designer is able to use the equations to anticipate what value is required to make a necessary adjustment. Further, the present invention emphasizes the values adjusted by the designer as well as the results from calculating the equation, so the designer can easily see adjustments made. As the designer makes changes, the changed values may be emphasized and the corresponding affect the value had on the element may also be displayed with a corresponding emphasis. The present invention eliminates graphical user interface designer'"'"'s reliance on trial-and-error methods of element control by providing the designer with the knowledge of how the element will be affected before a value is arbitrarily applied.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code programmed for exposing graphical user interface layout logic and parameters, the operations of the computer program product comprising:

providing an equation comprising a plurality of numerical values, the equation corresponding to a property of an element;

accepting a replacement value;

replacing at least one numerical value of the plurality of numerical values with the replacement value;

calculating the equation to produce a result; and

displaying the value, the equation, and the result.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising integrating a plug-in to extend functionality.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising displaying a standardizing control, the standardizing control configured to standardize the values of the equation.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising displaying a plurality of equations and results.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising accepting and displaying a plurality of values.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising emphasizing accepted values used in the equation.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising displaying an augmenting control, the augmenting control configured to augment usability.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, the operations further comprising emphasizing how an accepted value affects an element.