Web Client Command Infrastructure Integration into a Rich Client Application

• US 20160110190A1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: McCormack, Michael J., Thomson, Nicholas James, Magee, Andrew Nathan, Thadani, Navin Ishwar, Ranjan, Shashi
• Granted Patent: US 10,437,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/137 Hierarchical processing, e.g. outlines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/447 Target code generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A command interface for a software application is implemented on a client computer. A first definition of the command interface is received from a server computer. The first definition includes rules for encoding the command interface on a web browser. A conversion of the first definition to a second definition is performed. The second definition includes language for encoding the command interface on a user interface of the software application. The second definition is used to render the command interface on the user interface of the software application.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a command interface for a software application on a client computer, the method comprising:

receiving a first definition of the command interface from a server computer, the first definition including rules for encoding the command interface on a web browser;

performing a conversion of the first definition to a second definition, the second definition including first language for encoding the command interface on a user interface of the software application; and

using the second definition to render the command interface on the user interface of the software application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a conversion of the first definition of the command interface to the second definition of the command interface further comprises:

parsing a first XML, file corresponding to the first definition;

identifying a first grouping in the first XML file;

identifying a first sub grouping associated with the first grouping;

identifying one or more elements associated with the first sub grouping;

for each of the one or more elements, determining whether each element is used in the second definition; and

when it is determined that an element in the one or more elements is to be used in the second definition, obtaining a name of the element, and copying the name of the element to a second XML file for the second definition, the format of the second XML file being different than the format of the first XML file.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying one or more additional groupings and one or more additional sub groupings in the first XML file;

for each of the one or more additional sub groupings, identifying one or more additional elements associated with the additional sub grouping;

for each of the one or more additional elements, determining whether the element is used in the second definition; and

when it is determined that an element in the one or more elements is to be used in the second definition, obtaining the name of the element and copying the name of the element to the second XML, file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the user interface on the software application supports a ribbon interface;

when it is determined that the user interface on the software application supports a ribbon interface, using the second definition to render the command interface as a ribbon on the software application; and

when it is determined that the user interface on the software application does not support a ribbon interface, performing a conversion of the second definition to a third definition, the third definition including second language for encoding the command interface as a command bar on the user interface of the software application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein performing a conversion of the second definition to the third definition comprises:

parsing a second XML file corresponding to the second definition;

identifying a first tab in the second XML file;

adding a first menu element to a third definition, the first menu element having the name of the first tab;

identifying a first group included in the first tab in the second XML file;

adding a first group element to the third definition, the first group element having the name of the first group, the first group element being included within the hierarchy of the first menu element;

identifying a first button corresponding to the first group in the second XML file; and

adding a first button element to the third XML file, the first button element having the name of the first button, the first button element being included within the hierarchy of the first group element.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether there are additional buttons in the first group in the second XML file;

when it is determined that there are additional buttons in the first group;

for each additional button in the first group, adding an element for the additional group to the third definition;

the name of each button corresponding to the name of each button element, each button element being included within the hierarchy of the first group element; and

after the last additional button element is added to the first group, adding a separator element to the third definition, the separator element following the end of the first group element;

determining whether there are additional groups corresponding the first tab in the second XML file;

when it is determined that there are additional groups corresponding to the first tab, for each additional group corresponding to the first tab;

adding a group element for each additional group to the third definition, the name of each group element corresponding to the name of each additional group, each additional group being included within the hierarchy of the first menu element;

identifying one or more buttons corresponding to each additional group;

adding a button element for each of the one or more buttons corresponding to each additional group, the name of each button element corresponding to the name of each additional button, each additional button element being included within the hierarchy of the group to which each additional button corresponds; and

adding a separator element following each additional group;

determining whether there are additional tabs in the second XML file; and

when it is determined that there are additional tabs in the second XML file, adding a menu element for each of the additional tabs, the name of each additional tab corresponding to the name of the corresponding menu element.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the user interface on the software application supports a ribbon interface;

when it is determined that the user interface on the software application supports a ribbon interface, using the second definition to render the command interface as a ribbon on the software application; and

when it is determined that the user interface on the software application does not support a ribbon interface, using the second definition to render the command interface as a command bar on the software application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application is an email application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the command interface includes commands for a customer relationship management (CRM) application, the CRM application being integrated into the email application.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a command interpreter to process execution of commands selected by a user on the command interface on the user interface of the email application.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command interpreter uses JavaScript.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the client computer receives periodic updates of the first definition of the command interface from the server computer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first definition includes one or more rule attributes that determine whether one or more elements in the first definition is to be converted to a corresponding element in the second definition.

14. A first computing device comprising a processing unit and system memory, the first computing device including instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the first computing device to:

install first computer software that integrates a customer relationship management (CRM) software application into a user interface of a messaging application that runs on the first computer device;

configure the first computer device to obtain a name and a location of a server computer that includes CRM information;

receive a first definition of a command interface from the server computer, the first definition including first language for encoding the command interface on a web browser;

use the first computer software to perform a conversion of the first definition to a second definition, the second definition including second language for encoding the command interface on a user interface of the messaging application; and

use the second definition to render the command interface on the user interface of the messaging application.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to use the second definition to render the command interface on the user interface of the messaging application as a ribbon.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to convert the second definition to a third definition, the third definition including third language for encoding the command interface as a command bar on the user interface of the messaging application.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to use a command interpreter to process execution of commands selected by a user on the command interface on the user interface of the messaging application.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the command interpreter uses JavaScript.

19. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to include one or more rule attributes in the first definition, the one or more rule attributes determining whether one or more elements in the first definition are to be configured as a corresponding element in the second definition.

20. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a client computer, cause the client computer to:

receive a first definition of a command interface from a server computer, the first definition including rules for encoding the command interface on a web browser, the command interface including a command structure for executing commands for a first customer relationship management (CRM) software application;

perform a conversion of the first definition to a second definition, the second definition including first language for encoding the command interface on a user interface of an email application on the client computer, the first definition including one or more rule attributes that determine whether one or more elements in the first definition are to be configured to a corresponding element in the second definition, the email application including support for a second CRM software application that is integrated into the email application;

determine whether the user interface on the email application supports a ribbon interface;

when it is determined that the user interface on the email application supports a ribbon interface, use the second definition to render the command interface as a ribbon on the email application; and

when it is determined that the user interface on the email application does not support a ribbon interface, performing a conversion of the second definition to a third definition, the third definition including second language for encoding the command interface as a command bar on the user interface of the email application; and

use a command interpreter to process execution of commands selected by a user on the command interface of the email application.