Method and system for adding buttons to a toolbar

• US 5,644,739 A
• Filed: 01/27/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Moursund, Elizabeth Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/379,705
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-166, 395/326-358, 345/117-120, 345/146, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for intuitively adding a button or other type of control to a toolbar or other region for holding the same. A control is added by dragging an object to a region for holding controls and dropping the object at the desired location of the control in the region. In response to the object being dropped in the region for holding controls, a control is created and bound to an operation of the object.

Claims

1. A method for adding a control to a region for holding controls, comprising the steps of:

displaying a region for holding controls;

displaying a container including a plurality of objects of a predetermined type;

identifying a default operation associated with the plurality of objects in the container;

detecting the selection and movement of one of the plurality of objects;

detecting the placement of the selected object;

in response to the placement of the selected object in the region for holding controls, creating a control in the region for holding controls; and

associating the control with the default operation and the selected object,

whereby subsequent actuation of the control results in the default operation being performed on the selected object.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of objects represent data files of a predetermined type.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the default operation includes viewing files corresponding to the displayed objects.

4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the selected object; and

in response to the selected object being positioned over the region for holding controls, displaying a positive icon.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the selected object; and

in response to the selected object being positioned over an area in which the object cannot be placed, displaying a negative icon.

6. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for adding a control to a region for holding controls, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

displaying a region for holding controls;

displaying a plurality of objects of a predetermined type;

identifying a default operation associated with the plurality of objects;

detecting the selection and movement of one of the plurality of objects;

detecting the placement of the selected object;

in response to the placement of the selected object in the region for holding controls, creating a control in the region for holding controls; and

associating the control with the default operation and the selected object,

whereby subsequent actuation of the control results in the default operation being performed on the selected object.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the plurality of objects represent data files of a predetermined type.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the default operation includes viewing files corresponding to the displayed objects.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

determining the position of the selected object; and

in response to the selected object being positioned over the region for holding controls, displaying a positive icon as a cursor.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

determining the position of the selected object; and

in response to the selected object being positioned over an area in which the moved object cannot be placed, displaying a negative cursor.

11. A computer system for adding a control to a region for holding controls, comprising:

a processing unit;

an input device connected to the processing unit; and

a display device coupled to the processing unit for displaying the region for holding controls;

the processing unit, responsive to instructions from a program module running on the computer system, being operative to;

display the region for holding controls;

display a container including a plurality of objects representing data files of a predetermined type;

identify a default operation associated with the data files represented by the plurality of objects;

detect the selection of one of the plurality of objects;

detect the placement of the selected object;

in response to the placement of the selected object in the region for holding controls, create a control in the region for holding controls; and

bind the control to the default operation and the selected object,

whereby subsequent actuation of the control results in the default operation being performed on the data file represented by the selected object.

12. The computer system recited in claim 11, wherein the default operation includes viewing files corresponding to the displayed objects.

13. The computer system recited in claim 11, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

determine the position of the placed object; and

in response to the placed object being positioned over the region for holding controls, display a positive icon as a cursor.

14. The computer system recited in claim 11, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

determine the position of the placed object; and

in response to the placed object being positioned over an area in which the object cannot be placed, display a negative cursor.