Advanced windows management for a computer system

• US 5,917,483 A
• Filed: 09/18/1995
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle Corporation
• Inventors: Duncan, Joseph, Giljum, Robert, Joseph, Joshy
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, BA
• Application Number:
  US08/529,315
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 395/329, 395/330, 395/331, 395/332, 395/333, 395/334, 395/335, 395/339, 395/340, 395/342, 395/346, 345/329, 345/330, 345/348, 345/349, 345/340, 345/333
• US Class Current: 715/802
• 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

Abstract

An advanced windows management system permits a user to customize views from a plurality of frame windows into a single target window. A view includes display information that corresponds to an underlying program. The user selects views from the frame windows, and the user specifies a target window for placement of the views, including the arrangement of the views, in the target window via a drag and drop operation. In response, the advanced windows management system docks and displays the selected views in the target window. The views may comprise textual, graphical and control information for a plurality of editors or tools used in software development. Through use of the advanced windows management system, a user generates editor windows that include views from tools and editors. Thus, the user is permitted to customize the editor window to include views for editors used on a project.

Claims

1. A method for generating user customized windows in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of views, wherein a view comprises visual representations in a program window generated by an underlying program for which information is displayed to a user for use of the underlying program;

displaying a target window;

receiving user input, via a drag and drop operation, that specifies the selection of at least two views for placement of said views in locations, specified by said user input, within said target window to permit a user to drag said views and to drop said views into said target window;

displaying, in response to said user input, graphical feed back to indicate a potential location in said target window for placement of a view by said user in said target window;

docking, in response to said user input, said views for display within said target window; and

displaying said views in said target window, such that a user is permitted to customize a target window with a plurality of views from different programs to permit grouping views from different programs in a single target window.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display information for a view comprises graphics, text and controls corresponding to a software development tool.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying, in response to user input that specifies placement of a view on an existing view in said target window, more than one view in a single location in said target window such that said views are tabbed with a title of each view in a title bar.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said views are associated with panes docked in a window.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said views comprise a plurality of views situated in a window.

6. A method for generating customized workspace windows, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of windows, wherein each window comprises at least one view for an editor program, said view comprises visual representations in a program window generated by an underlying editor program for which information is displayed to a user for use of the editor program;

displaying an editor window;

receiving user input, via a drag and drop operation, that specifies the selection of at least two views for placement of said views in a location of said editor window to permit a user to drag said views and to drop said views into said editor window;

displaying, in response to said user input, graphical feed back to indicate a potential location in said editor window for placement of a view by said user in said editor window;

docking, in response to said user input, said at least two views selected for inclusion in said editor window, and

displaying said at least two views selected in said editor window, such that a user is permitted to customize said editor window with a plurality of views from different programs to permit grouping views from different programs in a single target window.

7. A computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a plurality of views, wherein a view comprises visual representations in a program window generated by an underlying program for which information is displayed to a user for use of the underlying program;

displaying a target window;

receiving user input, via drag and drop operation, that specifies the selection of at least two views for placement of said views in locations, specified by said user input, within said target window to permit a user to drag said views and to drop said views into said target window;

displaying, in response to said user input, graphical feedback to indicate a potential location in said target window for placement of a view by said user in said target window;

docking, in response to said user input, said views for display within said target window; and

displaying said views in said target window, such that a user is permitted to customize a target window with a plurality of views from different programs to permit grouping views from different programs in a single target window.

8. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7, wherein the instructions for receiving user input to specify placement of said views within said target window comprise instructions for providing a drag and drop operation to permit a user to drag said views and to drop said views into said target window.

9. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 8, further comprising instructions for displaying, in response to user input, graphical feed back to indicate a potential location in said target window for placement of a view by said user in said target window.

10. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7, wherein said display information for a view comprises graphics, text and controls corresponding to a software development tool.

11. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7, further comprising instructions for displaying, in response to user input that specifies placement of a view on an existing view in said target window, more than one view in a single location in said target window such that said views are tabbed with a title of each view in a title bar.

12. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7, wherein said views are associated with panes docked in a window.

13. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7, wherein said views comprise a plurality of views situated in a window.

14. A computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a plurality of windows, wherein each window comprises at least one view for an editor program, said view comprises visual representations in a program window generated by an underlying editor program for which information is displayed to a user for use of the editor program;

displaying an editor window;

receiving user input, via a drag and drop operation, that specifies the selection of at least two views for placement of said views in a location of said editor window to permit a user to drag said views and to drop said views into said editor window;

displaying, in response to said user input, graphical feed back to indicate a potential location in said editor window for placement of a view by said user in said editor window;

docking, in response to said user input, said at least two views selected for inclusion in said editor window, and

displaying said at least two views selected in said editor window, such that a user is permitted to customize said editor window with a plurality of views from different programs to permit grouping views from different programs in a single target window.

15. A computer system comprising;

an input device for receiving user input;

an output display for displaying information;

processing unit for executing instructions for;

displaying a plurality of views, where a view comprises visual representations in a program window generated by an underlying program for which information is displayed to a user for use of the underlying program;

displaying a target window on said output display;

receiving user input from said input device for a drag and drop operation that specifies the selection of at least two views for placement of said views in locations, specified by said user input, within said target window to permit a user to drag said views and to drop said views into said target window;

displaying, in response to said user input, graphical feed back to indicate a potential location in said target window for placement of a view by said user in said target window;

docking, in response to said user input, said views for display within said target window; and

displaying said views in said target window, such that a user is permitted to customize a target window with a plurality of views from different programs to permit grouping views from different programs in a single target window.