Programming interface for a computer platform
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A programming interface embodied on one or more computer-readable storage media comprising:
- a hierarchical namespace including a set of types for a user interface organized into the hierarchical namespace, the hierarchical namespace including functionality to allow application-defined calculations to be performed;
a top level identifier prefixed to the name of each group in the hierarchy so that the types in each group are referenced by a hierarchical name that includes the selected top level identifier prefixed to the name of the group containing the type;
a first group of services related to re-usable user interface controls, the first group of services including a control that allows preview images of items to be displayed;
a second group of services related to user interface dialogs and user interface wizards, the second group of services including a first dialog to allow files and folders to be opened and saved;
a third group of services related to extending the user interface functionality, the third group of services including functionality to allow identification of application-defined thumbnails; and
a fourth group of services related to extending functionality of a desktop of the user interface, the fourth group of services including functionality to allow a sidebar to be displayed on the desktop, wherein the first and second and third and fourth groups of services are defined by respective namespaces of the programming interface, wherein one of the respective namespaces is a Desktop namespace, the Desktop namespace including elements in the sidebar, and wherein a BasketControl control allows one or more elements to be added to the sidebar; and
an object model that can be used by each of the groups of services, the object model including;
an ExplorerItem object that describes items that can be presented to a usera Library object that describes a query against the ExplorerItem object,a ViewFields object that projects data from the ExplorerItem object to the user, anda StorageFavorites object that describes a link to a dynamic list generated from the Library object.
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Abstract
A programming interface for a computer platform can include various functionality. In certain embodiments, the programming interface includes one or more of a first group of services related to re-usable user interface controls, a second group of services related to user interface dialogs and user interface wizards, a third group of services related to extending the user interface functionality, and a fourth group of services related to extending functionality of a desktop of the user interface.
49 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A programming interface embodied on one or more computer-readable storage media comprising:
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a hierarchical namespace including a set of types for a user interface organized into the hierarchical namespace, the hierarchical namespace including functionality to allow application-defined calculations to be performed; a top level identifier prefixed to the name of each group in the hierarchy so that the types in each group are referenced by a hierarchical name that includes the selected top level identifier prefixed to the name of the group containing the type; a first group of services related to re-usable user interface controls, the first group of services including a control that allows preview images of items to be displayed; a second group of services related to user interface dialogs and user interface wizards, the second group of services including a first dialog to allow files and folders to be opened and saved; a third group of services related to extending the user interface functionality, the third group of services including functionality to allow identification of application-defined thumbnails; and a fourth group of services related to extending functionality of a desktop of the user interface, the fourth group of services including functionality to allow a sidebar to be displayed on the desktop, wherein the first and second and third and fourth groups of services are defined by respective namespaces of the programming interface, wherein one of the respective namespaces is a Desktop namespace, the Desktop namespace including elements in the sidebar, and wherein a BasketControl control allows one or more elements to be added to the sidebar; and an object model that can be used by each of the groups of services, the object model including; an ExplorerItem object that describes items that can be presented to a user a Library object that describes a query against the ExplorerItem object, a ViewFields object that projects data from the ExplorerItem object to the user, and a StorageFavorites object that describes a link to a dynamic list generated from the Library object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system implemented by way of one or more computers that comprise one or more computer-readable storage media, the system comprising:
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means for organizing a set of types for a user interface into a hierarchical namespace, the hierarchical namespace including functionality to allow application-defined calculations to be performed; means for exposing a first set of functions that enable re-usable controls of a user interface; means for exposing a second set of functions that enable re-usable dialogs of the user interface and re-usable wizards of the user interface; means for exposing a third set of functions that enable extending functionality of a desktop of the user interface, wherein the means for exposing the first set of functions including means for exposing one or more functions that allow items to be added to a sidebar of the desktop; means for selecting a top level identifier and prefixing the name of each set with the top level identifier so that the types in each set are referenced by a hierarchical name that includes the selected top level identifier prefixed to the name of the set containing the type, wherein the first set of functions is associated with a Desktop top level identifier and includes elements in the sidebar, and wherein a BasketControl control allows one or more elements to be added to the sidebar; and a means for exposing an object model that can be used by each of the sets of functions, the object model including; an ExplorerItem object that describes items that can be presented to a user a Library object that describes a query against the ExplorerItem object, a ViewFields object that projects data from the ExplorerItem object to the user, and a StorageFavorites object that describes a link to a dynamic list generated from the Library object. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification