Scalable vector graphics, tree and tab as drag and drop objects

• US 7,873,946 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lathrop, Arthur, Chellasamy, Venkat
• Primary Examiner(s): DAS, CHAMELI
• Application Number:
  US11/389,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 717/105, 717/102, 717/109
• US Class Current: 717/125
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/56 having vectorial format

Abstract

A mechanism is disclosed for providing Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) images, Tree and Tab as drag and drop objects. A page design tool receives an indication that a user wishes to place a metadata-defined image onto a page design canvas. The page design tool further receives an association of metadata defining the image, and in response, parses through the metadata to identify properties and characteristics of the metadata-defined image to expose to a user through a graphical user-interface of the page design tool. The page design tool enables a user to assign conditions to the exposed properties and characteristics of the image, as well as map available data sources to the properties and characteristics in order to dynamically control image properties during display. Hence, the page design tool presents graphical user interface tools for simply incorporating otherwise complex objects into page designs.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method, comprising:

receiving an indication that a user is placing an image on a design canvas using a graphical user interface;

receiving, from the user, a selection of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) image metadata, wherein the SVG image metadata is configured to define a particular property for the image;

associating the image with the SVG image metadata to obtain a metadata-defined image;

presenting the user with a definition for the particular property of the metadata-defined image;

receiving input from a user specifying one or more conditions for the particular property; and

modifying the SVG image metadata for the metadata-defined image to include the one or more conditions, wherein the one or more conditions are applied to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image.

2. A machine-implemented method as in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating a set of instructions representing the one or more conditions for the particular property; and

wherein applying the one or more conditions to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image includes executing the set of instructions.

3. A machine-implemented method as in claim 1, further comprises:

exposing at least one available data source to the user;

enabling the user to associate the data source with the one or more conditions for the particular property; and

wherein applying the one or more conditions to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image includes determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied by inspecting data from the data source.

4. A machine-implemented method as in claim 3, wherein exposing the data source further comprises:

inspecting page flow data representing the organization of one or more pages within an application;

extracting at least one data source available for the current page within the application; and

displaying a graphical representation of the data source on a graphical user interface for the user.

5. A machine-implemented method as in claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied, and in response, causing the particular property of the metadata-defined image to change during display of the metadata-defined image.

6. A machine-implemented method as in claim 5, wherein determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied includes processing data from one or more data sources associated with the one or more conditions, wherein the user associates the one or more data sources with the one or more conditions for the particular property.

7. A machine-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata-defined image is an SVG image and the metadata is in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML).

8. A machine-readable storage medium comprising one or more sets of instruction which, when executed by one or more processors, cases the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

receiving an indication that a user is placing an image on a design canvas using a graphical user interface;

receiving, from the user, a selection of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) image metadata, wherein the SVG image metadata is configured to define a particular property for the image;

associating the image with the SVG image metadata to obtain a metadata-defined image;

presenting the user with a definition for the particular property of the metadata-defined image;

receiving input from a user specifying one or more conditions for the particular property; and

modifying the SVG image metadata for the metadata-defined image to include the one or more conditions, wherein the one or more conditions are applied to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image.

9. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 8, further comprising:

automatically generating a set of instructions representing the one or more conditions for the particular property; and

wherein applying the one or more conditions to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image includes executing the set of instructions.

10. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 8, further comprising instructions for:

exposing at least one available data source to the user;

enabling the user to associate the data source with the one or more conditions for the particular property; and

wherein applying the one or more conditions to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image includes determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied by inspecting data from the data source.

11. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 10, wherein exposing the data source further comprises:

inspecting page flow data representing the organization of one or more pages within an application;

extracting at least one data source available for the current page within the application; and

displaying a graphical representation of the data source on a graphical user interface for the user.

12. A machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising instructions for determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied, and in response, causing the particular property of the metadata-defined image to change during display of the metadata-defined image to change during display of the metadata-defined image.

13. A machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied include processing data from one or more data sources associated with the one or more conditions, wherein the user associates the one or more data sources with the one or more conditions for the particular property.

14. A machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the metadata-defined image is an SVG image and the metadata is in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML).

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a persistent storage;

one or more processors; and

a set of instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the following operations;

receiving an indication that a user is placing an image on a design canvas using a graphical user interface;

receiving, from the user, a selection of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) image metadata, wherein the SVG image metadata is configured to define a particular property for the image;

associating the image with the SVG image metadata to obtain a metadata-defined image;

presenting the user with a definition for the particular property of the metadata-defined image;

receiving input from a user specifying one or more conditions for the particular property; and

modifying the SVG image metadata for the metadata-defined image to include the one or more conditions, wherein the one or more conditions are applied to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising:

automatically generating a set of instructions representing the one or more conditions for the particular property; and

wherein applying the one or more conditions to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image includes executing the set of instructions.

17. An apparatus, as in claim 15, further comprising:

exposing at least one available data source to the user;

enabling the user to associate the data source with the one or more conditions for the particular property; and

wherein applying the one or more conditions to adjust a value for the property during display of the metadata-defined image includes determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied by inspecting data from the data source.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein exposing the data source further comprises:

inspecting page flow data representing the organization of one or more pages within an application;

extracting at least one data source available for the current page within the application; and

displaying a graphical representation of the data source on a graphical user interface for the user.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied, and in response, causing the particular property of the metadata-defined image to change during display of the metadata-defined image to change during display of the metadata-defined image.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein determining that the one or more conditions have been satisfied include processing data from one or more data sources associated with the one or more conditions, wherein the user associates the one or more data sources with the one or more conditions for the particular property.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the metadata-defined image is an SVG image and the metadata is in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML).