Managing display of detachable windows in a GUI computing environment

An apparatus comprising:

• a digital processor coupled to a display and to a processor-readable storage device, wherein the processor-readable storage device includes one or more instructions executable by the digital processor to perform operations comprising:
• displaying a first primary window of an application;
• selecting a secondary window within the first primary window, in response to user interaction with a graphical user interface menu;
• generating a detached window based on the secondary window, wherein the detached window is outside of the first primary window;
• leaving a ghost header in the first primary window in place of the secondary window in response to generation of the detached window, wherein the ghost header does not include content of the secondary window, wherein the ghost header includes a first user interface control that implements a first action pertaining to the detached window, in response to user interaction with the first user interface control, wherein the detached window includes user interface controls that correspond with user interface controls in the ghost header including attachment-detachment buttons and menu buttons, and wherein the ghost header provides additional user interface controls for performing actions on the detached window including synchronizing behavior, configuring behavior of windows, and configuring behavior of grouped windows;
• including a second user interface control in proximity to the detached window, wherein the second user interface control implements a second action in response to user interaction with the second user interface control;
• synchronizing content in the first primary window with content in the detached window wherein the content includes data and functionality;
• and
• selecting the ghost header in response to user selection of the detached window.

A non-transitory processor-readable storage device including instructions executable by a digital processor, that when executed cause the digital processor to perform operations comprising:

• displaying a first primary window of an application;
• selecting a secondary window within the first primary window, in response to user interaction with a graphical user interface menu;
• generating a detached window based on the secondary window, wherein the detached window is outside of the first primary window;
• leaving a ghost header in the first primary window in place of the secondary window in response to generation of the detached window, wherein the ghost header does not include content of the secondary window, wherein the ghost header includes a first user interface control that implements a first action pertaining to the detached window, in response to user interaction with the first user interface control, wherein the detached window includes user interface controls that correspond with user interface controls in the ghost header including attachment-detachment buttons and menu buttons, and wherein the ghost header provides additional user interface controls for performing actions on the detached window including synchronizing behavior, configuring behavior of windows, and configuring behavior of grouped windows;
• including a second user interface control in proximity to the detached window, wherein the second user interface control implements a second action in response to user interaction with the second user interface control;
• synchronizing content in the first primary window with content in the detached window wherein the content includes data and functionality;
• and
• selecting the ghost header in response to user selection of the detached window.