Dialog item interface definition object
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorLewis K. Cirne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An object-oriented item is used to define the behavior of an item in a dialog box in a windows environment. A class hierarchical library is established with a base class setting up initial definitions of instance variables and methods used to define the behavior of a customized item. An applications developer can create customized items for a dialog box by creating subclasses. The subclasses will inherit portions of the superclasses, and the developer will customize the items by overriding certain methods. The object, an instance of the class, is referenced by a resource associated with an application.
Claims18
A computer implemented method for managing items in a dialog box, comprising the steps of:
- executing an instruction calling for said dialog box;
- the method characterized by the steps of:
- using a dialog manager to access a list of said items, said list including a first reference to an object oriented class;
- using said dialog manager to follow said first reference to said object oriented class, said object oriented class
- representing a definition of a first item;
- and
- managing said first item, using said dialog manager, based on an instance of said object oriented class.
An apparatus which uses a dialog box, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory in communication with said processor;
- a storage device in communication with said processor, said storage device storing program code for programming said processor to perform the step of:
- executing an instruction calling for said dialog box,
- the apparatus being characterized by said storage device storing program code for programming said processor to perform the steps of:
- using a dialog manager to access a list of said items, said list including a first reference to an object oriented class,
- using said dialog manager to follow said first reference to said object oriented class, said object oriented class representing a definition of a first item, and
- managing said first item, using said dialog manager, based on an instance of said object oriented class;
- a display in communication with said processor;
- and
- an input device in communication with said processor.
A system for providing an item in a dialog box, comprising:
- at least one interface definition object (IDO) capable of defining a behavior of the item;
- at least one dialog item list (DITL) resource, each of the at least one DITL referring to at least one IDO;
- at least one dialog (DLOG) resource, and
- a dialog manager capable of managing the dialog box, creating an instance of the at least one IDO, drawing the item, and reacting to events as defined by the at least one IDO, the instance of the at least one IDO corresponding to the item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.