Command user interface for displaying multiple sections of software functionality controls

A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing functionality from a software application via an improved user interface, comprising:

• providing a plurality of functionalities available from the software application;
• organizing the plurality of functionalities according to one or more tasks that may be performed with the software application;
• providing in the user interface a user interface tab for each of the one or more tasks;
• upon receiving an indication of a selection of a first user interface tab, displaying in the user interface a first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the selected first user interface tab;
• and
• receiving an indication of an editing action on an object in an edited document;
• and
• if display space is available within the user interface, displaying in the user interface a second functionality control section containing one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with editing the object in addition to the displayed first functionality control section.

A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing functionality from a software application via an improved user interface, comprising:

• providing a plurality of functionalities available from the software application;
• organizing the plurality of functionalities according to one or more tasks that may be performed with the software application;
• providing in the user interface a user interface tab for each of the one or more tasks;
• upon receiving an indication of a selection of a first user interface tab, displaying in the user interface a first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the selected first user interface tab;
• upon receiving an indication of a subsequent selection of an alternate user interface tab, determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with a subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab;
• and
• if display space is available within the user interface, displaying in the user interface a second functionality control section containing one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to the displayed first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.