Method and system for adding buttons to a toolbar
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorElizabeth Ann Moursund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for intuitively adding a button or other type of control to a toolbar or other region for holding the same. A control is added by dragging an object to a region for holding controls and dropping the object at the desired location of the control in the region. In response to the object being dropped in the region for holding controls, a control is created and bound to an operation of the object.
Claims14
A method for adding a control to a region for holding controls, comprising the steps of:
- displaying a region for holding controls;
- displaying a container including a plurality of objects of a predetermined type;
- identifying a default operation associated with the plurality of objects in the container;
- detecting the selection and movement of one of the plurality of objects;
- detecting the placement of the selected object;
- in response to the placement of the selected object in the region for holding controls, creating a control in the region for holding controls;
- and
- associating the control with the default operation and the selected object,
- whereby subsequent actuation of the control results in the default operation being performed on the selected object.
A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for adding a control to a region for holding controls, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:
- displaying a region for holding controls;
- displaying a plurality of objects of a predetermined type;
- identifying a default operation associated with the plurality of objects;
- detecting the selection and movement of one of the plurality of objects;
- detecting the placement of the selected object;
- in response to the placement of the selected object in the region for holding controls, creating a control in the region for holding controls;
- and
- associating the control with the default operation and the selected object,
- whereby subsequent actuation of the control results in the default operation being performed on the selected object.
A computer system for adding a control to a region for holding controls, comprising:
- a processing unit;
- an input device connected to the processing unit;
- and
- a display device coupled to the processing unit for displaying the region for holding controls;
- the processing unit, responsive to instructions from a program module running on the computer system, being operative to:
- display the region for holding controls;
- display a container including a plurality of objects representing data files of a predetermined type;
- identify a default operation associated with the data files represented by the plurality of objects;
- detect the selection of one of the plurality of objects;
- detect the placement of the selected object;
- in response to the placement of the selected object in the region for holding controls, create a control in the region for holding controls;
- and
- bind the control to the default operation and the selected object,
- whereby subsequent actuation of the control results in the default operation being performed on the data file represented by the selected object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.