Method for separating a hierarchical tree control into one or more hierarchical child tree controls in a graphical user interface
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsCasey L. Kiernan, Gavin Jancke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for interactive display of a graphical tree structure in a windowing environment. A tree control graphically represents hierarchical data. The user can separate a portion of a tree control at a node and create a new tree control for viewing and editing. Changes to a newly created tree control propagate through to related tree controls.
Claims24
A method for interactively displaying a tree structure for representing hierarchical data in a programmed computer system, the method comprising:
- storing a master tree structure in memory of the programmed computer system;
- displaying in a first window a hierarchical master tree control corresponding to at least a portion of the master tree structure;
- in response to user requests to expand and collapse a level of the hierarchical master tree control, expanding the level and collapsing the level, respectively, in the first window;
- in response to a user command to separate the master tree control into a hierarchical client tree control beginning at a user-specified node in the master tree control:
- creating the hierarchical client tree control;
- creating a second window for displaying the hierarchical client tree control;
- displaying the client tree control in the second window with the user-specified node forming a root node of the client tree control;
- and
- in response to user requests to expand and collapse a level of the hierarchical client tree control, expanding the level and collapsing the level, respectively, in the second window.
A method for interactively displaying a tree structure representing hierarchical data in a programmed computer system, the method comprising:
- storing a master tree structure including hierarchy data and display state data;
- displaying a hierarchical master tree control corresponding to the master tree structure in a first window;
- in response to a user command to separate the hierarchical master tree control into a client tree control, creating a hierarchical client tree control from the display state data of the master tree structure;
- displaying the client tree control in a second window;
- and
- in response to user requests to expand and collapse a level of the hierarchical client tree control, expanding the level and collapsing the level, respectively, in the second window.
A method for interactively displaying a tree structure for representing hierarchical data on a display screen of a programmed computer system, the method comprising:
- storing a master tree structure in memory of the programmed computer system;
- displaying in a first area of the display screen a hierarchical master tree control corresponding to at least a portion of the master tree structure;
- and
- in response to a user command to separate the hierarchical master tree control into a hierarchical client tree control beginning at a user-specified node in the master tree control:
- displaying the client tree control in a second area of the display screen window with the user-specified node forming a root node of the hierarchical client tree control;
- and
- in response to user requests to expand and collapse a level of the hierarchical client tree control, expanding the level and collapsing the level respectively, in the second area of the display screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.