User interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object

A computer implemented method for providing an improved user interface that provides functionality from a software application that is relevant to a selected object, the method comprising:

• displaying, by a computer, tabs identified textually and disposed in an upper row of the user interface, each of the tabs identifying a task operatively associated with objects of a same type as the selected object, wherein each of the tabs displayed by the computer are operative, upon selection, to cause a display of selectable functionality controls associated with the selected tab;
• displaying, by the computer, the selectable functionality controls disposed in a row underneath the disposition of the tabs, each of the functionality controls being presented by a graphic representation and a textual representation and being operative to cause an instance of an associated functionality of the software application to the selected object;
• displaying, by the computer, the selectable functionality controls in logical groupings, wherein each of the logical groupings combine a subset of the selectable functionality controls associated with the selected tab and the selected object, and wherein the textual representation of each selectable control and the graphic representation of each selectable control is varied to accommodate a display size of the logical groupings;
• and
• when the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying selectable controls of a given logical grouping, reducing the display size of each of the logical groupings until each of the logical groupings may be displayed in the user interface.

A computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing functionality from a software application that is relevant to a selected object via an improved user interface, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of software functionalities in a task-based interface presented in tab format, wherein each of the plurality of functionalities are presented as selectable controls, each selectable control being presented by a graphic representation and a textual representation;
• receiving an indication of a selection of an object for editing via the software application;
• upon receiving the indication of the selection of the object for editing, providing additional selectable controls representing a first subset of the plurality of functionalities, wherein the first subset of the plurality of functionalities allows for editing the selected object;
• grouping the selectable controls into logical groupings, wherein each of the logical groupings combines the first subset of the plurality of software functionalities, and wherein the textual representation of each selectable control and the graphic representation of each selectable control is varied to accommodate a display size of the logical groupings;
• and
• when the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying selectable controls of a given logical grouping, reducing the display size of each of the logical groupings until each of the logical groupings may be displayed in the user interface.

A method for providing functionality from a software application that is relevant to a selected object via an improved user interface, comprising:

• receiving an indication of a selection of a first object for editing;
• upon receiving the indication of the selection of the first object for editing, displaying user interface tabs associated with tasks that are particular to operations on a second object of a same type as the selected first object;
• displaying selectable controls associated with a first user interface tab, each of the selectable controls being operatively associated with the selected first object for applying functionalities of the software application associated with a first task, wherein each of the selectable controls is presented by a graphic representation and a textual representation;
• grouping the selectable controls into logical groupings of selectable controls, wherein each of the logical groupings combine a subset of the selectable controls, and wherein the textual representation of each selectable control and the graphic representation of each selectable control is varied to accommodate a display size of the logical groupings;
• and
• when the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying selectable controls of a given logical grouping, reducing the display size of each of the logical groupings until each of the logical groupings may be displayed in the user interface.

A computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing functionality from a software application that is relevant to a selected object via an improved user interface, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a selection of a first object for editing;
• upon receiving the indication of the selection of the first object for editing, displaying user interface tabs associated with tasks that are particular to operations on a second object of a same type as the selected first object;
• displaying selectable controls associated with a first user interface tab, each of the selectable controls being operatively associated with the selected first object for applying functionalities of the software application associated with a first task, wherein each of the selectable controls is presented by a graphic representation and a textual representation;
• grouping the selectable controls into logical groupings of selectable controls, wherein each of the logical groupings combine a subset of the selectable controls, and wherein the textual representation of each selectable control and the graphic representation of each selectable control is varied to accommodate a display size of the logical groupings;
• and
• when the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying selectable controls of a given logical grouping, reducing the display size of each of the logical groupings until each of the logical groupings may be displayed in the user interface.