Methods and apparatus for customizing user-interface control in existing application
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsLawrence D. Bergman, Vittorio Castelli, Tessa A. Lau, Daniel A. Oblinger
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Abstract
Techniques for altering application user-interface controls are provided. More particularly the customization of a new or existing user-interface control in an application user-interface is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a method for customizing user-interface controls of an existing application comprises the recording of a procedure description performed by a user in the application user-interface. A new or modified application user-interface control relating to the procedure description is then installed in the existing application.
Claims13
A computer-implemented method for customizing a user-interface control of an existing application comprising the steps of:
- recording a procedure description comprising a series of actions performed by a user in an application user-interface;
- installing the user-interface control relating to the procedure description in the existing application for execution of the procedure description and generation of the series of actions when the user-interface control is activated;
- and
- executing the installed user-interface control;
- wherein the step of recording a procedure description performed by the user in the application user-interface comprises the steps of:
- transmitting at least one request for application user-interface structure information from a procedure capturer to an operating system;
- receiving the application user-interface structure information from the operating system at the procedure capturer;
- building a control registry at the procedure capturer based on the user-interface structure information;
- receiving a notification of a system action at the procedure capturer during a user action within the application user-interface;
- and
- updating the control registry of the procedure capturer;
- wherein the step of recording a procedure description performed by the user in the application user-interface further comprises the steps of:
- determining a result activated by a user action at the procedure capturer;
- mapping the activated result into a generic description at the procedure capturer;
- adding the generic description to a procedure representation at the procedure capturer;
- determining if there are more user actions;
- and
- storing the procedure representation in the procedure capturer if there are no more user actions;
- wherein the step of installing the user-interface control relating to the procedure description in the existing application comprises the steps of:
- sending a request to the operating system from a control installer to install the control;
- creating and installing the control in the application user-interface through the operating system;
- and
- registering a callback at the operating system using a location supplied by the control installer;
- wherein the step of executing the installed user-interface control comprises the steps of:
- receiving a user action on the installed control at the operating system;
- invoking a callback function in a command player by the operating system;
- retrieving the procedure description at the command player;
- transmitting at least one request for application user-interface structure information from the command player to the operating system;
- receiving the application user-interface structure information from the operating system at the command player;
- building a control registry at the command player;
- and
- registering with the operating system for the command player to receive notification of user actions.
Apparatus for customizing a control of a user-interface of an existing application comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- at least one processor, coupled to the memory operative to:
- (i) record a procedure description comprising a series of actions performed by a user in the existing application user-interface;
- and (ii) in response to the recording operation, customizing the control of the user-interface of the existing application by installing a user-interface control specific to the procedure description in the existing application for automatic execution of the procedure description and generation of the series of actions performed by the user when the user-interface control is activated.
An article of manufacture, stored in one or more memory devices, for customizing a control of a user-interface of an existing application comprising computer executable instructions to perform the steps of:
- recording a procedure description comprising a series of actions performed by a user in the existing application user-interface;
- and
- in response to the recording step, customizing the control of the user-interface of the existing application by installing a user-interface control specific to the procedure description in the existing application for automatic execution of the procedure description and generation of the series of actions performed by the user when the user-interface control is activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.