Apparatus and method for using a panel layout to consolidate dynamic and interactive graphics representative of input and output data

1. A computer readable medium, comprising executable instructions to:

select a panel layout with panels specified in combination;

select interactive graphic files representative of input and output values for panels within the panel layout, wherein each interactive graphic file is an executable file to represent an interactive graphic relationship between input data and output data;

create multiple content layers for one or more panels;

associate the interactive graphic files with panels in the panel layout;

generate a composite interactive graphic file representative of input and output values for the interactive graphic files associated with the panel layout, wherein an output value of a first panel is processed as an input value of a second panel;

select a second panel layout;

embed the composite interactive graphic file within a panel of the second panel layout to form a new interactive control panel file; and

provide the new interactive control panel file to an end user.

2. The computers-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the panel layout includes relative dimensions for the panels within the panel layout.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to associate more than one interactive graphic file representative of input and output values for the same panel within the panel layout.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to associate with a single panel within the panel layout, one or more interactive graphic files representative of input and output values and one or more image files.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to associate a label with the composite interactive graphic file.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to associate one panel in the panel layout as an interactive graphic file representative of input and output values and to associate an image file with another panel in the panel layout.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to provide toggle controls for a panel.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to provide controls for a user to display a panel such that it fills the entire panel layout area.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to define a control to select a content layer of the multiple content layers.

10. A computer readable medium, comprising executable instructions to:

receive a panel layout with panels specified in combination;

receive multiple content layers for one or more panels in the panel layout;

receive associations between the panels within the panel layout and interactive graphic files, wherein the associations include an output value of a first panel being processed as an input value of a second panel, wherein each interactive graphic file is an executable file to represent an interactive graphic relationship between input data and output data;

generate a composite interactive graphic file representative of the panel layout and the associated interactive graphic files for the panels within the panel layout;

receive a second panel layout;

embed the composite interactive graphic file within a panel of the second panel layout to form a new interactive control panel file; and

provide the new interactive control panel file to an end user.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 further comprising executable instructions to associate interactive graphic files with the same panel.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 further comprising executable instructions to toggle between the interactive graphic files.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising executable instructions to toggle in response to an input value.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising executable instructions to toggle in response to a time setting.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising executable instructions to toggle in response to an option setting.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10 further comprising executable instructions to associate interactive graphics files and an image file with the same panel.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising executable instructions to provide a display control for the panel layout.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising executable instructions to provide controls for a user to display a panel such that it fills the entire panel layout area.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising executable instructions to define a control to select a content layer of the multiple content layers.

20. A computer readable medium, comprising executable instructions to:

receive a panel layout with panels specified in combination;

receive multiple content layers for one or more panels in the panel layout;

define content for a canvas within the panel layout such that at least one graphic component produces an output value in a first panel as an input value for a second panel;

generate a composite interactive graphic file representative of the canvas and the panel, wherein the composite interactive graphic file is an executable file to represent an interactive graphic relationship between input data and output data;

receive a second panel layout;

embed the composite interactive graphic file within a panel of the second panel layout to form a new interactive control panel file; and

provide the new interactive control panel file to an end user.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising executable instructions to define content for a plurality of canvases within the panel layout.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising executable instructions to toggle between content associated with a panel of the panel layout.