Context-sensitive display bar

1. A method for managing a context-dependent display bar, comprising:

identifying a graphical object currently displayed by a graphics software application operated by a user;

identifying a current edit mode in which the user is working, wherein the edit mode indicates whether or not the user has selected the identified graphical object for editing;

identifying a tool for editing graphical objects currently activated by the user;

determining a current context in which the user is working, the context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool;

identifying a plurality of controls associated with the current context, wherein different contexts generally have at least one different control associated therewith; and

displaying the plurality of controls associated with the current context within a display bar of the graphics software application, each time that the current context changes, comprising:

splitting the plurality of controls associated with the current context into subsets; and

inserting page forward and page backward controls into the display bar such that as a user pages back and forth through portions of the display bar using those page controls, different subsets of controls become visible.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a control has a corresponding handler, and wherein the handler modifies a displayed graphical object.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving notification of an event triggered by the user performing an input action on a selected one of the displayed controls; and

notifying the handler of the selected control.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a context has a unique identifier, and wherein said identifying at least one control comprises accessing a look-up table keyed on identifiers for contexts.

5. A processing system for managing a context-dependent display bar within a graphical user interface, comprising:

a memory;

a graphics processor coupled to the memory, the graphics processor comprising:

a state identifier for identifying (i) a graphical object being displayed by a graphics software application operated by a user, (ii) an edit mode within which the user is working, wherein the edit mode indicates whether or not the user has selected the identified graphical object for editing, (iii) a tool for editing graphical objects activated by the user, and (iv) a plurality of controls associated with a current context in which a user is working; and

a context identifier for determining the current context, the current context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool, and wherein different contexts generally have at least one different control associated therewith; and

a display manager operatively coupled with said graphics processor for displaying a display bar including the plurality of controls associated with the current context, each time that the current context changes, comprising a display bar layout processor for splitting the plurality of controls associated with the current context into subsets, and for inserting page forward and page backward controls into the display bar such that as a user pages back and forth through portions of the display bar using those page controls, different subsets of controls become visible.

6. The processor of claim 5 wherein a control has a corresponding handler, and wherein the handler modifies a displayed graphical object.

7. The processor of claim 6 further comprising:

a message receiver for receiving notification of an event triggered by the user performing an input action on a selected one of the displayed controls; and

a message sender for notifying the handler of the selected control.

8. The processor of claim 5 wherein a context has a unique identifier, and wherein said state identifier accesses a look-up table keyed on identifiers for contexts.

9. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

identifying a graphical object being displayed by a graphics software application operated by a user;

identifying an edit mode within which the user is working, wherein the edit mode indicates whether or not the user has selected the identified graphical object for editing;

identifying a tool for editing graphical objects activated by the user;

determining a context, the context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool;

identifying a plurality of controls associated with the context, wherein different contexts generally have at least one different control associated therewith; and

displaying the plurality of controls associated with the current context within a display bar of the graphics software application, each time that the context changes, comprising:

splitting the plurality of controls associated with the current context into subsets; and

inserting page forward and page backward controls into the display bar such that as a user pages back and forth through portions of the display bar using those page controls, different subsets of controls become visible.