Method for Displaying Children Components in a Display that Operates at Different Screen Parameters and Orientations
A method for controlling a display in a data processing system is disclosed. The method includes providing a layout file that includes a description of a parent panel and a plurality of children elements. A parent display specification in the layout file includes a specification for a plurality of different sub-view displays. Each sub-view display includes a different sub-set of the children elements and occupies a region on the display corresponding to the parent panel. A runtime system interprets the parent display specification and automatically generates the sub-view displays. A control element enables a user to signal the system to replace the current sub-view display with one of the other sub-view displays.
1 . A method for controlling a display in a data processing system, said method comprising:
providing a layout file comprising a description of a parent panel and a plurality of children elements;
providing a parent display specification in said layout file, said parent display specification comprising a specification for a plurality of different sub-view displays, each sub-view display comprising a different sub-set of said children elements and occupying a region on said display corresponding to said parent panel;
providing a runtime system that interprets said parent display specification and automatically generates said sub-view displays; and
providing a control element that enables a user to signal the system to replace the current sub-view display with one of the other said sub-view displays.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a swipe panel.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a navigation panel in each sub-view, said navigation panel having one icon or button for each sub-view display.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein one of said icons is highlighted, said highlighted icon specifying the current sub-view display in relation to others of said sub-view displays.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein a user signals said runtime system to replace the current sub-view display with one of the other sub-view displays by selecting one of said icons.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said parent display specification specifies a first arrangement of said sub-view displays when said display is in landscape mode and a second arrangement of said sub-view displays when said display is in portrait mode.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein said runtime system switches between said first and second arrangements when said display switches between landscape and portrait modes.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said layout file comprises an XML file and wherein said parent display specification comprises a definition within said XML file.
9 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions that cause a data processing system to execute a method for operating a display that is part of said data processing system, said method comprising:
providing a layout file comprising a description of a parent panel and a plurality of children elements;
providing a parent display specification in said layout file, said parent display specification comprising a specification for a plurality of different sub-view displays, each sub-view display comprising a different sub-set of said children elements and occupying a region on said display corresponding to said parent panel;
providing a runtime system that interprets said parent display specification and automatically generates said sub-view displays; and
providing a control element that enables a user to signal the system to replace the current sub-view display with one of the other said sub-view displays.
10 . The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said control element comprises a swipe panel.
11 . The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said control element comprises a navigation panel in each sub-view, said navigation panel having one icon or button for each sub-view display.
12 . The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein one of said icons is highlighted, said highlighted icon specifying the current sub-view display in relation to others of said sub-view displays.
13 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein a user signals said runtime system to replace the current sub-view display with one of the other sub-view displays by selecting one of said icons.
14 . The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said parent display specification specifies a first arrangement of said sub-view displays when said display is in landscape mode and a second arrangement of said sub-view displays when said display is in portrait mode.
15 . The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said runtime system switches between said first and second arrangements when said display switches between landscape and portrait modes.
16 . The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said layout file comprises an XML file and wherein said parent display specification comprises a definition within said XML file.