Management of multiple window panels with a graphical user interface
A method in a user interface, according to one embodiment, allows for the docking of window panels within a software application. A palette in the user interface can, in this embodiment, have three states: (i) the palette is open within a window panel; (ii) the palette is docked as a tab; and (iii) the palette is open in a area connected to the tab. User actions through the user interface can control transitions among these three states. Other methods are described, and systems and computer readable storage media are also described.
1. A method for managing a plurality of palettes within a computer software application comprising:
presenting a palette that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application on a computer display screen, by (i) displaying the palette within a window, or (ii) docking the palette within a docking bar and displaying a docking tab for enabling the palette;
detecting that a user is applying (a) a docking action, (b) a generation action or (c) a detaching action, at a location within the display screen;
docking the palette within the docking bar when said detecting detects that the user is applying the docking action to a window within which the palette is displayed; and
displaying the palette within a window when said detecting detects that the user is applying the generation action to the docking tab, comprising:
fastening the palette to at least one other already displayed palette if the generation action positions the palette in proximity to the at least one other already displayed palette, wherein palettes fastened together subsequently move together rigidly as a single geometrical area when one of the fastened palettes is moved; and
moving one palette together with those and only those of the palettes of a plurality of fastened-together palettes that are below and to the right of the one palette, to separate them from the plurality of fastened-together palettes, when said detecting detects that the user is applying the detaching action to the one palette.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the docking action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the window within which the palette is displayed.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the generation action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the docking tab, and moving the mouse pointer while the mouse button is depressed.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying the docking tab for enabling the palette displays the docking tab when the palette is first activated within the computer software application.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying the docking tab for enabling the palette displays the docking tab when the palette is first activated within the computer software application after having been previously closed.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the detaching action is moving a palette while pressing a control key.
7. A system for managing a plurality of palettes within a computer software application comprising:
a processor; and
a computer display screen for displaying a user interface, the user interface comprising:
a window generator for generating a window for a palette that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application, and for displaying the window on the computer display screen;
a user input detector for detecting that a user is applying (a) a docking action, (b) a generation action or (c) a detaching action, at a location within the display screen;
a docking manager for docking the window for the palette within a docking bar of the user interface when said user input detector detects that the user is applying the docking action to the window; and
a display manager (i) for displaying a docking tab within the docking bar for enabling the palette when said docking manager docks the window, (ii) for displaying the palette within a window when said user input detector detects that the user is applying the generation action to the docking tab, (iii) for fastening the palette to at least one other already displayed palette if the generation action positions the palette in proximity to the at least one other already displayed palette, wherein palettes fastened together subsequently move together rigidly as a single geometrical area when one of the fastened palettes is moved, and (iv) for moving one palette together with those and only those of the palettes of a plurality of fastened-together palettes that are below and to the right of the one palette, to separate them from the plurality of fastened-together palettes, when said user input detector detects that the user is applying the detaching action to the one palette.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the docking action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the window within which the palette is displayed.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the generation action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the docking tab on the display device, and moving the mouse pointer while the mouse button is depressed.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein said display manager displays the docking tab for enabling the palette when the palette is first activated within the computer software application.
11. The system of claim 7 wherein said display manager displays the docking tab for enabling the palette when the palette is first activated within the computer software application after having been previously closed.
12. The system of claim 7 wherein the detaching action is moving a palette while pressing a control key.
13. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:
presenting a palette that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application on a computer display screen, by (i) docking the palette within a docking bar and displaying a docking tab for enabling the palette, or (ii) displaying the palette within a window;
detecting that a user is applying (a) a docking action, (b) a detaching action or (c) a generation action, at a location within the display screen;
docking the palette within the docking bar when the detecting detects that the user is applying the docking action to a window within which the palette is displayed; and
displaying the palette within a window when the detecting detects that the user is applying the generation action to the docking tab, comprising:
fastening the palette to at least one other already displayed palette if the generation action positions the palette in proximity to the at least one other already displayed palette, wherein palettes fastened together subsequently move together rigidly as a single geometrical area when one of the fastened palettes is moved; and
moving one palette together with those and only those of the palettes of a plurality of fastened-together palettes that are below and to the right of the one palette, to separate them from the plurality of fastened-together palettes, when said detecting detects that the user is applying the detaching action to the anyone palette.