Graphic User Interface Control Object Stylization

Abstract

A method of modifying individual graphic user interface controls according to predefined settings including the steps of identifying at least one graphic user interface control object with a plurality of states and/or event handlers, assigning a user-selectable visual modification to the control object, associating the visual modification with a state of the control object, saving the assignment to a configuration file and applying the visual modification to the control object upon display of the control object in the associated state or upon firing of the associated event handler.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a screen shot of a dialog box of control display customization according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention for modifying a control object's visual properties responsive to its state.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention for modifying a control object responsive an event handler.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention for applying a visual overlay to a control object responsive to its state.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention for modifying a control object's visual properties and applying a visual overlay responsive to the control object's state.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention for modifying a control object's visual properties responsive to its state and saving the settings to a configuration file specific to a unique software application.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention showing application execution where a software-specific configuration file may or may not exist.

FIGS. 8-9 are screen shots of an embodiment of the invention applying both visual overlay and modifying a control object's properties responsive to state and events.

Claims

1. A method of modifying individual graphic user interface controls according to predefined settings comprising the steps of: identifying at least one graphic user interface control object with a plurality of states;exposing substantially all of the control object's visual properties;assigning a user-selectable visual modification to the control object's visual properties;associating the visual modification with a state of the control object;saving the assignment to a default configuration file; andapplying the visual modification to the control object upon display of the control object in the associated state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of toggling the visual modification on and off responsive to user preference.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphic user interface control object is selected from the group consisting of textboxes, buttons, dropdown lists, list boxes, combo boxes, checkboxes, checkbox lists, radio buttons, and radio button lists.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the state of the control object is selected from the group consisting of checked, unchecked, selected, enabled, disabled, visible, and invisible.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual modification is applied to control object properties selected from the group consisting of font size, font stylization, font name, font color, foreground color, background color, border color, border thickness, border style and text alignment.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: identifying a software application that displays at least one control object; andsaving the assignment to an application-specific configuration file associated with the identified software application;applying the application-specific configuration file for an associated executed software application; anddefaulting to the default configuration file for a software application lacking an associated application-specific configuration file.

7. A method of modifying individual graphic user interface controls according to predefined settings comprising the steps of: identifying at least one graphic user interface control object;assigning a user-selectable visual modification to the control object;associating the visual modification with an event handler;saving the assignment to a default configuration file; andapplying the visual modification to the control object responsive to the firing of the associated event.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of toggling the visual modification on and off responsive to user preference.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the graphic user interface control object is selected from the group consisting of textboxes, buttons, dropdown lists, list boxes, combo boxes, checkboxes, checkbox lists, radio buttons, and radio button lists.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the visual modification is applied to control object properties selected from the group consisting of font size, font stylization, font name, font color, foreground color, background color, border color, border thickness, border style and text alignment.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: identifying a software application that displays at least one control object; andsaving the assignment to an application-specific configuration file associated with the identified software application;applying the application-specific configuration file for an associated executed software application; anddefaulting to the default configuration file for a software application lacking an associated application-specific configuration file.

12. A method of applying visual indicia to individual graphic user interface controls comprising the steps of: identifying at least one graphic user interface control object with a plurality of states;assigning a user-selectable visual overlay to the control object;associating the visual overlay with a state of the control object;saving the assignment to a default configuration file; andapplying the visual overlay to the control object upon display of the control object in the associated state.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of toggling the visual overlay on and off responsive to user preference.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the graphic user interface control object is selected from the group consisting of textboxes, buttons, dropdown lists, list boxes, combo boxes, checkboxes, checkbox lists, radio buttons, and radio button lists.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the state of the control object is selected from the group consisting of checked, unchecked, selected, enabled, disabled, visible, and invisible.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the visual overlay is applied to the control object is selected from the group consisting of vector-based predefined geometric shapes and bitmap images.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the visual overlay is composted with its background according to a predetermined algorithm.

18. The method of 16 wherein the visual overlay further comprises user-adjustable properties selected from the group consisting of shape, dimensions, relative position, opacity, hue, saturation, contrast, brightness, midtone, tint, animation and bitmap image.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of: identifying a software application that displays at least one control object; andsaving the assignment to an application-specific configuration file associated with the identified software application;applying the application-specific configuration file for an associated executed software application; anddefaulting to the default configuration file for a software application lacking an associated application-specific configuration file.

20. A method of applying visual indicia to individual graphic user interface controls comprising the steps of: identifying at least one graphic user interface control object with a plurality of states;assigning a user-selectable visual overlay to the control object;associating the visual overlay with an event handler;saving the assignment to a default configuration file; andapplying the visual overlay to the control object responsive to the firing of the associated event.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of toggling the visual overlay on and off responsive to user preference.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the graphic user interface control object is selected from the group consisting of textboxes, buttons, dropdown lists, list boxes, combo boxes, checkboxes, checkbox lists, radio buttons, and radio button lists.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the visual overlay is applied to the control object is selected from the group consisting of vector-based predefined geometric shapes and bitmap images.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the visual overlay is composted with its background according to a predetermined algorithm.

25. The method of 23 wherein the visual overlay further comprises user-adjustable properties selected from the group consisting of shape, dimensions, relative position, opacity, hue, saturation, contrast, brightness, midtone, tint, animation and bitmap image.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: identifying a software application that displays at least one control object; andsaving the assignment to an application-specific configuration file associated with the identified software application;applying the application-specific configuration file for an associated executed software application; anddefaulting to the default configuration file for a software application lacking an associated application-specific configuration file.