MXPA05008350A - An improved user interface for displaying a gallery of formatting options applicable to a selected object - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved user interface is provided for displaying a gallery of images showing different formatting options combinations that may be applied to a selected object. When a particular image is selected an associated formatting options combination is automatically applied to the selected object.

Description

IMPROVED USER INTERFACE TO PRESENT A GALLERY OF FORMAT OPTIONS APPLICABLE TO A SELECTED OBJECT CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS The present application claims the priority of the provisional application of E.U.A. No. 60 / 601,815, Proxy No. 60001. 0407USP1, applicant No. 309417.1, filed on August 16, 2004, entitled "Improved User Interfaces for Computer Software Applications ".

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to user interfaces of software application. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved user interface for presenting a gallery of images illustrating different formatting options applicable to a selected object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the advent of the computer age, computer and software users have become accustomed to condescending software applications with the user that help them write, calculate, organize, prepare presentations, send and receive email, make music, and Similar. For example, modern electronic word processing applications allow users to prepare a variety of useful documents. Modern spreadsheet applications allow users to enter, manipulate and organize data. Modern electronic slide presentation applications allow users to create a variety of slide presentations containing text, images, data or other useful objects. To help users locate and use the functionality of a given software application, a user interface containing a plurality of generic functionality controls is typically provided along an upper, lower or side edge of a workspace presented, where the user can enter, copy, manipulate and format text or data. Such functionality controls frequently include selectable buttons with names such as "file", "edit", "view", "insert", "format", and the like. Typically, the selection of one of these higher level functionality buttons, eg "format", causes a scrolling menu to be presented to expose one or more selectable functionality controls associated with the higher level functionality, for example, " source "under a higher-level" format "functionality. Modern software applications allow users to apply an infinite number of similar combinations of formatting options to a given document or object. For example, a text document may have many fonts, text sizes, header formats, presentation / printing features, and the like. As another example, an image object can be shaded, rotated, colored, readjusted, appeared, stylized, and the like. Often a typical user has difficulty visualizing combinations of possible formatting options, and even if the user can view a combination of interesting and desirable formatting options, the user may lack the ability to select appropriate individual formatting options to create the format wanted. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved user interface to present a gallery of images showing combinations of different formatting options that can be applied to a selected object that when selected by a user causes the automatic application of a combination of selected formatting options to a selected object. The present invention has been made with respect to these and other considerations.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems by providing an improved user interface to present a gallery of images showing different combinations of formatting options that can be applied to a selected object that when selected by a user can cause the automatic application of a combination of formatting options associated with the selected object. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, groups of commands can be combined and can be associated with each image so that the application of a combination of given formatting options can be axed to a selected or inserted object when selecting the associated image. According to another aspect of the invention, an intended application of a combination of formatting options given to a selected object can be provided after a mouse movement or other approach in a formatting by illustrating image according to the combination of options of formatting given. According to this aspect, once the focus or mouse movement ceases, the formatting of the selected object returns to the original state. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, methods and systems provide a user interface in which a gallery of formatting controls is presented wherein the format control illustrates a combination of different formatting options that can be applied to a selected object. . After receiving an indication of a selection of an object to be formatted through a software application, the user interface is provided containing one or more format controls. A visual representation of the selected object for each or more formatting controls as illustrated showing how the selected object will be formatted if the formatting attributes associated with each of one or more formatting controls are applied to the selected object. After receiving an indication of a selection from one of one or more controls, the formatting attributes associated with the selected format control are automatically applied to the selected object. According to another aspect, after receiving a focus indication on a given one of one or more format controls, the one or more formatting attributes associated with the focused formatting control can be dynamically applied to the selected object to show how it will be formatted the selected object if one or more formatting attributes associated with the focused formatting control are applied to the selected object. These and other aspects and advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative and explanatory only and do not limit the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the architecture of a personal computer that provides an illustrative operating environment for the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 is an illustration of a computer screen display showing a tape-like user interface for presenting task-based top-level functionality labels and for presenting a plurality of functionalities available under a top-level functionality label selected Figure 3 illustrates a computer screen display showing the tape-like user interface to provide a gallery of images illustrating the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 4 illustrates a computer screen display showing a gallery of images showing the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 5 illustrates a computer screen display showing an image scrolling gallery showing the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 6 is a computer screen display illustrating components of an image scrolling gallery showing the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 7 illustrates the components of an expanded image scrolling gallery illustrating the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 8 illustrates a computer screen display of an image scrolling menu illustrating the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 9 is a computer screen display illustrating components of an image scrolling menu illustrating the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 10 illustrates a computer presentation showing the accommodation of a plurality of formatting types where each type is associated with a gallery of images illustrating the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object. Figure 11 illustrates an image gallery illustrating the application of one or more combinations of formatting options to a selected object housed in a mode dialog box. Figure 12 is a computer screen display illustrating a scroll menu of a plurality of images where each image illustrates the application of a combination of formatting options given to a selected object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As briefly described above, the embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved user interface to present a gallery of images showing different combinations of formatting options that can be applied to a selected object. According to embodiments of the present invention, all the commands necessary to apply a combination of given formatting options as represented by a presented image can be executed when selecting the image. Selecting an image from the image gallery causes the combination of formatting options to be automatically applied to the selected object. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the mouse focus or movement in a displayed image can cause a dynamic application of the combination of formatting options associated with the image focused on a selected object to show a user how the image will be presented. selected object if the combination of formatting options associated with the focused image is actually selected for application to the selected object. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that are part of it, and which are shown as specific embodiments of illustrations or examples. These modalities can be combined, other modalities can be used, and structural changes can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims or their equivalents. Referring now to the drawings, in which similar numbers represent similar elements throughout the various figures, aspects of the present invention and the illustrative operating environment will be described. Figure 1 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention can be implemented. Although the invention will be described in the general context of program modules running together with an application program running in an operating system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can also be implemented in combination with others. program modules. In general, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced with other computer system configurations, including portable devices, multiprocessor systems, programmable or microprocessor-based consumer electronics, minicomputers, macrocomputers, and the like. The invention can also be practiced in distributed computing environments, where tasks are performed through remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Returning now to Figure 1, an illustrative computer architecture for a personal computer 2 for practicing the various embodiments of the invention will be described. The computer architecture shown in Figure 1 illustrates a conventional personal computer, including a central processing unit 4 ("CPU"), a system memory 6, including a random access memory 8 ("RAM") and a memory read only 10 ("ROM"), and a common system driver 12 that couples the memory to the CPU 4. A basic input / output system containing the basic routines that help transfer information between elements within the computer, such as during boot, it is stored in ROM 10. Personal computer 2 further includes a mass storage device 14 for storing an operating system 16, application programs, such as application program 105, and data. The mass storage device 14 is connected to the CPU 4 via a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the common conductor 12. The mass storage device 14 and its associated computer-readable media provide non-volatile storage for the computer. personal computer 2. Although the description of the computer-readable media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM drive, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that readable media by computer can be any available means that can be accessed by the personal computer 2. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media can comprise computer storage media and media. Computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable, implemented in any method or technology for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, storage of magnetic disk or other magnetic storage devices, or any other means that can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer. According to the various embodiments of the invention, the personal computer 2 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote computers through a TCP / IP network 18, such as the Internet. The personal computer 2 can be connected to the TCP / IP network 18 through a network interface unit 20 connected to the common conductor 12. It should be appreciated that the network interface unit 20 can also be used to connect to other types of network interfaces. networks and remote computer systems. The personal computer 2 may also include an input / output controller 22 for receiving and processing the input of a number of devices, including a keyboard or mouse (not shown). Similarly, an input / output controller 22 may provide output to a display screen, a printer, or other type of output device. As mentioned above, a number of modules of program modules and data files can be stored in mass storage device 14 and RAM 8 of personal computer 2, including an operating system 16 suitable for controlling the operation of a computer networked personnel, such as the WINDOWS operating systems from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington. The mass storage device 14 and the RAM 8 can also store one or more application programs. In particular, the mass storage device 14 and the RAM 8 can store an application program 105 to provide a variety of functionalities to a user. For example, the application program 105 may comprise many types of programs such as a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a desktop advertising application, and the like. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the application program 105 comprises a software application of multiple functionality to provide word processing functionality, slide presentation functionality, spreadsheet functionality, database functionality, and Similar. Some of the individual program modules comprising the multiple functionality application 105 include a word processing application 125, a slide presentation application 135, a spreadsheet application 140 and a database application 145. For purposes for illustration, the applications 125, 135, 140, 145 are shown as isolated modules in Figure 1, but, as it should be understood, each of these applications can be modules of the multi-functional application 105. An example of such application of multiple functionality 105 is the OFFICE manufactured by Microsoft Corporation. Other software applications illustrated in Figure 1 include an email application 130. Figure 2 illustrates a computer screen display showing a tape-like user interface for presenting top-level functionality labels based on task and for present a plurality of functionalities available under a selected top-level functionality label. As briefly described above, the improved user interface of the present invention includes a tape-like user interface to present selectable controls associated with the task-based functionality available under a given software application., such as the software application 105 illustrated in Figure 1. A first section 210 of the user interface 200 includes generic selectable controls for functionality not associated with a particular task, such as word processing versus data sheet analysis. calculation. For example, section 210 includes selectable controls for general file commands such as "open file", "save file", and "print". According to one embodiment of the present invention, the selectable controls included in the first section 210 are controls that can be used by a variety of software applications comprising a multiple functionality application 105. That is, the selectable controls included in the First section 210 may be controls that are generally found and used through a number of different software applications. The selectable controls included in the first section 210 can be used for all of these applications comprising said multi-functional application, but other selectable controls presented in the user interface 200 described below, can be designed for particular tasks that can be performed by applications of particular software that comprise the multiple functionality application. On the other hand, it should be appreciated that the user interface 200 described herein can be used for an individual software application such as a word processing application 125, a slide presentation application 135, a spreadsheet application 140, a database application 145, or any other software application that can use a user interface to allow users to apply the functionality of the associated application. Still referring to Figure 2, adjacent to the first section 210 of the user interface 200 is a task-based tag section. The tag section includes selectable tags associated with the task-based functionality provided by a given software application. For illustrative purposes, the. Task-based labels illustrated in Figure 2 are associated with tasks that can be performed using a word processing application 125. For example, a "Write" label 215 is associated with functionality that can be used to perform tasks of writing. An "insert" tag 220 is associated with the functionality associated with carrying out insert operations or tasks. A "Page Display" label 230 is associated with the functionality provided by the associated application to make or edit page display attributes of a given document. As should be appreciated, many other task-based tags or selectable controls can be added to the tag section of the user interface to call the functionality associated with other tasks. For example, task tags can be added for text effects, document styles, review and comments, and the like. And, as described above, the user interface 200 can be used for a variety of different software applications. For example, if the user interface 200 is used for a slide presentation application, the labels contained in the label section may include labels such as "Create Slides", "Insert", "Format", "Draw", " "Effects, and the like associated with a variety of tasks that can be performed by a slide presentation application. Similarly, labels that can be used in the tag section of the user interface 200 for a spreadsheet application 140 may include tags such as "Data" or "Enter Data", "Lists", "Pivot Tables" , "Analysis", "Formulas", "Pages and Printing", and the like, associated with tasks that can be performed using a spreadsheet application. Immediately below the generic controls section 210 and the task-based tag section is a selectable functionality control section for presenting selectable functionality controls associated with a selected tag 215, 220, 230 of the tag-based section homework. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, when a particular label is selected, such as the "Write" label 215, the selectable functionality available from the associated software application to perform the selected task, for example, a write task , is presented in logical groupings. For example, referring to Figure 2, a first logical grouping 240 is presented under a heading of "Clipboard". In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the clipboard section 240 includes logically selectable functionality controls grouped together and associated with clipboard actions below the general write task. For example, the clipboard section 240 may include selectable controls such as a cut control, a copy control, a paste control, a select all control, etc. Adjacent to the clipboard section 240, a second logical grouping 250 is presented under the heading "Format" or "Format" The selectable controls presented in the section of "Format" 250 can include selectable controls such as text justification, type of text, font size, line separation, bold, italics, underline, etc. Therefore, the functionalities associated with the format operations are logically grouped together under the whole "Write" task. A third logical grouping 260 is presented under the heading of "Writing Tools". The writing tools section 260 includes writing tools such as find / replace, auto-correct, etc. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, after the selection of a task-based tag different from the tag section, a different set of functionality controls selectable in different logical groupings in the associated user interface 200 are presented. with the tag based on the selected task. For example, if the "Insert" task tag 220 is selected, the selectable functionality controls presented at the user interface 200 are changed from those illustrated in Figure 2 to include selectable functionality controls associated with the insert task. For detailed information regarding the user interface 200, illustrated in Figure 2, see US Patent Application, Proxy No. 60001.0410USU1, Applicant No. 309411.01, entitled "Inferid of Command User to Present Control Controls." Selectable Software Functionality ", which is incorporated herein by reference as set forth herein completely. Figure 3 illustrates the user interface 200 used in accordance with a slide presentation application 135. According to the user interface 200 illustrated in Figure 3, the "Page Display" label 230 is selected to present one or more logical groupings of selectable functionality controls to apply functionality to a selected object or document under a page presentation task. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the selection of the "Page Display" label 230 causes the display of a number of images 310, 320 representative of combinations of formatting options that can be applied to the selected document. That is, a gallery of images is • presented to the user where each image represents the way in which the selected document or object will be formatted if the combination of formatting options illustrated by a given image is applied to the selected document or object. As described above, a gallery of images such as those illustrated and described herein may be launched for use in selecting a task-based tag, for example the "Page Display" label described above. Alternatively, an image gallery can be launched to be used when selecting an object in a document. According to another modality, an image gallery described here can be launched in response to inserting an object into a document. For example, if a table object is inserted into a document, a gallery of images showing combinations of formatting options that can be applied to table objects can be automatically launched to provide a user with a number of potential formatting options that they can be automatically applied to the table object as described here. In addition, a gallery of images as described herein can be applied to the selection involved, for example, a complete document, slide, spreadsheet and the like, as opposed to a specific selection, for example, a particular area of a document, slide, spreadsheet or another or another specific object contained therein. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, all commands necessary to apply a combination of formatting options given to a selected document or object are executed by selecting the associated displayed image from the user interface 200. That is, if the user sees an image in the image gallery in the user interface 200 that is representative of formatting options the user wishes to have applied to a selected document or object, the user can select the desired image, and the combination of options Formatting is automatically applied to the selected object or document. For example, if the user is preparing a slide using a slide presentation application, or if the user is writing a letter or memo using a word processing application, the user can select the "Page Display" label 230 for present a gallery of images showing potential page layout formatting options. If the user sees a particular image in the image gallery that prescribes a page presentation of "all centered text", for example, the user can select that image, and all the required commands needed to format the user document by consequently they are executed in the selected document. In this way, the user is not required to search one or more formatting menus for commands necessary to format the document or object. The functionality according to the present invention is particularly useful when formatting a document or desired object requires a complex series of formatting commands in order to create the desired format. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the images comprising the image gallery, described herein, can be static images illustrating an example of how an object formatted according to a selected image will be presented. Alternatively, the image gallery may be composed of one or more dynamically produced images showing how the actual object or document selected after the selection of a given image will be presented. For example, a static representation can display a generic image, such as a generic image, rotated, shaded, or otherwise formatted according to a group of options, which, if selected, will apply to a selected object. On the other hand, a dynamic image can be in the form of a bitmap generated and presented of the real object selected by the user of the user document with the combination of formatting options applied. For example, if an illustration image in a user document is an image of the user's pet, a dynamic image showing rotation of the 90 ° image will show a bitmap image of the user's real pet displayed in a rotation of 90 °. A static image, on the other hand, can display a recorded image image such as a landscape image or gallery image rotated according to the formatting options associated with the image. The illustrations and descriptions provided below, with respect to Figures 4 to 10, show the application of the embodiments of the present invention with respect to image objects. As should be understood by those skilled in the art, the illustrations provided with respect to Figures 4 to 10 are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the application of the embodiments of the present invention with respect to other types of formatting option combinations . That is, combinations of formatting options can be illustrated by any type of formatting options that can be applied to selected documents or objects. For example, combinations of formatting options can be illustrated in an image gallery for various desktop publishing documents, including advertisement flyers, news articles, business documents, and the like. In fact, any combination of formatting options applicable to any document or object can be illustrated in an image in an image gallery, and all the commands necessary to apply the combination of formatting options to a document or document object can be " displaced "and executed by the selection of the combination image of formatting options. further, images presented in an image gallery may include information about combinations of formatting options associated with given images. For example, a given image may include text descriptions. That is, an image gallery can include one or more individual text descriptions that describe one or more combinations of formatting options that can be applied to a selected or inserted object. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the image gallery can be presented as a "ribbon-shaped" gallery of images arranged horizontally within the tape-like user interface 200, as illustrated in Figure 3. Referring to Figure 4, the components of a "tape-shaped" image gallery are illustrated. The gallery in the form of an image tape includes a title bar 410 to identify the origin of the image gallery. A gallery title 420 identifies the type of images presented in the image gallery and a gallery filter 430 identifies one or more subgroups of the image gallery that is presented to the user. For example, the gallery filter 430 can describe the images presented to the user as all the images, the most used images, my images, and the like. A large view preview 460 is illustrated in Figure 4 to allow the user to focus on a given image without applying the combination of formatting options of the image to a selected document or object so that the user can see a predicted attribute of the image. image. The slide buttons 470 can be used in the "ribbon-shaped" gallery of images where more images are available that can be displayed in the user interface 200 based on the available space. Accordingly, the slide buttons 470 allow the user to scroll through all the available images before selecting a particular image. The current selection 450 displays a highlighted image representative of the combination of formatting options that is currently applied to the selected object or document. According to one embodiment of the invention, an expanded "ribbon-shaped" image gallery may be presented after the selection of a control such as the "Reset Button" illustrated in Figure 4. The selection of the "Button" Reset "can expand the image gallery to present additional images. After the expansion of the gallery, it can be presented for the gallery to extend and extend the user interface 200 to make room for additional selectable controls (images) similar to the expanded gallery illustrated in Figure 7 (described below). As shown in Figure 5, a "scrolling" gallery of images is illustrated. According to an image scrolling gallery, the image gallery is not presented within the user interface in the form of a tape 500, but the image gallery is presented horizontally under the user interface 500. In accordance with the modalities of the present invention, an image scrolling gallery can be used when the selection of a given task-based label, such as the "Style Gallery" label 510, results in the presentation of multiple types of combinations of formatting options which can be applied to the selected document or object. For example, referring to Figure 5, the selection of the "Style Gallery" label 510 results in the presentation of a section of "Image Styles" 505, a section of "Image Edges", and a section of "Get More Styles." Advantageously, the display of the image gallery under the user interface 500 allows the user to browse the image gallery without being obstructed from seeing other potential selectable controls associated with the selected top-level task-based labels 510, 515, 520. As illustrated in Figure 6, the scrolling version of the image gallery is similar to the gallery in the form of a ribbon of images for presentation under the user interface 200, 500. Referring now to the Figure 7, an expanded image scrolling gallery can be presented where multiple types of images can be presented in response to the selected gallery of images in a gallery of individual image scrolling. For example, the image scroll gallery illustrated in Figure 7 shows a "Most Frequently Used" gallery of images 730, a "My Favorites" gallery of images 740, and a gallery of "Other Image Styles" of images 750. Referring now to Figure 8, a gallery of visual image picker is presented. An image picker gallery moves from the tape-like user interface 500. The image picker gallery can be used as described above to "rotate" a common set of commands or formatting options and to provide a Visual representation, easy to understand of common formatting options that may otherwise be difficult to select by a given user. The visual image picker gallery is similar to the "tape-shaped" and "scrolling" gallery of previously described images in which the images can be static images or the images can be visual images that can be dynamically altered to user input base and based on the actual selected object to which the images apply. After the selection of a task-based tag 510, 515, 520, the plurality of selectable functionality controls 810 are presented at the user interface 500. For example, as illustrated in Figure 8, a "Rotate" control Image ", a control of" Image Edges "and a control of" Get More Images "are presented in the user interface 500. If the user has an image object fixed in a selected document and the user wishes to rotate the object of selected image, the user can select the "Rotate Image" control 810 to launch the 820 image picker gallery. As shown in the image scrolling gallery, a variety of image rotation options are provided to the user. For example, a "No Rotation" option 825, a "Rotate Left 90o" 830 option, and a "Rotate 180o" option 840 are provided. Other options include "Flip vertically" and "Flip Horizontally". As shown in the image scroll gallery button 820, a "More Rotate Options" button is provided to allow the user to select additional images for application to a selected image object. As described here, each image is associated with a group of options and formatting commands for the selection of any of the images causes the options and associated formatting commands to be automatically executed on the selected object. For example, if the user wishes to rotate the selected object 180 ° from its current orientation, the user can select the "Rotate 180 °" image 840 to automatically cause the selected object to be rotated 180 °. Advantageously, because the image gallery provides a visual representation of the result of applying a group of formatting options to the selected object, the user knows in advance the effect of applying the combination of formatting options associated with the selected object or document. . Accordingly, the user is not required to search through a variety of formatting options menus to determine the effect of different combinations of formatting options on an object selected by trial and error.

Referring to Figure 9, the components of the visual image picker gallery are illustrated. The "Rotate Image" control 810 illustrates a selectable functionality control presented at the user interface 500 after the selection of a given task-based label. The images 930, 940, 950, 960 illustrate static or dynamic representations of application of a given group of formatting options to a selected object. Descriptive text 910, 920 provides descriptive information to the user regarding the origin of the combination of formatting options applied to the illustrated image. As described above, the "More Rotate Options" button 970 is illustrative of a button that can be arranged in the image scrolling gallery to select combinations of additional potential formatting options not presented with the initial presentation of images. Referring to Figure 10, the selection of a given task-based tag 510, 515, 520 can cause a display of multiple image galleries housed in a single selectable functionality control section 1010. For example, the control section of selectable functionality 1010 includes three individual galleries housed under a selection titled "Image Effects". If the user wishes to first apply the combinations of formatting options associated with one of the hosted galleries, the user may select the hosted gallery to cause an image scrolling gallery, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, to be displayed under the user interface 500. The user may then select to have combinations of formatting options provided thereby to a selected object or document. If the user then decides to apply combinations of formatting options associated with one of the other hosted galleries, for example, the "Shaded" Gallery, the user can select the "Shading Gallery" to present a scrolling gallery of images that show different combinations of formatting options associated with shading a selected object or document. Referring to Figure 11, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an image gallery may be housed in a mode or modeless dialog 1110 that may be presented on the user's computer display screen in a document or object. As shown in Figure 11, a plurality of images 1120, 1130 may be presented in the image gallery housed in the dialog to allow the user to select a given image for application to a selected document or object, as described herein. The image 1140 is illustrative of a larger preview image to show the application of a combination of formatting options given to a selected document or object. Additionally, an image scrolling gallery, as described above with reference to Figure 5, may be presented low or adjacent or otherwise in response to a selection of an image or control given in the dialogue. For example, a given image contained in the dialog 1110 may be representative of a number of combinations of formatting options that may be applied to a document or object. The selection of such an image can cause the presentation of a scrolling menu that houses one or more images representing the application of the combinations of available formatting options. Figure 12 illustrates the display of an image scrolling gallery 1200 that is moved under a user interface 200 used by a word processing application 125. As illustrated in Figure 12, the "task-based" label of " Page Submission "230 is selected so that one or more selectable functionality control groupings are presented in the user interface 200 to apply the functionality to a selected document or object in association with a page display task. Under the control section of selectable functionalities headed "Header and Footer", a "Templates" control 1208 is presented. The selection of a template control 1208 causes an image scrolling gallery 1200 to be presented to present a user with one or more images showing the application of combinations of selected formatting options. to a document. If the user determines that one of the formatting options images is desirable, the user can select the desired image, and execute all the formatting option commands necessary to apply the combination of desired formatting options to the selected document or object. As described herein, an improved user interface is provided to present a gallery of images showing the application of different combinations of formatting options applicable to a selected object or document. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention described herein.

Claims (45)

1. CLAIMS 1. - A method for providing a gallery of format options in an improved user interface, comprising: providing a gallery of format controls, wherein each of one or more format controls contained in the format controls gallery is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to an object; present in the user interface a visual representation of an object of the same type as the object for each or more of the format controls that illustrate how the object will be formed if the format attributes associated with each of one or more Format controls are applied to the object; receive an indication of a selection of one of one or more format controls; and automatically apply one or more format attributes associated with the selected format control to the object.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing the gallery of format controls within the user interface.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a scroll menu presented under the user interface. 4. - The method according to claim 3, further comprising expanding the scroll menu containing the format controls gallery to present additional format controls in the scroll menu associated with additional format attributes that can be applied to the selected object . 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a dialog presented at a software application workplace. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising providing an additional gallery of format controls in a scrolling menu presented in response to a selection of a format control given from the dialog. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing in the user interface a plurality of gallery controls for selecting one of a plurality of format control galleries, wherein each one of the plurality of format controls galleries contains one or more format controls associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving a selection from one of a plurality of gallery controls; and present one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the selected gallery control. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising presenting one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the gallery control selected in a format controls scroll menu. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving an indication of focusing on a given one of one or more format controls; and in response to receiving an indication of focus on a given one of one or more format controls, dynamically applying formatting attributes associated with the focus on the format control to the selected object to show how the selected object will be formatted if one or more attributes associated with the focus on format control are applied to the selected object. The method according to claim 10, wherein after receiving an indication of ceasing the focus on a given one of one or more format controls, reversing the dynamic application of one or more format attributes associated with the control of format focused on the selected object so that the selected object is formatted according to format attributes applied to the selected object before dynamically applying the format attributes associated with the focused format control. 12.- An improved user interface to provide a gallery of format options in an improved user interface, comprising: one or more labels arranged in a top row of the user interface, each of said one or more labels identifying a task that can be performed on a selected object, wherein one or more of such one or more labels being operated after the selection to cause a presentation of a format controls gallery, where each of one or more format controls contained in the format controls gallery is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and each of one or more format controls includes a visual representation of the selected object by illustrating how the selected object will be formatted if the format attributes associated with each of one or more format controls are applied to the selected object. 13. The user interface according to claim 12, wherein said gallery of format controls is arranged within the user interface. 14. The user interface according to claim 12, wherein said gallery of format controls is arranged in a scroll menu presented under the user interface. 15. The user interface according to claim 12, wherein said format controls gallery is arranged in an expandable scroll menu that contains additional format controls associated with additional format attributes that can be applied to the selected object. 16.- The user interface according to the claim 12, wherein said gallery of format controls is arranged within a dialogue presented at a software application workplace. 17. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method to provide a gallery of format options in an enhanced user interface, comprising: receiving an indication of selection of an object to format through a software application; provide a gallery of format controls, wherein each of one or more format controls contained in the format controls gallery is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object; present in the user interface a visual representation of an object of the same type as the selected object for each of one or more format controls that illustrate how the selected object will be formatted if the format attributes associated with each of one or more format controls are applied to the selected object; receive an indication of a selection of one of one or more format controls; and automatically apply one of one or more format attributes with the selected format control to the selected object. 18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing the gallery of format controls within the user interface. 19. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a scroll menu presented under the user interface. 20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising expanding the scroll menu containing the format controls gallery to present the additional scrolling menu format controls associated with additional format attributes that can be be applied to the selected object. 21. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a dialog presented at a software application workplace. 22. - The computer-readable medium according to claim 21, further comprising providing an additional gallery of format controls in a scrolling menu presented in response to a selection of a format control given from the dialogue. 23. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing in the user interface a plurality of gallery controls for selecting one of a plurality of format control galleries, wherein each of the plurality of format controls galleries contains one or more format controls associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object. 24. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, further comprising receiving a selection from one of the plurality of gallery controls; and present one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the selected gallery control. 25. The computer readable medium according to claim 24, which further comprises presenting one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the gallery control selected in a format controls scroll menu. 26. The computer readable medium according to claim 14, further comprising: receiving a focus indication on a given one of one or more format controls; and in response to receiving a focus indication on a given one of one or more format controls, dynamically apply formatting attributes associated with the format control focused on the selected object to show how the selected object will be formatted if one or more attributes associated with the focused format control are applied to the selected object. The method according to claim 26, wherein after receiving an indication of ceasing the focus on a given one of one or more format controls, reversing the dynamic application of one or more format attributes associated with the control of format focused on the selected object so that the selected object is formatted according to format attributes applied to the selected object before dynamically applying the format attributes associated with the focused format control. 28.- A method for providing a gallery of format options in an improved user interface, comprising: providing one or more tags in the user interface, wherein one or more of said one or more tags identifies a format task that can be done on a selected object; provide a gallery of format controls associated with a selected format task and associated label, where each of one or more format controls contained in the format controls gallery is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and present in each format control a visual representation of the selected object by illustrating how the selected object will be formatted if the format attributes associated with each of one or more format controls are applied to the selected object. 29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising: receiving an indication of a selection of one or more than one or more format controls; and automatically apply the one or more format attributes associated with the selected format control to the selected object. 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing the gallery of format controls within the user interface. 31. The method according to claim 28, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a scroll menu presented under the user interface. 32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising expanding the scroll menu containing the format controls gallery to present in the additional scrolling menu format controls associated with additional format attributes that may be applied. to the selected object. 33. The method according to claim 28, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the gallery of format controls in a dialog presented in a software application workplace. 34.- The method according to claim 28, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing in the user interface a plurality of gallery controls for selecting one of a plurality of format control galleries, wherein each one of the plurality of format controls galleries contains one or more format controls associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object. The method according to claim 34, further comprising: receiving a selection from one of the plurality of gallery controls; and present one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the selected gallery control. 36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising presenting the one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the gallery control selected in a format controls scroll menu. 37.- A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method to provide a gallery of format options in an improved user interface, comprising: providing one or more tags in the interface of user, wherein one or more of said one or more tags identifies a formatting task that can be performed on a selected object; provide a gallery of format controls associated with a selected format task and associated label, where each of one or more format controls contained in the format controls gallery is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and presenting in each format control a visual representation of the selected object illustrating how the selected object will be formatted if the format attributes associated with each of one or more format controls are applied to the selected object. 38.- The computer readable medium according to claim 37, further comprising: receiving an indication of a selection of one or more of one or more format controls; and automatically apply the one or more format attributes associated with the selected format control to the selected object. 39.- The computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing the gallery of format controls within the user interface. 40.- The computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a scroll menu presented under the user interface. 41.- The computer readable medium according to claim 40, which further comprises expanding the scroll menu containing the format controls gallery to be presented in the additional scrolling menu format controls associated with additional format attributes that they can be applied to the selected object. 42.- The computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein providing the format controls gallery includes providing the format controls gallery in a dialog presented at a software application workplace. 43. - The computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein providing a gallery of format controls includes providing in the user interface a plurality of gallery controls to select one of a plurality of format control galleries, wherein each of the plurality of format control galleries contains one or more format controls associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object. 44. - The computer readable medium according to claim 43, further comprising: receiving a selection from one of the plurality of gallery controls; and present one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the selected gallery control. 45.- The computer readable medium according to claim 44, which further comprises presenting the one or more format controls contained in a gallery of format controls associated with the selected gallery control in a format controls scroll menu .