Abstract: A gallery user interface element that includes multiple selectable service user interface elements. Each of the selectable service user interface elements, when selected, initiates a corresponding predetermined action. Thus, the gallery may be used to initiate any number of predetermined actions by selecting appropriate service user interface elements. The predetermined actions may be performed by a number of user interface elements that are collectively offered by a variety of different applications, application extensions, or the system itself. The predetermined actions may include at least one predetermined action that extends an extendible canvas with one or more additional user interface elements. The gallery may include multiple pinnable elements and have different versions depending on a context in which the gallery was opened.

Abstract: A gallery user interface element that includes multiple selectable service user interface elements. Each of the selectable service user interface elements, when selected, initiates a corresponding predetermined action. Thus, the gallery may be used to initiate any number of predetermined actions by selecting appropriate service user interface elements. The predetermined actions may be performed by a number of user interface elements that are collectively offered by a variety of different applications, application extensions, or the system itself. The predetermined actions may include at least one predetermined action that extends an extendible canvas with one or more additional user interface elements. The gallery may include multiple pinnable elements and have different versions depending on a context in which the gallery was opened.

Abstract: A query building mechanism in which a query builder component assists a user in generating queries to be used to populate user interface elements. A control provides a query schema to the query builder component. The query schema identifies available query parameters that the control is capable of using to populate a corresponding user interface element. The query builder component presents at least some of the available query parameters the user, such that the user may edit these parameters. The query builder component gathers those edits and generates a query therefrom. The query parameters may be provided to the query builder component in consistent manner across a wide variety of possible user interface controls. Furthermore, the resulting query is provided in a uniform query format.

Abstract: Dialogs within a user interface. The user interface has one or more selectable elements, the selection of each of which initiating a corresponding action. Each time that any of the elements is selected, and a corresponding action initiated, there is the potential for the user interface to display a dialog associated with the initiated action. The dialogs are displayed so as to be positioned with respect to the element whose selection caused the corresponding action to be initiated.

Abstract: A user interface in which a control is presented in which a user may edit the control in a manner that if the edit is finalized, a bill would be affected. The user interface also displays a billing impact element that displays an effect on the bill should the edit be finalized. For instance, as edits are made to the control, corresponding effects are illustrated in the billing impact element in real-time. Thus, the user can see more immediately an impact of billing in response to possible edits, rather than wait until final payment before seeing the effect on the bill of all prior edits.

Abstract: A user interface that includes an activity initiation area that includes an activity initiation control that may be interacted with in order to initiate respective activities, and a notification area in which one or more notifications related to the activity may be displayed. The notification area is spatially related to the activity initiation control in a fixed manner for multiple activities. The activity initiation area may appear along a lower boundary of the display much as a partially pulled out drawer as viewed from above. The notification area may also appear along the lower boundary of the display, but extend further vertically, much as a fully pulled out drawer as viewed from above. This helps give a contextual understanding of the subject matter of the notifications in relation to the activities that have been, or may be, initiated from the activity initiation area.

Abstract: A user interface in which a notification is to be displayed in the context of a dialog already being displayed over a primary application work area. Rather than pop up an additional dialog to show the notification, the notification is displayed adjacent the existing dialog. If the notification is a confirmation request, the display of the confirmation request disables an advancement control in the dialog that would otherwise enable the user to advance to the next step in the dialog, or to close the dialog.