Abstract: A method is provided for keeping presentation of information to a minimum. A perspective comprises areas, and each area can have one or more portlets which display information. Each area has an associated list of portlet types that can be instantiated within the area. Each portlet can be manually placed into or out of a locked state. Various portlets can also be in a dirty state if they contain unsaved information, such as in a partially completed form. When a new portlet is to be added to the perspective, first an area which supports creation of that type of portlet is selected. The existing portlets within that area are then examined, and if one exists which is not locked and is not dirty, then it is replaced with the new portlet. If no such existing portlet is eligible for replacement, then the new portlet is created and added to the existing portlets.

Abstract: A method is provided for keeping presentation of information to a minimum. A perspective comprises areas, and each area can have one or more portlets which display information. Each area has an associated list of portlet types that can be instantiated within the area. Each portlet can be manually placed into or out of a locked state. Various portlets can also be in a dirty state if they contain unsaved information, such as in a partially completed form. When a new portlet is to be added to the perspective, first an area which supports creation of that type of portlet is selected. The existing portlets within that area are then examined, and if one exists which is not locked and is not dirty, then it is replaced with the new portlet. If no such existing portlet is eligible for replacement, then the new portlet is created and added to the existing portlets.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying subforms in a perspective having areas and portlets. An entity represented by a portlet is configured using a form within the portlet. Sub-entities may require configuration as part of configuring the first entity. When a user configures a sub-entity, a subform is opened presenting means of configuring the sub-entity. The subform overlays most of the parent form, making the parent form inaccessible until configuration of the sub-entity is either accepted or cancelled. Using subforms, it is apparent to a user that configuration of the first entity is not complete until all related sub-entities have also been configured. Use of subforms within a portlet also allows other information necessary for configuration of the entity or sub-entities to be viewed by the user.

Abstract: A graphic user interface is provided for displaying list portlets and form portlets within a perspective, the portlets representing data including entities represented in a database. The portlets have various widgets. Portlets are associated with other portlets, such that selection of a widget or of a name in one portlet may open another portlet. In this way, nested portlets can be easily navigated and entities can be configured easily.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a floating window in a perspective view of data, such as network management data. The floating window can be moved freely about the perspective and resized, thereby allowing other data of importance which is tied to areas of the perspective to be seen. Portlets, containing aspects of data, can be located in the floating window. The floating window in modal mode is particularly useful for requiring a user to interact with or view data without being able to interact with data in the rest of the perspective. The floating window can also be created in non-modal mode, which allows a user to move portlets from existing areas to the more flexible floating window.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying a graphical user interface to a user. The graphical user interface includes a perspective, which is an arrangement of areas, each area containing at least one portlet which presents one aspect of stored information. The graphical user interface allows a user to easily switch between different perspectives, each perspective presenting a different layout of areas. Within each area, different portlets can be made visible using tabs to switch between the portlets. A new portlet can also be created within an area, as long as that type of portlet is allowed in that particular area. The invention allows a user to easily manage the view of many pieces of information without the clutter usually associated with many windows.

Abstract: A method is provided for acting on a selected menu item. The menu items are defined so as to have associated with them a label, a launch type, and a parameter. Depending on the launch type of a selected menu item, different actions are taken and the parameter is used in different ways. If the launch type indicates that a list or a form is to be presented upon selection of a menu item, then the parameter is passed as an input to a list or form subsystem. If the launch type indicates that an action specific to the selected menu item is to be performed, then a pre-defined function within an object representing the entity indicated by the selected menu item is called, the name of the pre-defined function being determined from the value of the parameter. The method of defining and acting on menu items allows both common functions and functions specific to a menu item to be associated with menu items.