Abstract: In an implementation of data association, a data item has a data item property with an associated value and a user interface element has an element property with a value that can be defined by an association to the data item property. A binding definition associates the element property of the user interface element with the data item property such that an application program which generates a user interface for display can be developed independent of the data item, and such that the data item can be developed independent of display-related information corresponding to the user interface element.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to generating and propagating commands. In aspects, elements of a graphical user interface may include an input binding which associates a gesture with a command. When a gesture is received, the command is generated depending on which element has focus. In addition, elements of the graphic user interface may also define methods to call when commands are received. When an event or a command is received, a hierarchical data structure of elements representable on the graphical user interface may be traversed to respond to the event or command.

Abstract: The application programming interfaces described herein are directed at property management mechanisms that operate within an on-demand property system. The property management mechanisms support the caching of property values on an as needed basis, allow a plurality of object instances to utilize the same property via attached properties, overriding default information associated with a property on a per type basis, obtaining values for a property from an external source, and the like. In addition, the on-demand property system provides validation and control for each property instance. The property management mechanisms minimize the storage requirements and provide flexibility without requiring additional code from the developers.

Abstract: Priority binding enables a one-to-many mapping of a target to a source without requiring complex code development by the specification of one or more binding statements. During runtime, these bindings are evaluated. The highest priority binding that evaluates successfully is executed, controlling the two-way transfer of information between source and target. During execution, all possible data binding pathways are monitored. If a binding that has a higher priority than the existing binding evaluates successfully, the existing binding is terminated and the new binding is executed.

Abstract: A program platform performs data binding process between a user interface and data for display. The invention decouples the user interface and the data, along with its application logic, by providing a mechanism for binding data to the user interface. Dependency property binding allows for binding of data with dynamic properties of an element of a data-programming model of a platform. A fallback value is a user-supplied value that can be used when the binding cannot produce a value from an associated data source. Priority Bindings allow a list of bindings that can become active when other, previous bindings fail.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for controlling user interface (UI) properties with data. An application is separated into independent parts, a logic portion and a UI portion. The logic portion manipulates data values within the application. The UI portion is responsible for displaying UI properties. A binding specification describes a relationship between the UI property and the data value. The binding specification is used by system level code to determine the manner in which it is notified when the data value undergoes a change and the manner in which it directs the UI portion to reflect the change in the UI property. The binding specification identifies a source data item, a path to the data value in the source data item, a target UI element, and the UI property on the target UI element. The binding may be specified using code or markup language.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for controlling user interface (UI) properties with data. An application is separated into independent parts, a logic portion and a UI portion. The logic portion manipulates data values within the application. The UI portion is responsible for displaying UI properties. A binding specification describes a relationship between the UI property and the data value. The binding specification is used by system level code to determine the manner in which it is notified when the data value undergoes a change and the manner in which it directs the UI portion to reflect the change in the UI property. The binding specification identifies a source data item, a path to the data value in the source data item, a target UI element, and the UI property on the target UI element. The binding may be specified using code or markup language.

Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed at property management mechanisms that operate within an on-demand property system. The property management mechanisms support the caching of property values on an as needed basis, allow a plurality of object instances to utilize the same property via attached properties, overriding default information associated with a property on a per type basis, obtaining values for a property from an external source, and the like. In addition, the on-demand property system provides validation and control for each property instance. The property management mechanisms minimize the storage requirements and provide flexibility without requiring additional code from the developers.

Abstract: An improved system and method for displaying a user interface object using an associated style is provided. To this end, an application may include style declarations that may associate a style resource with a user interface object. The style resource may define property values that may be selectively applied to a user interface object, may specify a visual representation for the user interface object, such as a visual subtree, and may specify additional property values to be conditionally applied to a user interface object. A styling engine may be provided for applying a style resource to a user interface object. A visual representation of the user interface objects with the applied property values may be generated and then a display representation may be rendered for presentation on a user interface display.

Abstract: A method for creating an electronic mailing group. The method is implemented via execution of computer readable program code on a processor of a computer system. A first input is stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The first input includes a first group name for distributing a first electronic mail message. The first group name is associated with a plurality of electronic mail addresses, based on a first set of received instructions. The first group name represents the addresses. After associating, information associated with the first group name is stored in the storage medium. The information is associated with each address of the addresses and designates each address of the addresses as a first recipient type selected from: To recipient, Carbon Copy recipient, and Blind Carbon Copy recipient. At least one address of the addresses is designated as a Carbon Copy recipient or a Blind Carbon Copy recipient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing and associating or combining visual style information with data content. The present invention relates to associating a shared set of style information with two or more objects or items that are to be displayed as part of a list or some other visual grouping of the items. By sharing the style information, i.e., the visual representation characteristics information, a program developer need only define the style information or style once. Upon defining the style, the developer can declaratively associate all the items in the list or group with the defined style.

Abstract: A search engine can provide referencing information as context for a particular search result when an excerpt from the search result, comprising at least some similar elements to the user's query, is not generated. Referencing information can include one or more anchor texts having similarity to at least some elements of the user's query, the anchor texts being used by referencing pages to link to the page returned as a search result. User selection of the anchor text can enable the user to visit a referencing page using that anchor text to link to the page returned as a search result, and having a high static rank.

Abstract: Described is a method and system in which storyboard objects coordinate the animation of multiple elements and/or media displayed on a computer graphics display. Storyboards relate properties of elements in an element tree to a timeline, such that the properties associated with a storyboard are animated/play together as a group by starting, stopping, seeking or pausing the storyboard. Triggers, such as controlled by user interaction with the displayed information, including property triggers that change values in response to a state change, and event triggers that fire events, may cause the storyboard to start, stop, pause and seek. Storyboards may be used in XAML-based programs, and may be directly associated with elements, or indirectly associated with elements via styles. Complex properties and changeables are supported. Media playback may be controlled via storyboards, and thereby coordinated with other media playback and/or animations.

Abstract: A composite user interface element can be assembled from plural sub-elements. A simplified view of the representation of the user interface element can be provided wherein the composited user interface element appears to be a single element. When defined, various nodes for representing the user interface can be designated as selectively exposable. Such selectively exposable nodes can be ignored when performing operations via the simplified view. Accordingly, programmers can write code that need not take the complexity of the composite user interface element into account. Property determination can be done in light of the selectively exposable nodes. A simplified view can support nested user interface elements having respective selectively exposable nodes.

Abstract: An inheritance context is created for a graphics primitive object that is a property of a visual element. The inheritance context can be used to make some element information (e.g., information in resource dictionaries, name dictionaries, and inheritable properties that reside in the element tree containing the visual element) available to the graphics primitive object.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to generating and propagating commands. In aspects, elements of a graphical user interface may include an input binding which associates a gesture with a command. When a gesture is received, the command is generated depending on which element has focus. In addition, elements of the graphic user interface may also define methods to call when commands are received. When an event or a command is received, a hierarchical data structure of elements representable on the graphical user interface may be traversed to respond to the event or command.

Abstract: Architecture for validating input. A control is associated with a data source via a Binding. The control is arranged to receive user input with which to update the data source. In addition, zero or more validation rules are associated with the Binding and executed to validate the input. If the user input is invalid or an exception occurs while converting the input or updating the data source, a validation error object may be created and attached to the control. To provide feedback to the user, a control defines additional user interface elements to adorn the control and display the created validation error information to the user.

Abstract: Described is a method and system in which storyboard objects coordinate the animation of multiple elements and/or media displayed on a computer graphics display. Storyboards relate properties of elements in an element tree to a timeline, such that the properties associated with a storyboard are animated/play together as a group by starting, stopping, seeking or pausing the storyboard. Triggers, such as controlled by user interaction with the displayed information, including property triggers that change values in response to a state change, and event triggers that fire events, may cause the storyboard to start, stop, pause and seek. Storyboards may be used in XAML-based programs, and may be directly associated with elements, or indirectly associated with elements via styles. Complex properties and changeables are supported. Media playback may be controlled via storyboards, and thereby coordinated with other media playback and/or animations.

Abstract: An improved system and method for styling content in a graphical user interface control is provided. An application may define a user interface control having a data object of any type of singular content, including another user interface control. An application may include style declarations that may associate a style resource with the user interface control and a style resource may be dynamically selected for presenting the data object of the user interface control. The style resources may define property values that may be selectively applied to specify a visual representation for the user interface control and data object, such as a visual subtree. A visual representation of the user interface control with the data object may be generated and then a display representation may be rendered for presentation on a user interface display.

Abstract: Described are collection view objects, which provide a user interface view over a data collection, where each view may have its own sort order, filter and/or grouping criteria, as well as current item semantics. A user interface element is bound to a data collection, such as via markup language (e.g., XAML). At runtime, a collection view object is instantiated as an indirection between the data collection and the user interface element, whereby a collection of data items is viewed according to how each collection view object is currently configured with respect to sorting, filtering and/or grouping. Multiple collection views may be specified on the same data collection, whereby distinct simultaneous views of the data items may be presented in different user interface elements. The collection view object dynamically updates the displayed data as changes are made in the data collection. A current item may be selected within the collection view.