Abstract: A method and system is provided for dynamically resizing dialogs of a computer software application while the application is running. Dialog windows may be resized by user action, such as by hooking on to one side or to a corner of the dialog window and dragging the side or corner in or out to expand or contract the dialog window. In response to the user's action, the operating system of the user's computer notifies a dialog window manager that the dialog window is being resized. An autolayout module lays out the dialog window to its new size, placing all controls contained therein in their proper locations and with their proper dimensions according to the rules associated with the dialog window.

Abstract: The present invention involves a new system and process for automatically and dynamically laying out elements within an overall window of a graphical user interface by using dynamically resizable frames, i.e., “FlowFrames” disposed within the window. FlowFrames are automatically and dynamically sized and positioned within the window, while one or more other frames, i.e., “child frames,” representing one or more conventional controls, nested within the FlowFrames are also sized and positioned within the window as the window is generated or resized. In particular, each FlowFrame arranges its children horizontally in a row, but dynamically wraps them to one or more additional rows and positions them in accordance with predefined relationships between the children, where they cannot all fit into the same row. Further, the size of each FlowFrame is computed hierarchically from its children up to the overall window and then back down to the individual children.

Abstract: The present invention involves a new system and process for automatically and dynamically laying out elements within an overall window of a graphical user interface by using dynamically resizable frames, i.e., “FlowFrames” disposed within the window. FlowFrames are automatically and dynamically sized and positioned within the window, while one or more other frames, i.e., “child frames,” representing one or more conventional controls, nested within the FlowFrames are also sized and positioned within the window as the window is generated or resized. In particular, each FlowFrame arranges its children horizontally in a row, but dynamically wraps them to one or more additional rows and positions them in accordance with predefined relationships between the children, where they cannot all fit into the same row. Further, the size of each FlowFrame is computed hierarchically from its children up to the overall window and then back down to the individual children.

Abstract: The present invention involves a new system and process for automatically and dynamically laying out elements within an overall window of a graphical user interface by using dynamically resizable frames, i.e., “FlowFrames” disposed within the window. FlowFrames are automatically and dynamically sized and positioned within the window, while one or more other frames, i.e., “child frames,” representing one or more conventional controls, nested within the FlowFrames are also sized and positioned within the window as the window is generated or resized. In particular, each FlowFrame arranges its children horizontally in a row, but dynamically wraps them to one or more additional rows and positions them in accordance with predefined relationships between the children, where they cannot all fit into the same row. Further, the size of each FlowFrame is computed hierarchically from its children up to the overall window and then back down to the individual children.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for dynamically resizing dialogs of a computer software application while the application is running. Dialog windows may be resized by user action, such as by hooking on to one side or to a corner of the dialog window and dragging the side or corner in or out to expand or contract the dialog window. In response to the user's action, the operating system of the user's computer notifies a dialog window manager that the dialog window is being resized. An autolayout module lays out the dialog window to its new size, placing all controls contained therein in their proper locations and with their proper dimensions according to the rules associated with the dialog window.

Abstract: A computer-based method of sizing and positioning controls within a window is disclosed. The method divides a window, and in particular a dialog window, into rectangular regions, referred to as frames. A logical description of the relative positions and sizes of the controls and frames within the dialog window is specified. The method automatically determines the coordinates of each control and positions the controls accordingly during execution of the computer program that is displaying the dialog window. The method is performed in two stages: a specification stage and a layout stage. In the specification stage, a dialog window is subdivided into multiple nested rectangular frames. The set of frames for a dialog window forms a hierarchical tree of frames. In the layout stage, the method traverses the tree of frames twice. The first traversal of the frame tree occurs in postorder sequence, and determines the minimum required size of each frame.