公开(公告)号：CA2134712A1

公开(公告)日：1996-05-01

申请号：CA2134712

申请日：1994-10-31

Applicant: IBM CANADA

Inventor： BUTTIGIEG MARY A ,  KREIGH ROBERT J ,  LYKE DAVID G ,  ROOSKEN CYNTHIA A ,  SCHELL DAVID A

IPC: G06F3/14 ,  G06F3/0482 ,  G06F3/023 ,  G06F15/40

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and mechanism to permit users to easily customize window interfaces to remove unwanted features or fields for simplification, and to overwrite titles in some fields to introduce language that has more relevance to the tasks to be performed using the window's application. To activate the mechanism, the user places the focus or cursor on the fields to be altered and chords on the selector device. This causes a pop-up menu to appear that lists all of the possible elements of the fields, whether currently displayed or not. The elements actually displayed are identified in the list. By clicking on any element in the list, the user causes the computer to change the display characteristic of that feature, that is, elements such as the title bar, menu bar, etc. associated with the client area of the window can be hidden or redisplayed, as can action titles in a pop-up or menu bar. By combining use of the ALT key with chording on an element in the list, the user is permitted to overwrite the name of the element, such as action titles in the menu bar and similar fields. Means for securing access to customization mechanism through user profiles is also disclosed.