Method and system for selectively enforcing presentation themes

Abstract

Disclosed is a theme property sheet system that supports presentation themes by coordinating values provided to elements used in a user interface. When an interface user expresses a preference for a particular presentation theme, that theme's property sheet is given precedence over other mechanisms for setting property values. By appropriately setting these values in the interface, the theme property sheet enhances the coherence of the interface. The theme property sheet allows an interface designer to add new presentation elements to a user interface without being concerned about presentation themes. The default for each property as set by the designer is overridden, when necessary, by the theme sheet. In a few particular cases, an application designer needs to override even the user's theme preferences. A mechanism is provided to support these exceptional cases.

1 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a default property sheet data structure, the default property sheet data structure comprising: 
 a first field comprising data representing a rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of a user interface;    a second field comprising data representing a rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and    a third field comprising data representing whether the default property sheet is designated as important.    
   
   
       2 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1  wherein the first element of the user interface is selected from the group consisting of: visual elements and audio elements.  
   
   
       3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1  wherein the rule of the first field is selected from the group consisting of: a rule that provides a fixed value to the property of the first element of the user interface and a rule that provides a calculated value to the property of the first element of the user interface, the calculated value based, at least in part, on a computing environment that comprises the user interface.  
   
   
       4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1  wherein the first element and the second element are the same element, and wherein the property of the first element and the property of the second element are not the same property.  
   
   
       5 . In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a property, a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising: 
 adding to the default property sheet a first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of the user interface;    adding to the default property sheet a second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and    designating the default property sheet as important or as not important.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first element of the user interface is selected from the group consisting of: visual elements and audio elements.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first rule and the second rule express a presentation theme for the user interface.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the presentation theme for the user interface is selected from the group consisting of: an accessibility theme, a system theme, and a branded application theme.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first rule is selected from the group consisting of: a rule that provides a fixed value to the property of the first element and a rule that provides a calculated value to the property of the first element, the calculated value based, at least in part, on the computing environment.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first element and the second element are the same element, and wherein the property of the first element and the property of the second element are not the same property.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein designating the default property sheet as important is performed in response to input from a user of the user interface.  
   
   
       12 . The method of claim  29  further comprising: 
 accepting the first rule from a first author; and    accepting the second rule from a second author,    wherein the first author and the second author are not the same author.    
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising: 
 adding to the default property sheet a first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of a user interface;    adding to the default property sheet a second rule that provides a default value to a property pf a second element of the user interface; and    designating the default property sheet as important or as not important.    
   
   
       14 . In a computing environment comprising a user interface, the user interface comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a property, a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising: 
 determining whether a first candidate rule meets criteria for addition;    if the first candidate rule meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of the user interface;    determining whether a second candidate rule meets the criteria for addition;    if the second candidate rules meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and    designating the default property sheet as important or as not important.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the criteria comprise: the rule has no tree selector and a type of the rule matches that of an element adding the rule.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the criteria comprise: the rule has a tree selector, a last tree selector of the rule is a child selector, and a type of the last tree selector of the rule matches that of an element adding the rule.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first element of the user interface is selected from the group consisting of: visual elements and audio elements.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first rule and the second rule express a presentation theme for the user interface.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the presentation theme for the user interface is selected from the group consisting of: an accessibility theme, a system theme, and a branded application theme.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first rule is selected from the group consisting of: a rule that provides a fixed value to the property of the first element and a rule that provides a calculated value to the property of the first element, the calculated value based, at least in part, on the computing environment.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first element and the second element are the same element, and wherein the property of the first element and the property of the second element are not the same property.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein designating the default property sheet as important is performed in response to input from a user of the user interface.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 accepting the first rule from a first author; and    accepting the second rule from a second author,    wherein the first author and the second author are not the same author.    
   
   
       24 . A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for building a default property sheet, the method comprising: 
 determining whether a first candidate rule meets criteria for addition;    if the first candidate rule meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the first rule that provides a default value to a property of a first element of a user interface;    determining whether a second candidate rule meets the criteria for addition;    if the second candidate rules meets the criteria for addition, then adding to the default property sheet the second rule that provides a default value to a property of a second element of the user interface; and    designating the default property sheet as important or as not important.