A hierarchical model for expressing focus traversal

摘要

A method is described for establishing a focus traversal protocol in a graphical user interface having a plurality of components within at least one top-level window. The method includes defining the top-level window as a first focus cycle root, assigning a plurality of components to a first focus traversal cycle associated with the first focus cycle root, and for each component in the first focus traversal cycle, establishing a focus traversal key definition including a forward traversal key and a backward traversal key. The method further includes establishing a first focus traversal policy associated with the first focus traversal cycle. A windowing toolkit is also described for use by a developer in establishing a focus traversal protocol for a graphical user interface having a plurality of components within at least one top-level window. The method may also include defining one of the plurality of components of the first focus traversal cycle as a second focus cycle root, assigning a plurality of components to a second focus traversal cycle associated with the second focus cycle root, establishing a focus traversal key definition including a forward key traversal key and a backward key traversal key for each component in the second focus traversal cycle, and establishing a second focus traversal policy associated with the second focus traversal cycle. The windowing toolkit has a plurality of windowing tools each having codes suitable to be executed by a computer. The toolkit includes a first tool configured to assign a plurality of components to a first focus traversal cycle associated with a first focus cycle root, the first focus cycle root being defined as a top-level window, a second tool configured to assign a focus traversal key definition to each component in the first focus traversal cycle, the focus traversal key definition including a forward traversal key and a backward traversal key, and a third tool configured to establish a first focus traversal policy associated with the first focus traversal cycle.