Methods and systems for defining slices

摘要

A web development, application development, or other tool can be enhanced by configuring the tool to support an overlay for defining a plurality of regions (i.e. slices) simultaneously. Embodiments include providing, via a computing apparatus, a graphical user interface comprising an overlay over the area of a visual element, the graphical user interface configured to define from one to nine adjustable slices, with each slice corresponding to a respective region or component of the visual element. The method can comprise associating a default repetition behavior with each slice based on its relative position in the overlay and receiving input via the overly and adjusting a characteristic of at least one slice, the adjusted characteristic comprising a size or position of the slice. The default and/or adjusted characteristics can be used to generate HTML, CSS, and/or other code for providing the desired scaling behavior for the visual component.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
displaying, via a computing apparatus, a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface displaying a visual element; defining and providing an overlay over the visual element, the visual overlay comprising: a first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines bounding a perimeter of the visual element; and a second plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, the second plurality of horizontal and vertical lines different from the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, bounding a plurality of interior regions of the visual element, and intersecting the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines; defining a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of interior regions of the visual element and associating a default repetition behavior to each of the plurality of slices; receiving a selection of a subset of the .plurality of bounded interior regions of the visual element to select a corresponding subset of the plurality of slices, the subset of slices comprising a second plurality of slices; receiving a selection of a repetition behavior, and responsive to the selection, associating the repetition behavior with each slice of the subset of slices, the repetition behavior comprising at least one of a horizontal repetition behavior or a vertical repetition behavior; receiving an input comprising a movement of at least one of the first or second plurality of horizontal or vertical lines input via the overlay and, in response to the input, adjusting a size characteristic of each of a plurality of at least one slices bounded by the at least one moved line; the characteristic comprising a size or position of the slice; and generating code for providing repetition behavior for the visual element based on the plurality of slices, the code configured to cause an application accessing the code to provide the repetition behavior associated with the corresponding slice for each respective region of the visual element when the visual element is resized.