User interface control for creating split panes in a single window

摘要

An improved method is disclosed for creating and sizing panes within a window of a display screen of a computer system as part of an interactive graphical user interface. Grab handles are positioned in the borders of the panes. When a grab handle of a pane is selected by user interaction, an adjustable rectangular form is created on the screen which represents a new pane. The existing pane is split in an arbitrary manner. The size of the new pane can be varied so as to include areas of the screen from other existing panes. The existing panes are then reconfigured so as to be accommodated on the screen along with the newly created pane.