Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to mnemonic labels and provide a method, system and computer program product for multi-lingual dynamic assignment and management of user interface label mnemonics. In one embodiment of the invention, a dynamic label mnemonic assignment method can be provided. The method can include generating a run-time set of label mnemonics for a set of labels in a user interface for a computer program, determining if any of the run-time generated label mnemonics are not unique for the set of label mnemonics, and responsive to determining that any of the run-time generated label mnemonics are not unique for the set of label mnemonics, generating a different set of label mnemonics for the set of labels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of user interface configuration and more particularly to the assignment and management of multi-lingual label mnemonics. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    For more than ten years, computer scientists and engineers have addressed the accessibility of the computer program user interface—particularly for the benefit of those end users unable to interact with a computer program utilizing conventional means such as a mouse or keyboard. Presently, several assistive technologies have been widely distributed, usually in concert with the distribution of an operating system, to provide one or more alternative user interface mechanisms for the purpose of enhanced accessibility. Examples of assistive technologies include an audio user interface such as a screen reader. 
         [0005]    Assistive technologies are part and parcel of accessibility requirements for a computer program. Accessibility requirements often are provided within an accessibility specification and specify a minimal set of characteristics for a user interface in order to render the user interface accessible for all users—not just the sighted and unimpaired. As part of most accessibility requirements, a unique label mnemonic is required for each label for each control in a user interface. A label mnemonic refers to an accelerator keystroke assignment for a visual or audible user interface element. 
         [0006]    Generally, in a user interface, different user interface elements can be accessed through preferred input methods such as through mouse movements and mouse clicks, or audible selections. In order to accommodate those who are keyboard inclined, or preferred input methods averse, user interface designers provide for an accelerator keystroke responsive to the entry of which can substitute for the use of the preferred direct input method. Oftentimes, the accelerator keystroke is indicated in association with a label mnemonic for the user interface element, for example by underlining a character in the label that suggests the requisite accelerator keystroke. 
         [0007]    In the conventional user interface, providing for a label mnemonic often implicates a manual assignment at design time. The manual assignment can be stored along with the specification of the user interface in a resource file. Thereafter, the resource file can be linked into the build of the computer program so as to provide the user interface for the computer program. Accordingly, modifying a label mnemonic can be time consuming in as much as a new build will be required. 
         [0008]    The internationalization of a user interface can compound the problem of providing label mnemonics for controls in a user interface. For a single lingual user interface, once the label mnemonics have been manually specified, there is little reason to apply wholesale changes to the label mnemonics and the uniqueness of each can be mostly assured. In the multi-lingual setting, however, ensuring uniqueness can be complicated—especially where the chosen locale is a non-Western locale having a symbolic character set such as those languages common in Asia. 
         [0009]    In accommodating label mnemonics for non-Western languages, typically, the label is rendered according to the symbolic character set of the locale and an English language mnemonic follows in parenthesis. Clearly, to ensure uniqueness of the label mnemonics—especially in the context of non-Western languages—involves a great deal of manual intervention. Yet, the ultimate selection of label mnemonics cannot be reused often due to the uniqueness requirement of common accessibility rules. Finally, in that the labels are translated separately as part of properties files, it is not uncommon for duplicate label mnemonics to result. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to mnemonic labels and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for multi-lingual dynamic assignment and management of user interface label mnemonics. In one embodiment of the invention, a dynamic label mnemonic assignment method can be provided. The method can include generating a run-time set of label mnemonics for a set of labels in a user interface for a computer program, determining if any of the run-time generated label mnemonics are not unique for the set of label mnemonics, and responsive to determining that any of the run-time generated label mnemonics are not unique for the set of label mnemonics, generating a different set of label mnemonics for the set of labels. 
         [0011]    In one aspect of the embodiment, generating a run-time set of label mnemonics for a set of labels in a user interface for a computer program can include selecting a mnemonic allocation method for generating a set of label mnemonics for a corresponding set of labels in a user interface, and applying the selected mnemonic allocation method to the set of labels to produce the set of label mnemonics. In this regard, generating a different set of label mnemonics for the set of labels can include selecting a different mnemonic allocation method for generating a different set of label mnemonics for the corresponding set of labels in a user interface, and applying the different mnemonic allocation method to the set of labels to produce the different set of label mnemonics. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the embodiment, generating a run-time set of label mnemonics for a set of labels in a user interface for a computer program can include detecting a locale for the computer program incorporating a non-Latin character set, translating the set of labels into a language having a Latin character set, and generating the run-time set of label mnemonics for the translated set of labels. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the invention, a user interface data processing system can be provided. The system can include a user interface for an application. The user interface can include both controls and corresponding labels. The system also can include a mnemonic allocation manager (MAM) coupled to the user interface. The MAM can include program code enabled to generate a run-time set of label mnemonics for the labels, to determine if any of the run-time generated label mnemonics are not unique for the set of label mnemonics, and responsive to determining that any of the run-time generated label mnemonics are not unique for the set of label mnemonics, to generate a different set of label mnemonics for the labels. The system yet further can include one or more mnemonic allocation sets. Each mnemonic allocation set can include a set of label mnemonics for a compartmentalized portion of the user interface. 
         [0014]    Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a data processing system configured for multi-lingual dynamic assignment and management of user interface label mnemonics; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a flow chart illustrating a process for dynamic assignment and management of user interface label mnemonics; and, 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a flow chart illustrating a process for multi-lingual dynamic assignment of user interface label mnemonics. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for multi-lingual dynamic assignment of user interface label mnemonics. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, label mnemonics can be dynamically applied at run-time to a collection of control labels for a user interface. The applied label mnemonics can be tested for uniqueness before rendering the user interface and label mnemonics can be re-applied upon detecting non-uniqueness. Importantly, non-Latin labels can be translated prior to dynamically applying the label mnemonics and assuring the uniqueness of the dynamically applied label mnemonics. In this way, the accessibility requirement of uniqueness can be enforced for label mnemonics without requiring the tedious, manual maintenance of label mnemonics. 
         [0020]    In further illustration,  FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a data processing system configured for multi-lingual dynamic assignment and management of user interface label mnemonics. The data processing system can include a host computing platform  100  supporting a host operating system  110 . The host operating system  110  can manage the operation of one or more process address spaces  120 , for instance one or more virtual machines. Each process address space  120  further can support the execution of one or more computing applications  130 , each of the computing applications  130  having a user interface  140 . 
         [0021]    The user interface  140  can include one or more user interface controls  150  and each of the user interface controls  150  can include a label  160  indicating the function or nature of a corresponding one of the user interface controls  150 . Each of the user interface controls  150  can include an associated accelerator keystroke. To that end, the label  160  for each corresponding user interface control  150  can include an indication of a label mnemonic. Notwithstanding, in the present invention, the label mnemonic is not statically incorporated into the user interface  140  at design time, but dynamically applied at run time. 
         [0022]    In particular, the data processing system can include a mnemonic allocation manager (MAM)  170 . The MAM  170  can include program code enabled to determine a mnemonic allocation set  180  for each compartmentalized portion of the user interface, for example a tabbed portion of a dialog box. The mnemonic allocation set  180  for a compartmentalized portion of the user interface  140  can include one or more label mnemonics for one or more corresponding labels  160  as determined dynamically by the MAM  170  to ensure uniqueness amongst all of the label mnemonics for all of the labels  160  in the compartmentalized portion of the user interface  140 . 
         [0023]    The program code of the MAM  170  can include dynamic allocation logic  170 C enabled to parse the labels  160  for corresponding user interface controls  150  in the user interface  140  in order to dynamically determine label mnemonics for the labels  160 . Once a label mnemonic has been determined for a label  160 , a uniqueness test can be applied to ensure that no other label  160  has been assigned the same label mnemonic. If so, a new strategy can be selected for assigning label mnemonics in order to ensure uniqueness. 
         [0024]    Optionally, priority mapping logic  170 B can be exercised to apply particular mnemonics to labels  160  on a priority basis for certain labels  160 . Specifically, the priority mapping logic  170 B can include program code enabled to ensure that a specified label receives a desired label mnemonic as a priority over another label receiving the same label mnemonic. Finally, language detection logic  170 A can be utilized to detect a locale for the user interface  140 . Based upon whether the locale is a Latin or non-Latin locale, the MAM  170  can apply label mnemonics differently. For example, in the case of a non-Latin locale, the label  150  can be translated into English first, a label mnemonic can be computed second, and the label mnemonic can be applied to the label  160  in parenthesis as part of the label  160 . 
         [0025]    In more particular illustration of the operation of the MAM  170 ,  FIG. 2A  is a flow chart illustrating a process for dynamic assignment and management of user interface label mnemonics. Beginning in block  210 , a default mnemonic allocation method can be selected for use in computing label mnemonics for a set of labels in a user interface. In block  215 , a first label in the set can be selected for processing and in block  220 , the mnemonic allocation method can be applied to the selected label to computer a label mnemonic. In decision block  225 , it can be determined whether the computed label mnemonic is unique relative to other computer label mnemonics for the set of labels. If not, a new mnemonic allocation method can be selected for use in computing label mnemonics and the process can begin anew in block  215 . 
         [0026]    In decision block  225 , if it is determined that the computed label mnemonic is unique among other label mnemonics computed for the set of labels, in decision block  235  it can be determined if additional labels remain to be processed for the set of labels. If so, in decision block  240  a next label in the set of labels can be selected. Thereafter, the process can repeat through block  220 . When no further labels remain to be processed in decision block  235 , the process can end in block  245  with a dynamically created set of label mnemonics corresponding to the set of labels in the user interface. Notably, whereas the process illustrated in  FIG. 2A  pertains generally to a set of labels irrespective of the locale of the application, the process can be further refined through a consideration of the locale for the application. 
         [0027]    In yet further illustration,  FIG. 2B  is a flow chart illustrating a process for multi-lingual dynamic assignment of user interface label mnemonics. Beginning in block  250 , a user interface can be loaded for an application. In block  255 , a locale can be identified for the application. In decision block  260 , if the locale involves a Latin character set, in block  270 , mnemonic allocation can be performed utilizing the text of the labels in the user interface as described in the process of  FIG. 2A . However, if the locale does not involve a Latin character set, in block  265  the labels of the user interface first can be translated. Thereafter, in block  270 , mnemonic allocation can be performed utilizing the translated text of the labels. In this way, non-Latin character sets such as those of Asian locales can be accommodated dynamically according to the present invention. 
         [0028]    Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. 
         [0029]    For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD. 
         [0030]    A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.