Patent Publication Number: US-11023103-B2

Title: User interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/631,842, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,635,266, titled “User Interface For Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls That Are Relevant To A Selected Object” filed Jun. 23, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/032,094, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,690,450, titled “Improved User Interface for Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls that are Relevant to a Selected Object” filed Sep. 19, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/615,668, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,690,448, titled “User Interface for Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls that are Relevant to a Selected Object” filed on Sep. 14, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/725,605, now abandoned, titled “User Interface for Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls that are Relevant to a Selected Object” filed Mar. 17, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/955,941, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,703,036, titled “An Improved User Interface for Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls that are relevant to a Selected Object” filed Sep. 30, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/601,815 titled “Improved User Interfaces for Computer Software Applications” filed Aug. 16, 2004, which are incorporated herein by their reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to software application user interfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved user interface for displaying selectable software controls that are relevant to a selected object. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the advent of the computer age, computer and software users have grown accustomed to user-friendly software applications that help them write, calculate, organize, prepare presentations, send and receive electronic mail, make music, and the like. For example, modern electronic word processing applications allow users to prepare a variety of useful documents. Modern spreadsheet applications allow users to enter, manipulate, and organize data. Modern electronic slide presentation applications allow users to create a variety of slide presentations containing text, pictures, data or other useful objects. 
     To assist users to locate and utilize functionality of a given software application, a user interface containing a plurality of generic functionality controls is typically provided along an upper, lower or side edge of a displayed workspace in which the user may enter, copy, manipulate and format text or data. Such functionality controls often include selectable buttons with such names as “file,” “edit,” “view,” “insert,” “format,” and the like. Typically, selection of one of these top-level functionality buttons, for example “format,” causes a drop-down menu to be deployed to expose one or more selectable functionality controls associated with the top-level functionality, for example “font” under a top-level functionality of “format.” 
     After a user selects a desired functionality control, or if the user moves the mouse cursor to a different location, the drop-down menu typically disappears. If the user determines that functionality of the first drop-down menu was the desired functionality, the user must remember which top-level functionality was selected, reselect that functionality and then find the desired functionality control all over again. Accordingly, in order to use the functionality of a given software application, the user must know the desired functionality is available under one of the selectable buttons, or the user must select different top-level functionalities until the desired specific functionality is located. 
     This is particularly cumbersome when the user desires to apply many available functionalities to a given object type. For example, if the user desires to edit a picture object imbedded in a text document, according to prior methods and systems, the user must find functionality in a drop-down menu associated with editing the picture object. After application of any given functionality, the drop-down menu associated with editing the selected object, e.g., picture object, typically disappears. When the user desires to make a second or subsequent edit to the object, the user must once again find the correct top-level functionality control, deploy a menu of available functionalities, and find the desired particular functionality. Such a method of searching for desired functionality is cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly for less-experienced users, and when new functionality is added by developers of the software application, the new functionality may never be utilized unless the user is somehow educated as to its existence. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved user interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the object is being edited. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems by providing an improved user interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Generally, aspects of the present invention provide for presenting selectable functionality controls associated with a given top-level functionality upon selection of a given object for editing. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, methods and systems provide functionality from a software application that is relevant to an edited object via an improved user interface. A plurality of functionalities available from a given software application is provided. Upon receiving an indication of a selection of an object for editing via the software application, one or more selectable controls representing a subset of the plurality of functionalities is displayed in a ribbon-shaped user interface whereby the subset of the plurality of functionalities is relevant to and allows for editing the selected object. The subset of the plurality of functionalities is persisted in the user interface until an indication is received of the selection of a different object for editing or the selection of a different functionality associated with a different subset of the plurality of functionalities. 
     These and other features and advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. 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 DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the architecture of a personal computer that provides an illustrative operating environment for embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a computer screen display showing a ribbon-shaped user interface for displaying task-based top-level functionality tabs and for displaying a plurality of functionalities available under a selected top-level functionality tab. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a computer screen display showing a ribbon-shaped user interface in which is disposed selectable functionality controls relevant to and associated with the editing of a selected object. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a computer screen display showing an editable object according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a computer screen display showing the presentation of a plurality of functionalities associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the computer screen display of  FIG. 5  wherein a drop-down menu of selectable formatting options combinations is illustrated under a selectable formatting control. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a computer screen display showing the presentation of a plurality of functionalities associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a computer screen display showing an editable object according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a computer screen display showing a pop-up functionality menu for providing functionality associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a computer screen display showing the presentation of a plurality of functionalities associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a computer screen display showing the presentation of a plurality of functionalities associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a computer screen display showing the presentation of a plurality of functionalities associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a computer screen display showing a pop-up functionality menu for providing functionality associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a computer screen display showing the presentation of a plurality of functionalities associated with a selected object for editing. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a computer screen display showing a pop-up functionality menu for providing functionality associated with a selected object for editing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved user interface for displaying selectable functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrations specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements through the several figures, aspects of the present invention and the exemplary operating environment will be described.  FIG. 1  and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention may be implemented. While the invention will be described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may also be implemented in combination with other program modules. 
     Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative computer architecture for a personal computer  2  for practicing the various embodiments of the invention will be described. The computer architecture shown in  FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional personal computer, including a central processing unit  4  (“CPU”), a system memory  6 , including a random access memory  8  (“RAM”) and a read-only memory (“ROM”)  10 , and a system bus  12  that couples the memory to the CPU  4 . A basic input/output system containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer, such as during startup, is stored in the ROM  10 . The personal computer  2  further includes a mass storage device  14  for storing an operating system  16 , application programs, such as the application program  205 , and data. 
     The mass storage device  14  is connected to the CPU  4  through a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the bus  12 . The mass storage device  14  and its associated computer-readable media, provide non-volatile storage for the personal computer  2 . Although the description of computer-readable media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the personal computer  2 . 
     By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer. 
     According to various embodiments of the invention, the personal computer  2  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote computers through a TCP/IP network  18 , such as the Internet. The personal computer  2  may connect to the TCP/IP network  18  through a network interface unit  20  connected to the bus  12 . It should be appreciated that the network interface unit  20  may also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computer systems. The personal computer  2  may also include an input/output controller  22  for receiving and processing input from a number of devices, including a keyboard or mouse (not shown). Similarly, an input/output controller  22  may provide output to a display screen, a printer, or other type of output device. 
     As mentioned briefly above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in the mass storage device  14  and RAM  8  of the personal computer  2 , including an operating system  16  suitable for controlling the operation of a networked personal computer, such as the WINDOWS operating systems from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. The mass storage device  14  and RAM  8  may also store one or more application programs. In particular, the mass storage device  14  and RAM  8  may store an application program  105  for providing a variety of functionalities to a user. For instance, the application program  105  may comprise many types of programs such as a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a desktop publishing application, and the like. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the application program  105  comprises a multiple functionality software application for providing word processing functionality, slide presentation functionality, spreadsheet functionality, database functionality and the like. Some of the individual program modules comprising the multiple functionality application  105  include a word processing application  125 , a slide presentation application  135 , a spreadsheet application  140  and a database application  145 . An example of such a multiple functionality application  105  is OFFICE manufactured by Microsoft Corporation. Other software applications illustrated in  FIG. 1  include an electronic mail application  130 . 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of a computer screen display showing a ribbon-shaped user interface for displaying task-based top-level functionality tabs and for displaying a plurality of functionalities available under a selected top-level functionality tab. As briefly described above, the improved user interface of the present invention includes a ribbon-shaped user interface for displaying selectable controls associated with task-based functionality available under a given software application, such as the software application  105  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . A first section  210  of the user interface  200  includes generic selectable controls for functionality not associated with a particular task, such as word processing versus spreadsheet data analysis. For example, the section  210  includes selectable controls for general file commands such as “file open,” “file save” and “print.” According to one embodiment of the present invention, the selectable controls included in the first section  210  are controls that may be utilized by a variety of software applications comprising a multiple functionality application  105 . That is, the selectable controls included in the first section  210  may be controls that are generally found and used across a number of different software applications. 
     Selectable controls included in the first section  210  may be utilized for all such applications comprising such a multiple functionality application, but other selectable controls presented in the user interface  200  described below, may be tailored to particular tasks which may be performed by particular software applications comprising the multiple functionality application. On the other hand, it should be appreciated that the user interface  200  described herein may be utilized for a single software application such as a word processing application  125 , a slide presentation application  135 , a spreadsheet application  140 , a database application  145 , or any other software application which may utilize a user interface for allowing users to apply functionality of the associated application. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 2 , adjacent to the first section  210  of the user interface  200  is a task-based tab section. The tab section includes selectable tabs associated with task-based functionality provided by a given software application. For purposes of example, the task-based tabs illustrated in  FIG. 2  are associated with tasks that may be performed using a word processing application  125 . For example, a “Writing” tab  215  is associated with functionality that may be utilized for performing writing tasks. An “Insert” tab  220  is associated with functionality associated with performing insert operations or tasks. A “Page Layout” tab  230  is associated with functionality provided by the associated application for performing or editing page layout attributes of a given document. 
     As should be appreciated, many other task-based tabs or selectable controls may be added to the tab section of the user interface for calling functionality associated with other tasks. For example, task tabs may be added for text effects, document styles, review and comment, and the like. And, as described above, the user interface  200  may be utilized for a variety of different software applications. For example, if the user interface  200  is utilized for a slide presentation application, tabs contained in the tab section may include such tabs as “Create Slides,” “Insert,” “Format,” “Drawing,” “Effects,” and the like associated with a variety of tasks that may be performed by a slide presentation application. Similarly, tabs that may be utilized in the tab section of the user interface  200  for a spreadsheet application  140  may include such tabs as “Data” or “Data Entry,” “Lists,” “Pivot Tables,” “Analysis,” “Formulas,” “Pages and Printing,” and the like associated with tasks that may be performed using a spreadsheet application. 
     Immediately beneath the generic controls section  210  and the task-based tab section is a selectable functionality control section for displaying selectable functionality controls associated with a selected tab  215 ,  220 ,  230  from the task-based tab section. According to embodiments of the present invention, when a particular tab, such as the “Writing” tab  215  is selected, selectable functionality available from the associated software application for performing the selected task, for example a writing task, is displayed in logical groupings. For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , a first logical grouping  240  is displayed under a heading “Clipboard.” According to embodiments of the present invention, the clipboard section  240  includes selectable functionality controls logically grouped together and associated with clipboard actions underneath the general task of writing. For example, the clipboard section  240  may include such selectable controls as a cut control, a copy control, a paste control, a select all control, etc. Adjacent to the clipboard section  240 , a second logical grouping  250  is presented under the heading “Formatting.” 
     Selectable controls presented in the “Formatting” section  250  may include such selectable controls as text justification, text type, font size, line spacing, boldface, italics, underline, etc. Accordingly, functionalities associated with formatting operations are logically grouped together underneath the overall task of “Writing.” A third logical grouping  260  is presented under the heading “Writing Tools.” The writing tools section  260  includes such writing tools as find/replace, autocorrect, etc. According to embodiments of the present invention, upon selection of a different task-based tab from the tab section, a different set of selectable functionality controls in different logical groupings is presented in the user interface  200  associated with the selected task-based tab. For example, if the “Insert” task tab  220  is selected, the selectable functionality controls presented in the user interface  200  are changed from those illustrated in  FIG. 2  to include selectable functionality controls associated with the insert task. For detailed information regarding the user interface  200 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 , see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,967, entitled “Command User Interface for Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls,” which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set out herein. 
       FIGS. 3 through 10  illustrate aspects of a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a computer screen display showing a ribbon-shaped user interface in which is disposed selectable functionality controls relevant to and associated with the editing of a selected object. According to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3-10 , of the present invention, when a portion of a document or a particular object is selected for editing, such as a text object, picture object, spreadsheet object, or the like, the user interface illustrated in  FIG. 2  is temporarily replaced with a user interface, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which contains selectable functionality controls particularly associated with editing the selected object. For example, if a picture object embedded in a text file is selected for editing, the task-based functionality tabs and any associated logical groupings of individual selectable functionality controls, as described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , are replaced with one or more task-based functionality tabs and associated logical groupings of selectable functionality controls that are particular to editing the selected object. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 3 , if a picture object embedded in a text file or other document is selected for editing by the user, the ribbon-shaped user interface  300  replaces the ribbon-shaped user interface  200  so that the user is provided with task-based tabs  310 ,  320 ,  330  particular to editing the selected picture object. Similar to the description of the user interface  200  described above, upon selection of one of the task-based tabs  310 ,  320 ,  330 , the portion of the user interface  300  disposed beneath the tabs is populated with individual or logical groupings of selectable functionality controls for applying functionality available under the selected task-based tab to the selected object. For example, referring to the user interface  300 , selection of a “Style Gallery” tab  310  causes the presentation of a “Layout” section  350  and a “Picture Styles” section  355 . In addition, a “Selection” section  345  is provided for allowing the user to select between multiple picture objects, for example, for application of any selected functionality. If the user applies a given functionality to the selected object, but is not satisfied with the result of the functionality application, a reset button  340  is provided for allowing the user to reset the selected object back to its condition prior to applying the selected functionality. Selection of one of the other task-based tabs, such as the “Effects” tab  320  or the “Picture Tools” tab  330 , will cause a different set of selectable functionality controls to be displayed in the lower portion of the user interface  300  associated with the selected task-based tab. 
     Referring to the example functionality controls illustrated in the user interface  300 , in the “Picture Styles” section  355 , a plurality of images are provided for showing a user how a selected object would be displayed if a particular combination of formatting options or picture styles is applied to the object. According to embodiments of the present invention, selection of one or more of the images may cause all commands necessary for formatting or stylizing the selected object in a manner consistent with the selected image from the user interface  300 . That is, upon selecting a desired image in the “Picture Styles” section  355 , the selected object in the user&#39;s document is automatically formatted or stylized accordingly. The “Layout” section  350  is representative of a functionality controls section which may have one or more images or potential layout styles or schemes than may be displayed in the user interface  300 . Accordingly, as illustrated and described below with reference to  FIG. 6 , selection of the “Layout” section  350  may cause a drop-down menu or drop-across menu to be displayed providing a user with a variety of different layout options that may be applied to the selected object. 
     As should be understood by those skilled in the art, the example task-based tabs and individual functionality controls illustrated in the user interface  300  are for purposes of example only and are in no way limiting of the variety of object-specific functionalities that may be provided in the user interface  300 . According to embodiments of the present invention, by replacing the normal functionality offerings of the user interface  200  with functionality particular to the selected object, the user experience is one of being immersed in the functionality available to the user for editing the selected object. 
     If insufficient space is available in the user interface  300  for displaying all logical groupings of functionality controls associated with a given task-based tab, a determination may be made at application run time as to any logical groupings that must be collapsed or closed until the associated task-based tab is selected. Similarly, if the user manually reduces the size of the user interface  300 , a determination is made as to the available space for displaying selectable functionality control sections, and certain selectable functionality control sections are collapsed as required. As should be appreciated, a determination may be made as to the order of collapsing selectable functionality control sections such that a criteria, such as “most used” or “most recently used” may be used for determining which selectable functionality control sections are displayed and which sections are collapsed as the available space in the user interface is decreased. 
     According to an alternate embodiment, if the user interface  300  lacks sufficient space to display all logical groupings of functionality controls associated with a given task-based tab, the size of the display of individual logical groupings is reduced to allow space for the display of all associated logical groupings. According to one aspect of this embodiment, different sizes of groupings displays, for example small, medium and large, may be defined. At display time, a determination may be made as to the available space. At a starting point, the largest size for each applicable logical grouping display is presented. As required, the display size is reduced (i.e., large to medium to small) for each logical grouping until each grouping fits in the available space. In addition, for smaller logical grouping display layouts, text labels may be shortened or eliminated and the layout of individual selectable controls contained in given groupings may be rearranged to allow for more efficient use of space. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an example text document is displayed in a word processing application workspace having an embedded picture object. The user interface  200 , disposed along the upper edge of the word processing application workspace, is displayed with task-based tabs and associated selectable functionality control sections for writing text into the displayed document. If the user desires to edit the picture object  410 , according to embodiments of the present invention, the user need not search for functionality required for editing picture objects. Upon selecting the picture object  410  for editing, a “Show Picture Tools” control  420  is displayed to the user for allowing the user to call up tools and other functionality available to the user for editing the selected object. As should be understood by those skilled in the art, the description of the editing of a picture object is for purposes of example only and is not limiting of a variety of different tools and functionalities that may be exposed to the user in a user interface  300  described above upon selection of different types of objects. For example, tools and functionality may be provided for editing table objects, spreadsheet objects, slide presentation objects, database objects, and the like. 
     If the user selects the “Show Pictures Tools” control, according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3-10 , the user interface  300  is dynamically generated and temporarily replaces the user interface  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the user interface  300  replaces the user interface  200 , and task-based functionality available to the user for editing the selected picture object is displayed in the user interface  300 , as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . Now, the user may select one or more functionalities applicable to editing the selected object (e.g., picture object) without the need for searching through a variety of different menus or tool bars for functionality needed for editing the selected object. In order to dismiss the user interface  300  and return to the user interface  200 , an exit control may be selected. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , consider, for example, that the user decides to change the layout of the document by moving the embedded picture object to a different location. The user could manually move the embedded object to a different location followed by changing the orientation and location of text contained in the document to cause the overall document to have an acceptable and desirable layout. However, according to embodiments of the present invention, the user may select the layout control  350  to deploy a drop-down menu for providing a variety of different potential layouts for the selected object within the selected document. For example, the drop-down menu  600  provides layouts such as “Centered Large,”  610 , “Top Left,”  620 , “Top Right,”  630 , “Centered in Text,”  640 , “Above &amp; Below,”  650  and “Alone on Page”  660 . As should be understood, the potential layouts described and illustrated with respect to  FIG. 6  are for purposes of example only and are not limiting of a variety of different layouts that may be provided to the user via the user interface  300 . 
     As described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , according to embodiments of the present invention, all required commands for applying a presented formatting or layout to the selected object may be coded for execution upon selecting one of the formatting or layout images provided in the user interface. Accordingly, if the user desires to select a layout placing the selected picture object in the top right orientation of the selected document, the user may select the “Top Right” layout  630 , and all required functionality for rearranging the selected object and document according to the selected layout is applied to the document and object so that the document assumes the selected layout, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the selected object  410  is now positioned in the upper right-hand corner of the document, and the text has been rearranged accordingly. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the user interface  300  containing the functionality associated with the selected object remains persisted in the user interface until the user selects a different object in the document for editing. For example, if the user moves the mouse cursor to a text portion of the document and selects the text portion of the document for editing, the user interface  300  will be dismissed and an appropriate user interface  200  associated with editing the selected text will be displayed, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the picture object has been deleted and the cursor is situated in the text portion of the document. Accordingly, the user interface  300 , containing functionality particular to editing a picture object is dismissed, and the user interface  200 , containing task-based tabs and associated selectable functionality controls, groupings or sections is displayed for providing the user necessary functionality for editing the text portion of the document. 
     As described above, one method for deploying the user interface  300  for providing selectable functionality associated with a particular object is to select a particular object within a given document. Alternatively, the user interface  300 , containing functionality associated with a particular object may be deployed by inserting an object of a given type into a document. For example, referring to  FIG. 9 , if a user decides to insert a table object into the document illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the user may select the “Insert” task-based tab  220  from the user interface  200  for deploying selectable functionality controls associated with inserting text or objects into the document. If the user then decides to insert a particular object, for example, a table object, into the document, the user may utilize one or more selectable functionality controls presented in the user interface  200 , or the user may launch a dialog  900 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , for creating and inserting a desired object, for example a table object, into the selected document. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, once the user selects for inserting the desired object into the document, the object  1050  is inserted into the document, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Simultaneously, the user interface  200  is replaced with a user interface  300  for displaying selectable functionality for editing the now-selected table object  1050 . For example, referring to  FIG. 10 , the user interface  300  now includes task-based tabs associated with editing a table object. For example, task-based tabs, illustrated in the user interface  300 , include “Style Gallery,” “Effects,” “Borders and Shading,” “Table Layout,” and “Date.” As described above with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , selection of one of the task-based tabs, for example the “Style Gallery” tab, causes a display of individual or groupings of selectable functionality controls  1020 ,  1030 ,  1040  for editing the selected object according to the selected task-based tab. 
       FIGS. 11 through 15  illustrate aspects of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to  FIG. 11 , aspects of this embodiment of the present invention are illustrated and described with reference to a spreadsheet application  140 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a spreadsheet document is displayed having an example table of data  1150 . A user interface  1100  similar to the user interface  200  described above with reference to  FIG. 2  is disposed above the spreadsheet workspace for providing spreadsheet application functionality. A plurality of task-based tabs are provided at the top of the user interface  1100  for selectively displaying logical groupings of selectable functionality controls associated with given task-based functionality tabs. For example, task-based functionality tabs included in the user interface  1100  include “Insert,” “Page Layout,” “Analysis,” etc. 
     According to aspects of this embodiment, when an object is selected for editing, such as the table object  1150  illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the selectable functionality controls associated with the selected object do not replace the tabs displayed in the user interface  1100 , but are appended to the user interface  1100  beneath the tabs displayed in the user interface  1100 . The controls associated with the selected object are automatically displayed in the appended orientation relative to the tabs of the user interface  1100  upon selection or insertion of a given object. Selection of any of the tabs in the user interface  1100  dismisses the controls displayed for the selected or inserted object that are appended beneath the user interface  1100 . For example, a “Styles” section  1110  is provided for applying spreadsheet workspace styles to the document, a “Properties” section  1120  is provided, an “Actions” section  1130  is provided, and a “Publish to Server” section  1140  is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, because a table object is embedded in the spreadsheet workspace, a “Table Tools” tab is exposed adjacent to the task-based functionality tabs  1100 . As should be appreciated, selection of the “Table Tools” tab may cause a display of selectable functionality controls associated with table objects in the lower portion of the user interface. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , selection of the “Table Tools” tab causes display of the selectable functionality controls associated with the selected table. Alternatively, the display of the selectable functionality controls associated with the selected table may be automatically displayed upon selection of the table object without use of the “Table Tools” tab. As should be understood, description of the table object  1150  and use of the “Table Tools” tab are for purposes of example only and are not limiting of operation of embodiments of the present invention with respect to other objects that may be inserted into or edited in the spreadsheet workspace. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , if a user decides to create a chart, for example, using data contained in the selected table object, the user may select one of the chart-type images “Controls” illustrated in the user interface of  FIG. 12 . Upon selection of a chart for inserting into the spreadsheet workspace, an “Insert Chart” dialog  1310  may be displayed for allowing the user to specify attributes of the selected chart. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , once particular chart attributes are selected, a corresponding chart is drawn and is displayed in the spreadsheet workspace. According to embodiments of the present invention, insertion of the selected chart automatically causes functionality of the previously displayed user interface (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) to be replaced with selectable functionality controls associated with editing the selected and inserted chart. For example, a “Chart Structure” section  1410 , a “Chart Options” section  1420 , a “3D View” section  1430 , and an “Axis Scale” section  1440  are displayed in a lower portion of the user interface to provide particular selectable functionality controls associated with editing the selected chart. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , if the user selects a different functionality for application to the spreadsheet workspace, for example, inserting a pivot table, the particular functionality displayed in the user interface associated with editing the chart, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , is replaced with functionality associated with inserting the selected or desired pivot table. Accordingly, functionality controls are made available and displayed to the user according to the nature of the user&#39;s work, for example, selection of a particular object in a document for editing. 
     As described herein, an improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain persisted for use while the selected object is being edited. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.