Patent ID: 7730495

Claim:
A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for declaratively defining a control action, the instructions when executed by a processor performing the steps of: providing a visual design surface interface for defining a control; within the visual design surface interface, associating a first action component, of a plurality of predefined action components, with the control via a property expansion method defined in the control, wherein the first action component and the control are independent and customizable components; associating an event with the control to cause the property expansion method to execute when the event is received; receiving a value at the control; receiving an input on the control associated with the event to cause the property expansion method to execute and cause execution of the first action component, wherein executing the first action component comprises performing a logic operation on the value; associating a second action component with the first action component and the control via the property expansion method defined in the control, wherein the first action component, the second action component and the control are independent and customizable components, wherein the second action component is associated with enumerated type properties such that a selection of one of the enumerated type properties causes a valid property selection to be displayed with the second action component; and receiving the input on the control associated with the event to cause the property expansion method to execute and cause execution of the second action component.