Patent ID: 7853877

Claim:
A method for providing a user interface control, the method comprising: providing a main application window having at least one application item; providing a gallery control window having at least one control object for affecting a behavior of the at least one application item, the at least one control object comprising: a graphical icon providing a visual depiction associated with at least one property being implemented by the at least one control object, wherein providing the visual depiction comprises previewing the at least one property by at least one of the following: a formatted text and a thumbnail image, a selection portion providing a first area for selecting the at least one control object, and a properties portion providing a second area operative to cause, upon selection, a display of information associated with the at least one property being implemented by the at least one control object; determining a cursor position relative to the at least one control object; if the cursor position is over the selection portion of the at least one control object and a selection input is received: applying the at least one property of the at least one control object to the at least one application item within the main application window; and if the cursor position is over the properties portion of the at least one control object and a property selection input is received: rendering a dropdown menu with at least one menu item associated with the at least one property of the at least one control object, upon receiving an indication of a selection of the at least one menu item, enabling modification of the at least one property of the at least one control object, and rendering another graphical icon of the at least one control object, the other graphical icon depicting the at least one property associated with the selection of the at least one menu item.