Importance

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Abstract

The present system for application independent programming of controls functions to provide a common set of controls across a plurality of application programs, such as those typically included in an office suite installed on a processor, while also enabling users to customize these controls for each application program. This is accomplished by producing an interface in the underlying common programming model which enables the user to access a set of controls, with their standard properties, methods and events, in a consistent manner. The user can then create a user defined control in a particular application program without having to replicate the underlying common programming model on which the customization is based. The user creates an extender file to add to and/or modify the standard properties, methods and events of a control to thereby produce an extended control for use in the selected application program. The system for application independent programming of controls merges, at run time, the standard control and the extender file to create the customized control. This enables users to create customized controls without having to replicate the common programming model and also enables consistency of control implementation. The control can also be uniformly updated across the plurality of application programs by simply updating the underlying control on which the customized instances are based.

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First Claim