MXPA05008354A - An improved user interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are contextually relevant to a selected object - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable functionality controls that identifies the context of the object to which the user interface is relevant, which contains rich functionality controls for applying contextually relevant functionality to a selected object, and which may be efficiently switched to a different context for applying a different set of functionalities to a different or neighboring editable object. A context menu of functionalities is displayed adjacent to a selected object where the menu of functionalities includes functionalities associated with editing the selected object. The context menu includes an identification of the object context and a control for selectively changing the context and associated functionalities of the menu to a different object context for displaying a different set of functionalities associated with the different context.

Description

IMPROVED USER INTERFACE FOR DEPLOYING SOFTWARE FUNCTIONALITY CONTROLS SELECTABLE THAT ARE CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT FOR A SELECTED OBJECT CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS The present application claims the priority of the Request Provisional of E.U.A. No. 60 / 601,815, Attorney No. 60001.0407USP1, Attorney No. 309417.1, filed on October 16, August 2004, entitled "Improved User Interfaces for Computer Software Applications. " FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to user interfaces for the software application. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved user interface for displaying selectable software controls that are contextually relevant to a selected object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 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 email, make music. , and similar. For example, modern electronic word processing applications allow users to prepare a variety of useful documents. Modern spreadsheet applications allow users to capture, manipulate, and organize data. Applications for the presentation of modern electronic slides allow users to create a variety of slide shows containing text, images, data or other useful objects. To assist users in locating and using the functionality of a given software application, typically a user interface containing a plurality of generic functionality controls is provided along with the top, bottom, or side edge of a workspace displayed in which the user can capture, copy, manipulate and format text or data. Such functionality controls usually include selectable buttons with names such as "file," "view," "insert," "format," and the like. Typically, selecting one of these top-level functionality buttons, for example, "format," causes a pull-down menu to be displayed to expose one or more selectable functionality controls associated with the higher-level functionality, for example , "source" under a top-level functionality of "format." The above user interface systems provided unexpectedly appearing menus to display a set of selectable functionality controls that could be displayed on the user's display screen adjacent to a selectable object (e.g., text selection, data object, object of image, etc.) to allow the user to apply a selected functionality of a software application to the selected object. Such context menus are typically displayed depending on the user's action such as clicking the right mouse button when the mouse cursor is focused on the selected object. Unfortunately, the previous context menus have been limited to a small group of selectable controls, and it is typically difficult to identify the context for menu editing (eg, text selection, image object, etc.). Also, if a given document being edited through a user contains different objects (and unmistakably editable), it is often difficult to change the context of that context menu from one editing context to another (for example, text selection). to image object). Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved user interface to display a menu of selectable functionality controls that identifies the context of the object for which the menu is relevant, which contains rich functionality controls for contextually applying functionality relevant to a selected object, and that can be efficiently switched to a different context to apply a different group of functionalities to a different editable object or in the neighborhood. It is with respect to this and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems through the provision of an improved user interface to display selectable functionality controls that identify the context of the object for which the user interface is relevant, which contains controls of rich functionality to apply contextually relevant functionality to a selected object, and which can be efficiently switched to a different context to apply a different group of functionalities for a different editable object or in the neighborhood. Generally, according to the aspects of the present invention, a functionalities menu is displayed adjacent to a selected object where the functionalities menu includes functionalities associated with the edition of the selected object. The context menu includes an object context identification and a control to selectively change the context and associated functionalities of the menu to a different object context to display a different group of functionalities associated with the different context. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the methods and systems provide a user interface that is contextually relevant to an edited object. A plurality of functionalities available from the software application are provided. Once the selection of an object for editing is received through the software application, the contextually relevant user interface is displayed adjacent to the selected object. One or more selectable functionality controls that represent a subgroup of the plurality of functionalities is displayed at the user interface, and the subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of features that are at least substantially the most used in editing an object of the same type as the selected object. In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the one or more functionality controls may be displayed in the user interface hierarchically based on the frequency of prior use. A control can be displayed in the user interface to change a context in the user interface based on an attribute of the selected object for editing. Once a context is changed in the user interface based on an attribute of the selected object for editing, one or more selectable controls representing a second group of the plurality of functionalities may comprise one or more of the plurality of functionalities that they are at least substantially the most used in the edition of a second attribute of the selected object for editing. A control can be displayed in the user interface to cause a display in the second user interface of all selectable controls that can be used for editing the selected object. These and other features and advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from the reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It will be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative and explanatory only and not a restriction of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the architecture of a personal computer that provides an illustrative operating environment for the embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an illustration of a computer information screen showing a tape-like user interface for displaying task-based top-level functionality labels and for displaying a plurality of functionalities available under a top-level functionality label selected Figure 3 illustrates a computer information screen showing a context menu according to the embodiments of the present invention displayed adjacent to a selected object. Figure 4 illustrates the information screen of Figure 3 showing an expanded version of the context menu to provide a menu for combinations of formatting options. Figure 5 is the computer information screen of Figure 3 showing the deployment of a different group of functionality controls available from the context menu displayed. Figure 6 is the computer information screen of the Figure 5 shows the expansion of the context menu displayed to provide a gallery of images associated with different combinations of formatting options that can be applied to an associated document object. Figure 7 is the computer information screen showing a context menu according to the embodiments of the present invention displayed adjacent to a selected object.

Figure 8 illustrates the computer information screen of Figure 7 showing the context menu selectively changed to a different editing context. Figure 9 illustrates the computer information screen of Figure 7 showing the context menu selectively changed to a different editing context.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As briefly described above, the embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved user interface for displaying a menu of selectable functionality controls adjacent to or underlying a selected document or object that identifies the context of the object with which the controls of the selectable functionality are relevant, which contain rich functionality controls to apply contextually relevant functionality to the selected object, and which can be efficiently switched to a different context to apply a different group of functionalities to a different editable object or in the neighborhood . In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that are part of it, and in which modalities or specific examples are shown by way of illustration. These modalities can be combined, other modalities can be used, and structural changes can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not 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 similar numbers represent similar elements throughout the various figures, the aspects of the present invention and the illustrative operating environment will be described. Figure 1 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention can be implemented. Since the invention will be described in the general context of program modules that run in conjunction with an application program running in an operating system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can also be implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that carry out particular tasks or implement abstract data types. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced with other configurations of the computer system, including portable devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframes, and the like. The invention can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are carried out in remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Turning now to Figure 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 Figure 1 illustrates a conventional personal computer, including a central processing unit 4 ("CPU"), a system memory 6, including random access memory 8 ("RAM"), and read-only memory ("ROM") 10, and a common driver of the system 12 which couples the memory to the CPU 4. A basic input / output system containing the basic routines that help transfer information between the elements inside the computer, such as during startup, is stored in ROM 10. The personal computer 2 it also 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 common conductor 12. The mass storage device 14 and its associated computer-illegible means provide non-volatile storage for the personal computer 2. Although the description of the media Computer-readable media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk, or CD-ROM drive, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed. through the personal computer 2. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and media. Computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented through any method or technology for storing information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer-readable media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, non-volatile 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 means that can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed through the computer. According to the various embodiments of the invention, the personal computer 2 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to the remote computer through a TCP / IP network 18, such as the Internet. The personal computer 2 can be connected to the TCP / IP network 18 through a unit of the network interface 20 connected to the common conductor 12. It will be appreciated that the unit of the network interface 20 can also be used 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 inputs from a number of devices, including a keyboard or mouse (not shown). Similarly, an input / output controller 22 may provide output to an information screen, a printer, or other type of output device. As mentioned briefly above, a number of program modules and data files can be stored in the mass storage device 14 and RAM 8 of the personal computer 2, including the appropriate operating system 16 for controlling the operation of a personal computer networked, such as the WINDOWS operating system from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington. The mass storage device 14 and RAM 8 can also store one or more application programs. In particular, the mass storage device 14 and RAM 8 can store an application program 105 to provide a variety of functionalities to a user. For example, 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 one embodiment of the present invention, the application program 105 comprises a software application of multiple functionality to provide the functionality of word processing, the functionality of the slide presentation, the functionality of the spreadsheet, the functionality of the database and the like. Some of the individual program modules comprising the application of the multiple functionality 105 include an application for word processing 125, an application for presenting devices 135, a spreadsheet application 140, and an application of database 145. An example of such a multi-functional application 105 is OFFICE manufactured by Microsoft Corporation. Other software applications illustrated in Figure 1 include the email application 130. Figure 2 is an illustration of a computer information screen showing a tape-like user interface for displaying top-level functionality labels based on in the tasks and to display a plurality of functionalities available under a label of the selected top level functionality. As briefly described above, the improved user interface of the present invention includes a user interface in the form of a tape to display selectable controls associated with the functionality based on the tasks available under a given software application, such as the software application 105 illustrated in the Figure 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 against data analysis of the spreadsheet. For example, section 210 includes selectable controls for general file commands such as "open file," "save file" and "print." According to one embodiment of the present invention, the selectable controls included in the first section 210 include controls that can be used across a variety of software applications comprising a multi-functional application 105. That is, the selectable controls included in the First section 210 may be controls that are generally found and used through a number of different software applications. The selectable controls included in the first section 210 may be used for all such applications comprising such multiple functionality application, but other selectable controls presented in user interface 200 written below, may be customized for particular tasks which may be carried out through software applications. individuals comprising the application of multiple functionality. On the other hand, it should be appreciated that the user interface 200 described herein can be used for a single software application such as the word processing application 125, the application for the presentation of disks and slides 135, an application of spreadsheet 140, a database application 145, or any other software application that can use a user interface to allow users to apply the functionality of the associated application. Still referring to Figure 2, adjacent to the first section 210 of the user interface 200 is the tag section based on the tasks. The labels section includes selectable labels associated with the task-based functionality provided by a given software application. For example purposes, labels based on the tasks illustrated in Figure 2 are associated with tasks that can be carried out using an application for word processing 125. For example, a "Typing" label 215 is associated with the functionality that It can be used to carry out writing tasks. An "Insert" tag 220 is associated with the functionality associated with executing operations or insertion tasks. A "Page Layout" label 230 is associated with the functionality provided by the associated application to execute or edit page layout attributes of a given document. As will be appreciated, many other task-based tags or selectable controls can be added to the tag section of the user interface to call the functionality associated with the other tasks. For example, task labels can be added for text effects, document styles, review and comments, and the like. And, as described above, the user interface 200 may be used by a variety of different software applications. For example, if the user interface 200 is used for a slide presentation application, the labels contained in the labels section may include labels such as "Create Presentations," "Insert," "Format," "Drawing," "Effects," and the like associated with a variety of tasks that can be carried out through the application of the slide presentation. Similarly, the tags can be used in the tag section of the user interface 200 for a spreadsheet application 140 may include tags such as "Data" or "Data Entry", "List", "Pivot Tables", "Analysis", "Formula", "Pages in Printing", and the like associated with tasks that can be carried out using a spreadsheet application. Immediately below the generic controls section 210 and the task-based tag section, there is a control section of the selectable functionality to display the selectable functionality controls associated with the selected tags 215, 220, 230 of the task-based tag section. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, when a particular label, such as the open "Writing" label 215 is selected, the selected functionality available from the associated software application to carry out the selected task, for example a writing task, it is displayed in a logical grouping. For example, referring to Figure 2, a first logical grouping 240 is displayed under a "Clipboard" header. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the clipboard section 240 includes selectable functionality controls logically grouped together and associated with clipboard actions below the general writing task. For example, the clipboard section 240 may include selectable controls such as cut control, copy control, paste control, select all control, etc. Adjacent to the clipboard section 240, a second logical grouping 250 is presented under the heading "Formatting." The selectable controls presented in the "Formatting" section 250 can include selectable controls such as text justification, text type, font size, spacing line, bold, underline, etc. Consequently, the functionalities associated with the formatting operations are logically grouped together below the general tasks of "Writing". A third logical grouping 260 is presented under the heading "Writing Tools". The writing tools section 260 includes writing tools such as find / replace, auto-correct, and so on. According to the embodiments of the present invention, once the selection of a label based on the different task of the labels section is made, a different group of controls of the functionality selectable in different logical groupings is presented in the user interface 200 associated with the tag based on the selected task. For example, if the tag of the "Insert" task 200 is selected, the selectable functionality controls presented in the user interface 200 are changed from those illustrated in Figure 2 to include the selected functionality controls associated with the task inserted. The detailed information regarding the user interface 200, is illustrated in Figure 2, see the Patent Application of E.U.A. with Attorney Subject No. 60001.0410USU1, Applicant Material No. 309411.01, entitled "Inferred to Command User for Deploying Selectable Software Functionality Controls," which is incorporated herein by reference as fully set forth in I presented. Referring now to Figure 3, an improved context menu is illustrated in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. A document including an embedded image object 310 is illustrated in a workspace of the word processing application. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, context menu 320 may be launched adjacent to or near a selected object through a variety of methods. A method for launching the context menu 320 is through the focus of the mouse cursor on the desired object, followed by clicking the right mouse button. Other methods may be used to launch the context menu 320, including focusing on the selected object for more than a set amount of time, or by selecting a button from the user interface 200 programmed to launch the context 320 menu, or by selecting keys on the keyboard (for example F1) programmed to launch the context menu. Context menu mode allows the menu to remain visible while changes are made to an underlying object or for the software application to enable the context menu. That is, displaying the context menu of the present invention does not block the execution of the application with which the associated object is edited and with which the menu is displayed. The context menu 320 includes selectable functionality controls that are relevant to the edition of the selected object in the selected document. That is, the context menu 320 is integrated with one or more selectable functionality controls that can be used to edit a particular selected object in a selected document. For example, referring to the context menu 320 illustrated in Figure 3, the context menu is launched in the context of a selected image object 310. Accordingly, the controls of the selectable functionality, such as the paste control, the copy control , the position control, the image restart control, and the like, provide the functionality to a user to edit attributes in the selected image object 310. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, if the context menu 320 is loaded in the context of another type of object, then the controls of the selectable functionality that are integrated into the context menu 320 will be related to the other object type. For example, a context menu 320 launched in the context of a text object will be integrated with functionality controls used to edit a selection of text.

The one or more selectable controls displayed in the context menu represent a subset of a plurality of functionalities available for use with a selected object. According to one modality, the subgroup of functionalities represented by the one or more controls are selected based on the probability of immediate utility for the end users based on historical usage. The subgroup of the plurality of functionalities may comprise one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the edition of an object of the same type as an object is selected. Additionally, the one or more selectable functionality controls may be displayed in the user interface hierarchically based on the frequency of prior use or according to another sorting criterion. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the enhanced context menu 320 includes rich functionality controls such as the paste control, the copy control, the cut control, and the orientation control of the picture illustrated in FIG. In addition, a button 325 is illustrated along the bottom edge of the context menu 320 to allow a user to selectively display an improved list of available tools for editing the selected object. According to one aspect, button 325 may be colored differently from the other controls in menu 320 to distinguish menu 325 from the other controls. As should be understood, button 325"Show Image Tools" is illustrative of a similar button that can be used in other context menus 320 associated with other editing contexts such as text objects, frame objects, sheet objects, etc. calculation and similar. A tag for the identification and selection of a context 328 is illustrated along a top edge of the context menu 320. The tags for identification and selection of the context 328 both identify the current context of the context menu 320 and allow the user change the Context menu context 320 to provide selectable functionality controls associated with a different editing context in the selected document. For example, referring to Figure 3, the selected document includes both an image object and a text object. According to the context identification and selection tag 328, the present context of the context menu 320 is an "Image" context meaning that the selectable functionality controls displayed in the context menu 320 are associated with the functionality to edit a selected image object. If the user wishes to change the context of the context menu 320 to a text editing context, for example, the user can select the context identification and selection label 328 to open a list of available contexts that can be applied to the menu of the context 320. The user can then select a text context to change the context of the context menu 320 such that the selectable functionality controls that can be used to edit the text will be displayed in the 320 context menu. reference now to Figure 4, there is illustrated a gallery of the instantaneously appearing visual image selector adjacent the context menu 320. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the selection of certain selectable functionality controls results in a menu that appears, such as menu 330, to provide additional selectable functionality controls for the user uario The visual selector screen 330 provides a gallery of images that show the result of the application of a variety of combinations of formatting options for the selected object. For example, an image 335 illustrates the way in which the document will look if the object of the image 310 is centered and lengthened. Image 340 illustrates how the document will look if the object of the image is moved to a higher left position in the document, and image 345 illustrates how the document will look if the text is placed both above and below an object of centered image 310. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, all commands necessary to format the selected document according to one of the displayed images 375, 340, 345 are associated with individual images so that when selecting a given image Automatically causes the combination of formatting options to be illustrated while running in the selected document. For detailed information regarding the image gallery 330, see the U.S. Patent Application. Attorney's Subject No. 60001.0411IUSU1, Applicant's Issue No. 309412.01, entitled "Enhanced User Interface for Deploying a Gallery of Formatting Options Applicable to a Selectable Object," which is incorporated herein by reference and is fully set forth herein . Referring now to Figure 5, the display of an additional menu of selectable functionality controls adjacent to the context menu 320 is illustrated in response to the selection of a functionality control from the context menu 320. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the instant appearance menu 520 contains additional selectable functionality controls that can be selected through the user to apply the identified functionality to a selected document or object. As shown in Figure 6, once the selection of a given functionality control is made from the instant appearance menu 520, for example, the "3D" functionality control, an additional instant display menu 640 is provided to display the additional associated functionality with the control selected from the instant appearance menu 520. As illustrated in Figure 6, the "3D" control 630 is selected, which causes an instant-appearing image gallery 640 to be displayed. described above with reference to Figure 4, each of the image galleries 640 illustrates how the selected image object will look if a combination of formatting options associated with the selected image gallery image 640 is applied to the object selected 310. Referring now to Figure 7, the context menu 320 is illustrated adjacent to the selected image object 310 and on a text object where the image object 310 and the text object are placed in a frame structure. Because the context menu 320 is loaded in the context of the selected image object 310, the context menu 320 is still in an image context and still contains the relevant selectable functionality controls for editing a 310 object. However, referring to Figure 8, if the user chooses to apply the functionality from the context menu 320 to the text object contained in the frame object 700, the user can change the context in the context menu 320 from from the context of the magen to a text context. By selecting the context identification and selection label 328, as described above with reference to Figure 3, and selecting the context of the text, the context menu 320 is changed, so that the selectable functionality controls displayed in the context menu 320 are in the context of a selection of text, as illustrated in Figure 8. That is, the context menu 320 illustrated in Figure 8 includes selectable text-oriented functionality controls such as font, paragraph, bullets and numbering, bold, italic, underlined, and the like. Referring now to Figure 9, if the user now chooses to change context context menu 320 again so that functionality controls displayed in the context menu 320 are associated with yet another context, for example the object of Table 700, the user may again select the context identification and selection label 328 to change the context of the context menu 320 of a text context illustrated in Figure 8 to a frame or row context illustrated in Figure 9. Once the changes are made in the context of the context menu 320 for a frame or row context to edit rows in the frame 700 object, the selected functionality displayed in the context menu 320 changes as illustrated in the Figure 9. For example, after changing context context menu 320 even context by rows, such functionality controls selectable as "Insert Rows", "Delete Rows", "Fus" ionar Filar "," Distribute Rows Uniformly ", and the like are displayed in the context menu 320. As it should be understood, the example of the functionality controls illustrated in the 320 context menu written here and in the image and text objects Examples illustrated herein are for example purposes only and do not restrict the invention as claimed herein. That is, the context menu 320 can be displayed according to a variety of different editing contexts, and a variety of different selectable functionality controls can be displayed in the context menu 320 according to the associated editing context. As described herein, an improved interface is provided to display selectable functionality controls in a context menu. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other modalities of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention described herein.

Claims (28)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for providing a user interface that is contextually relevant to one or more objects, comprising: once the reception of a selection of an object is made for editing, displaying a contextually relevant user interface adjacent to the selected object; display in the user interface a control to identify a context of the user interface based on an attribute of the selected object for editing; and displaying in the user interface one or more selectable controls that represent a subgroup of the plurality of functionalities, while the subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the editing of an object of the same type as the selected object.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising deploying the one or more selectable controls in the user interface hierarchically based on the frequency of the previous use.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying in the user interface a control to change a context of the user interface to edit a different object, by which once the selection of the control is made to change a context of the user interface, display in the user interface one or more selectable controls representing a different subgroup of the plurality of functionalities, whereby the different subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that they are at least substantially the most used in the edition of an object of the same type as the different object. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying in the user interface a control to cause a display on a second user interface of all selectable controls that can be used to edit the selected object. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying in the user interface a selectable control representing an additional selectable control group where each of the selectable controls represents the functionality of the software application that can be selected. Use to edit the selected object. The method according to claim 1, whereby in response to a selection of one or more selectable controls, it provides a gallery for formatting images, whereby each image format contained in the image format gallery is associated with one or more formatting attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and so in response to the selection of an image format, automatically apply the one or more formatting attributes associated with the selected image format to the selected object. The method according to claim 6, through which a gallery is provided for formatting images and includes providing the gallery for formatting images within a second user interface executed in a manner adjacent to the contextually relevant user interface. 8. An improved user interface that is contextually relevant to a selected object, comprising: a menu of one or more selectable controls executed adjacent to the selected object, the one or more selectable controls represents a subset of a plurality of functionalities, so that the subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least the most used in the edition of an object of the same type as the selected object; and a control arranged above the menu to identify a context of the user interface based on an attribute of the selected object. The user interface according to claim 8, further comprising a control arranged below the menu to selectively cause a display on a second user interface of additional selectable controls that can be used to edit the selected object. 10. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed through a computer carry out a method to provide a user interface that is contextually relevant to the selected object, comprising: once the reception of a selecting an object for editing, displaying a contextually relevant user interface adjacent to the selected object; display in the user interface a control to identify a context of the user interface based on an attribute of the selected object for editing; and displaying in the user interface one or more selectable controls that represent a subgroup of the plurality of functionalities, while the subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the editing of an object of the same type as the selected object. 11. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising deploying the one or more selectable controls in the user interface hierarchically based on the frequency of prior use. 12. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising displaying in the user interface a control to change a context of the user interface to edit a second object, by which once the control selection is made to change a context of the user interface, display in the user interface one or more selectable controls representing a different subgroup of the plurality of functionalities, whereby the different subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the edition of an object of the same type as the second object. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising displaying in the user interface a control to cause a display on a second user interface of all selectable controls that can be used to edit the selected object. 14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10, further comprising deploying to the user interface a selectable control representing a group of additional selectable controls, wherein each of the selectable controls represents the functionality of the application of software that can be used to edit the selected object. 15. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, by which in response to a selection of one or more selectable controls, provides a gallery for formatting images, whereby each image format contained in the image format gallery is associated with one or more formatting attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and so in response to the selection of an image format, automatically apply the one or more formatting attributes associated with the selected image format to the selected object. 16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, wherein it came from a gallery for formatting images includes providing the gallery for formatting images within a second user interface executed adjacent to the contextually relevant user interface. 17. A method for providing a user interface that is contextually relevant to a selected object, comprising: once receiving a selection of an object for editing, displaying a contextually relevant user interface adjacent to the selected object near the selected object in a workspace of the software application; displaying in the user interface one or more selectable controls that represent a group of a plurality of functionalities, whereby the group of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the editing of an object of the same type as the selected object; display in the user interface a control to change a context of the user interface to edit a second object, so once the selection of the control to change a context of the user interface is made, it is displayed in the user interface one or more selectable controls that represent a second subgroup of the plurality of functionalities, whereby the second subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the edition of a object of the same type as the second object; and displaying in the user interface a control to cause a display in the second user interface of the additional selectable controls that can be used to edit the selected object. 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising deploying the one or more selectable controls in the user interface hierarchically based on the frequency of prior use. 19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising displaying in the user interface a control to change a context of the user interface to edit an attribute of the selected object for editing. The legible method according to claim 17, further comprising displaying in the user interface a selectable control representing a group of additional selectable controls, wherein each of the additional selectable controls represents the functionality of the software application which can be used to edit the selectable object. The method according to claim 17, wherein in response to a selection of one or more selectable controls, it provides a gallery for formatting images, whereby each image format contained in the gallery for image formatting is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and whereby in response to the nail selection of the image forms, it automatically applies the one or more formatting attributes associated with the selected image format for the selected object. The method according to claim 21, wherein providing a gallery for formatting images includes providing the gallery for formatting images within a second user interface executed adjacent to the contextually relevant user interface. 23. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed through a computer perform the method to provide a user interface that is contextually relevant to a selected object, comprising: once the reception from a selection of an object for editing, displaying a contextually relevant user interface near the selected object in a workspace of the software application; displaying in the user interface one or more selectable controls that represent a group of a plurality of functionalities, whereby the group of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the editing of an object of the same type as the selected object; display in the user interface a control to change a context of the user interface to edit a second object, so once the selection of the control to change a context of the user interface is made, it is displayed in the user interface one or more selectable controls that represent a second subgroup of the plurality of functionalities, whereby the second subgroup of the plurality of functionalities comprises one or more of the plurality of functionalities that are at least substantially the most used in the edition of a object of the same type as the second object; and displaying in the user interface a control to cause a display in the second user interface of the additional selectable controls that can be used to edit the selected object. 24. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, further comprising deploying the one or more selectable controls in the user interface hierarchically based on the frequency of the previous use. 25. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, further comprising displaying in the user interface a control for changing an identification of a user interface context based on an attribute of the object selected for editing. 26. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, further comprising displaying in the user interface a selectable control representing a group of additional selectable controls, wherein each of the additional selectable controls represents the functionality of the application of the software that can be used to edit the selectable object. 27. The computer-readable medium according to claim 23, wherein in response to a selection of one or more selectable controls, it provides a gallery for formatting images, whereby each image format contained in the gallery for formatting of images is associated with one or more format attributes that can be applied to the selected object; and therefore in response to the selection of one of the image formats, it automatically applies the one or more formatting attributes associated with the selected image format for the selected object. 28. The computer readable medium according to claim 27, whereby a gallery is provided for formatting images that includes providing the gallery for formatting images within a second user interface executed adjacent to the contextually relevant user interface.