Method and system for displaying a hierarchical sub-tree by selection of

Abstract

A sub-tree bar control is provided that aggregates a group of sub-tree view controls. The sub-tree bar control contains user interface elements that are associated with sub-tree view controls. Each sub-tree view control enables an application program to display a list of items as a hierarchical sub-tree in a window. When a user selects the user interface element associated with the node, the sub-tree view control is displayed in a window. By displaying a sub-tree view control, the user views only the information that the user is interested in viewing. Since the sub-tree view control displays only a sub-tree, instead of an entire tree, it typically takes up less display space on the video display than a control that contains an entire tree. Additionally, the sub-tree view control automatically ceases to be displayed based on certain events. The window in which the sub-tree view control is displayed can be resized, either vertically or horizontally. Nodes in the sub-tree can be expanded or contracted. Nodes in the sub-tree can also be selected as root nodes of sub-trees for new sub-tree view controls or otherwise be manipulated as the nodes in the tree displayed in the tree-view control. Moreover, the nodes that are roots of the sub-trees are displayed on the sub-tree bar control so as to provide easy selection of the sub-tree view controls.