Method and computer system for displaying a table with column header inscriptions having a reduced horizontal size

• US 20020158876A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Janssen, Ocke
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/504
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines

Abstract

The header inscription of one or more columns in a data table is reduced in horizontal width. A user having input to a first view of a data table can select a desired column at any location in the column to reduce the horizontal width of the header inscription. The header inscription is reduced in horizontal width, and a second view of the data table is displayed in which the header inscription of the selected column has reduced horizontal width. The header inscriptions of some or all columns in the data table can also be reduced in horizontal width by selection of a single column. Further, the header inscription style utilized in the reduction of the horizontal width can be user selected.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, the method comprising:

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the first horizontal width further comprises:

reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription in all other columns in the data table.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting at least one header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width in multiple lines.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width vertically.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width with smaller character size.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width with narrower character type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width as at least one of multiple lines, vertically, diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table, smaller character size, and narrower character type.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width further comprises:

positioning a cursor at any place on the at least one column on the first view of the data table; and

indicating selection of the column.

11. A computer-based method for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, the method comprising:

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting a header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the horizontal width of the header inscription;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one selected column has the second horizontal width.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width as at least one of multiple lines, vertically, diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table, smaller character size, and narrower character type.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width further comprises:

positioning a cursor at any place on the at least one column on the first view of the data table; and

indicating selection of the column.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width as at least one of multiple lines, vertically, diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table, smaller character size, and narrower character type.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width further comprises:

positioning a cursor at any place on the at least one column on the first view of the data table; and

indicating selection of the column.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein reducing the first horizontal width further comprises:

reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription in all other columns in the data table.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting at least one header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width further comprises:

positioning a cursor at any place on the at least one column on the first view of the data table; and

indicating selection of the column.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width as at least one of multiple lines, vertically, diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table, smaller character size, and narrower character type.

14. A computer-based method for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, the method comprising:

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

displaying a first graphical user interface, the first graphical user interface providing at least one option for the selection of the header inscription of the at least one column to be reduced in horizontal width;

selecting at least one option on the first graphical user interface;

displaying a second graphical user interface, the second graphical user interface providing at least one option for the selection of a header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one selected column;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one selected column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.

17. A computer program product for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.

22. A computer program product for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting a header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the horizontal width of the header inscription;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one selected column has the second horizontal width.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein means for reducing the first horizontal width further comprises:

means for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription in all other columns in the data table.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

means for selecting at least one header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein means for displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

means for displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width in multiple lines.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein means for displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

means for displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width vertically.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein means for displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

means for displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein means for displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

means for displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width with smaller character size.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein means for displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

means for displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width with narrower character type.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein means for displaying the second view of the data table further comprises:

means for displaying the header inscription having the second horizontal width as at least one of multiple lines, vertically, diagonally at an angle to the horizontal line of the data table, smaller character size, and narrower character type.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width further comprises:

means for positioning a cursor at any place on the at least one column on the first view of the data table; and

means for indicating selection of the column.

23. A computer program product for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

displaying a first graphical user interface, the first graphical user interface providing at least one option for the selection of the header inscription of the at least one column to be reduced in horizontal width;

selecting at least one option on the first graphical user interface;

displaying a second graphical user interface, the second graphical user interface providing at least one option for the selection of a header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one selected column;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one selected column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.

24. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.

25. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting a header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the horizontal width of the header inscription;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one selected column has the second horizontal width.

26. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for reducing a horizontal width of a header inscription of a column in a data table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

displaying a first graphical user interface, the first graphical user interface providing at least one option for the selection of the header inscription of the at least one column to be reduced in horizontal width;

selecting at least one option on the first graphical user interface;

displaying a second graphical user interface, the second graphical user interface providing at least one option for the selection of a header inscription style to be utilized in reducing the horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one selected column;

reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one selected column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.

27. A method for reducing a horizontal width of a column header inscription, the method comprising:

means for displaying a first view of a data table, the data table having at least a plurality of columns, wherein at least one column includes a cell containing a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

means for selecting at least one column including a header inscription having a first horizontal width;

means for reducing the first horizontal width of the header inscription of the at least one column to a second horizontal width, the second horizontal width being less than the first horizontal width; and

means for displaying a second view of the data table, wherein the header inscription of the at least one column has the second horizontal width.