Software notes

• US 20020196284A1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David T. Berquist, John M. Kruse, Martin A. Kenner, Mitchell B. Grunes, Peter M. Eisenberg
• Original Assignee: David T. Berquist, John M. Kruse, Martin A. Kenner, Mitchell B. Grunes, Peter M. Eisenberg
• Inventors: Grunes, Mitchell B., Kruse, John M., Kenner, Martin A., Eisenberg, Peter M., Berquist, David T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention implements, in a data processing environment, many of the attributes of paper Post-it® notes. The note program of the present invention need not be resident in an application program, and the notes of the present invention may be moved directly between windows or between regions without being saved in an intermediate memory, may be easily dispensed either from a note dispenser of a window or on a desktop, may overlap the boundary of a window, may be automatically saved, may be attached to a document within a window so that the note moves with the document, may overlap a boundary of a window, may be resized with the constraint that the note may not be resized off of a window, may be moved across a window boundary, and may be attached to an object, such as a character, a word, a sentence, or paragraph of a document.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that first and second windows are displayed, and so that the first window has a note; and

,

moving the note from the first window directly to the second window so that the note is moved from the first window to the second window without storing the note in an intermediate storage location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing one or more application programs so that the first and second windows are displayed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing one or more operating systems so that the first and second windows are displayed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the note resulted from execution of a note program, and wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing program code so that the first and second windows are compliant with the note program.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the note resulted from execution of a note program, and wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing program code so that the first window is compliant with the note program and so that the second window is noncompliant with the note program.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing immediate feedback that the second window will not accept the note.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first window is active, wherein the second window is inactive, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note from the active window to the inactive window without making the inactive window active.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of moving the note from the active window to the inactive window comprises the step of moving the note to the inactive window so that the note is inactive after the note is moved to the inactive window, and so that the note remains inactive until the note is made active.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first window is inactive, wherein the second window is inactive, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note from the first inactive window to the second inactive window without making the second inactive window active.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of moving the note from the first inactive window to the second inactive window comprises the step of moving the note to the second inactive window so that the note remains inactive after the note is moved to the second inactive window and until the note is made active, and so that the second inactive window remains inactive after the note is attached to the second inactive window and until the second inactive window is made active.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first window is inactive, wherein the second window is active, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note from the inactive window to the active window without making the inactive window active.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of moving the note from the inactive window to the active window comprises the step of moving the note to the active window so that the note becomes active after the note is moved to the active window, and so that the active window remains active after the note is attached to the active window and until the active window is made inactive.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the note is a first note, wherein the first or second window has a second note, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the first note so that the second note is changed to permit contents under the second note to be viewed.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note across a boundary of the first or second window.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of moving the note across a boundary comprises the step of attaching the note to an object in the second window so that the note moves with the object.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of moving the note across a boundary comprises the step of dragging the note from the first window directly to the second window.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of executing program code in the data processing system comprises the step of executing program code so that first and second notes are displayed, so that the first note is attached to the first window, so that the second note is attached to the second window, and so that at least some information concerning the first and second notes is added to an index.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of moving the note across a boundary comprises the step of dragging the note from the first window directly to the second window.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of executing program code in the data processing system comprises the step of executing program code so that first and second notes are displayed, so that the first note is attached to the first window, so that the second note is attached to the second window, and so that at least some information concerning the first and second notes is added to an index.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of dragging the first note from the first window directly to the second window.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of dragging the note from the first window directly to the second window.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of attaching the note to an object in the second window so that the note moves with the object.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of attaching the note to an object in the second window so that the note moves with the object.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the seep of displaying the note so that the note overlaps a boundary of the second window.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of executing the first program comprises the step of executing a first operating system, and the step of executing the second program comprises the step of executing a second operating system.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of executing the first program comprises the step of executing a first application program, and the step of executing the second program comprises the step of executing a second application program.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of executing the first program comprises the step of executing an application program, and the step of executing the second program comprises the step of executing an operating system.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of executing the first program comprises the step of executing an operating system, and the step of executing the second program comprises the step of executing an application program.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the note resulted from execution of a note program, wherein the step of executing a first program comprises the step of executing a first program which is compliant with the note program, and wherein the step of executing a second program comprises the step of executing a second program which is compliant with the note program.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the note resulted from execution of a note program, wherein the step of executing a first program comprises the step of executing a first program which is compliant with the note program, and wherein the step of executing a second program comprises the step of executing a second program which is noncompliant with the note program.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of providing immediate feedback that the second program will not accept the note.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the first region is active, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note from the active region to the inactive region without making the inactive region active.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of moving the note from the active region to the inactive region comprises the step of moving the note to the inactive region so that the note is inactive after the note is moved to the inactive region, and so that the note remains inactive until the note is made active.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region without making the second inactive region active.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of moving the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region comprises the step of moving the note to the second inactive region so that the note remains inactive after the note is moved to the second inactive region and until the note is made active, and so that the second inactive region remains inactive after the note is attached to the second inactive region and until the second inactive region is made active.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein the second region is active, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note from the inactive region to the active region without making the inactive region active.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of moving the note from the inactive region to the active region comprises the step of moving the note to the active region so that the note becomes active after the note is moved to the active region, and so that the active region remains active after the note is attached to the active region and until the active region is made inactive.

39. The method of claim 25 wherein the note is a first note, wherein the first or second region has a second note, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the first note so that the second note is changed to permit contents under the second note to be viewed.

40. The method of claim 25 wherein one of the first and second regions has a boundary, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the note across the boundary.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of moving the note across the boundary comprises the step of attaching the note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of moving the note across the boundary comprises the step of dragging the note from the first region directly to the second region.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of executing a first program in the data processing system comprises the step of executing a first program so that a first note is attached to the first region, wherein the step of executing a second program in the data processing system comprises the step of executing a second program so that the second note is attached to the second region, and further comprising the step of adding at least some information concerning the first and second notes to an index.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the step of moving the note across the boundary comprises the step of dragging the note from the first region directly to the second region.

45. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of executing a first program in the data processing system comprises the step of executing a first program so that a first note is attached to the first region, wherein the step of executing a second program in the data processing system comprises the step of executing a second program so that the second note is attached to the second region, and further comprising the step of adding at least some information concerning the first and second notes to an index.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of dragging the first note from the first region directly to the second region.

47. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of dragging the note from the first region directly to the second region.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of attaching a note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

49. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of attaching a note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

50. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of displaying the note so that the note overlaps a boundary of the second region.

25. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing a first program in the data processing system, wherein a first region is displayed in response to execution of the first program, and wherein the first region has a note;

executing a second program in the data processing system, wherein a second region is displayed in response to execution of the second program, and wherein the first and second programs are different programs; and

,

moving the note from the first region directly to the second region so that the note is moved from the first region to the second region without storing the note in an intermediate storage location.

51. A method of dispensing notes from a note dispenser, the method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

moving an indicator of the data processing system to the note dispenser;

grabbing a first note from the note dispenser by use of the indicator;

moving the first note to a location by use of the indicator;

moving the indicator of the data processing system to the note dispenser;

grabbing a second note from the note dispenser by use of the indicator; and

,

moving the second note to a location by use of the indicator.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the note dispenser is displayed in a title bar, wherein the note dispenser has a note dispensing area, and wherein each of the steps of moving an indicator of the data processing system to the note dispenser comprises the step of moving an indicator of the data processing system to the note dispensing area.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the note dispenser has a note dispensing area, and wherein each of the steps of moving an indicator of the data processing system to the note dispenser comprises the step of moving an indicator of the data processing system to the note dispensing area.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the note dispenser has a note dispenser move area, and wherein the method comprises the further step of repositioning the note dispenser by use of the note dispenser move area of the note dispenser.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the note dispenser has an options area, and wherein the method comprises the further step of displaying options by use of the options area.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the note dispenser has a note dispenser move area, and wherein the method comprises the further step of repositioning the note dispenser by use of the note dispenser move area of the note dispenser.

57. The method of claim 51 wherein the step of moving a second note comprises the step of moving the second note so that the first note is changed to permit contents under the first note to be viewed.

58. The method of claim 51 further comprising the steps of displaying a window and of displaying one of the first and second notes so that it overlaps a boundary of the window.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of attaching one of the first and second notes to an object in the window so that the one of the first and second notes moves with the object.

60. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of attaching one of the first and second notes to an object so that the one of the first and second notes moves with the object.

61. The method of claim 51 wherein the step of moving the first note comprises the step of moving the first note to a first region, wherein the first region is displayed in response to execution of a first program in the data processing system, wherein the step of moving the second note comprises the step of moving the second note to a second region, wherein the second region is displayed in response to execution of a second program in the data processing system, wherein the first and second programs are different programs, and wherein the method comprises the further step of moving the first note from the first region directly to the second region so that the first note is moved from the first region to the second region without storing the first note in an intermediate storage location.

62. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

displaying a window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system; and

,

displaying a note overlapping a boundary of the window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of scrolling the window so that the note overlaps the boundary of the window.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of resizing the window so that the note overlaps the boundary of the window.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of resizing the note so that the note overlaps the boundary of the window.

66. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of changing contents of the window so that the note overlaps the boundary of the window.

67. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a window comprises the step of executing an application program so that the window is displayed, and wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of executing a note program, wherein the application program and the note program are compliant with one another.

68. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of moving the note so that the note overlaps the boundary of the window.

69. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of attaching a note to an object in the window so that the note moves with the object.

70. A method of saving a note comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system to display a note in a region; and

,

automatically saving changes to the note without user instruction.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising the steps of executing an operating system to display the region.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the step of automatically saving changes comprises the step of saving changes to a position of the note.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein the step of automatically saving changes comprises the step of saving changes to a size of the note.

74. The method of claim 70 wherein the step of automatically saving changes comprises the step of saving changes to a content of the note.

75. The method of claim 70 wherein the step of automatically saving changes comprises the step of saving changes to an attribute of the note.

76. The method of claim 70 further comprising the steps of executing an application program to display the region.

77. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that a window is displayed, and so that the window has an object therein; and

,

attaching a note to the object in the window so that the note moves with the object.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein the step of attaching the note comprises the step of creating the note.

79. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a character, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the character so that the note moves with the character.

80. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a word, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the word so that the note moves with the word.

81. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a sentence, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the sentence so that the note moves with the sentence.

82. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a graphic, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the graphic so that the note moves with the graphic.

83. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a cell, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the cell so that the note moves with the cell.

84. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a page, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the page so that the note moves with the page.

85. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a paragraph, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the paragraph so that the note moves with the paragraph.

86. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a video, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the video so that the note moves with the video.

87. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a video frame, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the video frame so that the note moves with the video frame.

88. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a video segment, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the video segment so that the note moves with the video segment.

89. The method of claim 77 wherein the object in the window is a sound, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the note to the sound so that the note moves with the sound.

90. The method of claim 77 wherein the note is a first note, wherein the object in the window is a second note, and wherein the attaching step comprises the step of attaching the first note to the second note so that the first note moves with the second note.

91. A method comprising the steps, performed in a data processing system, of:

displaying a window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system, wherein the window has a first portion and a second portion; and

,

attaching a note to one of the first and second portions of the window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system so that, if the note is attached to the first portion of the window, the note moves with a scrollable section of the window and so that, if the note is attached to the second portion of the window, the note does not move with a scrollable section of the window.

92. A method comprising the steps, performed in a data processing system, of:

displaying a window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system, wherein the window has a scrollable portion; and

,

attaching a note to the window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system so that the note does not move with the scrollable portion of the window.

93. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

displaying a window in response to execution of program code in the data processing system, wherein the window has a portion within which contents, such as contents of a document, are visible; and

,

displaying a note, having a predetermined area, in response to execution of program code in the data processing system so that, if any portion of the predetermined area of the note is within the portion of the window, all of the note is displayed.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of displaying the note so that, as the contents of the window are scrolled, the note moves with the contents as the contents are scrolled, and so that all of the note is displayed even as the note moves.

95. The method of claim 93 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of displaying the note attached to the contents within the window so that, as the window is resized, the note stays attached to the contents.

96. The method of claim 93 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of displaying the note with the window so that, as the note is resized, the note stays with the window.

97. The method of claim 93 wherein the step of displaying a note comprises the step of displaying the note attached to the window so that, as the window is resized, the note stays attached to the window.

98. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that a window is displayed and so that the window has a resizable note; and

,

limiting resizing of the note so that the note cannot be resized off of the window.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of creating a resizable note having a sizing control, and wherein the step of limiting resizing comprises the step of resizing the note by use of the sizing control.

100. The method of claim 98 further comprising the step of providing immediate feedback that resizing is being limited.

101. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so as to display a window having a boundary and so as to display a note in connection with the window; and

,

moving the note across the boundary of the window.

102. A method of dispensing a note from a title bar comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

displaying a window having a title bar in response to execution of program code in the data processing system; and

,

displaying a note symbol in the title bar in response to execution of program code in the data processing system.

103. The method of claim 102 wherein the note symbol is a note dispenser, and the method further comprising the step of activating the note dispenser to dispense a note.

104. The method of claim 103 further comprising the step of adding information to the note.

105. The method of claim 103 wherein the note dispenser has an options area and a note dispensing area.

106. The method of claim 105 further comprises the steps of moving an indicator of the data processing system to the note dispensing area, grabbing a note, and moving the grabbed note by use of the indicator.

107. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that first and second regions are displayed, and so that the first region has a note; and

,

dragging the note from the first region directly to the second region.

108. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing one or more application programs so that the first and second regions are displayed.

109. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing one or more operating systems so that the first and second regions are displayed.

110. The method of claim 107 wherein the note resulted from execution of a note program, and wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing program code so that the first and second regions are compliant with the note program.

111. The method of claim 107 wherein the note resulted from execution of a note program, and wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing program code so that the first region is compliant with the note program and so that the second region is noncompliant with the note program.

112. The method of claim 111 further comprising the step of providing immediate feedback that the second region will not accept the note.

113. The method of claim 107 wherein the first region is active, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of dragging the note from the active region to the inactive region without making the inactive region active.

114. The method of claim 113 wherein the step of dragging the note from the active region to the inactive region comprises the step of dragging the note to the inactive region so that the note is inactive after the note is dragged to the inactive region, and so that the note remains inactive until the note is made active.

115. The method of claim 107 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of dragging the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region without making the second inactive region active.

116. The method of claim 115 wherein the step of dragging the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region comprises the step of dragging the note to the second inactive region so that the note remains inactive after the note is dragged to the second inactive region and until the note is made active, and so that the second inactive region remains inactive after the note is attached to the second inactive region and until the second inactive region is made active.

117. The method of claim 107 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein second region is active, and wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of dragging the note from the inactive region to the active region without making the inactive region active.

118. The method of claim 117 wherein the step of dragging the note from the inactive region to the active region comprises the step of dragging the note to the active region so that the note becomes active after the note is dragged to the active region, and so that the active region remains active after the note is attached to the active region and until the active region is made inactive.

119. The method of claim 107 wherein the note is a first note, wherein the first or second region has a second note, and wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of moving the first note so that the second note is changed to permit contents under the second note to be viewed.

120. The method of claim 107 wherein one of the first and second regions has a boundary, and wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of dragging the note across the boundary.

121. The method of claim 120 wherein the step of dragging the note across the boundary comprises the step of attaching the note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

122. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of dragging the note comprises the step of attaching the note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

123. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of moving the note comprises the step of displaying the note so that the note overlaps a boundary of the second region.

125. The method of claim 124 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the steps of executing a first operating system so that the first region is displayed, and of executing a second operating system so that the second region is displayed.

126. The method of claim 124 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the steps of executing a first application program so that the first region is displayed, and of executing a second application program so that the second region is displayed.

127. The method of claim 124 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the steps of executing an application program so that one of the first and second regions is displayed, and of executing an operating system so that the other of the first and second regions is displayed.

128. The method of claim 124 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing a single application program so that the first and second regions are displayed.

129. The method of claim 124 wherein the step of executing program code comprises the step of executing a single operating system so that the first and second regions are displayed.

132. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a fixed note section of a scrollable portion of the region, and wherein the first state of the note is selected so that the note moves as the scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

133. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a fixed note section of a scrollable portion of the region, and wherein the second state of the note is selected so that the note does not move as the scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

134. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a moving note section of a scrollable portion of the region, and wherein the first state of the note is selected so that the note moves as the scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

135. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a moving note section of a scrollable portion of the region, and wherein the second state of the note is selected so that the note does not move as the scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

136. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a fixed note section of a nonscrollable portion of the region, and wherein the first state of the note is selected so that the note moves as a scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

137. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a fixed note section of a nonscrollable portion of the region, and wherein the second state of the note is selected so that the note does not move as a scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

138. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a moving note section of a nonscrollable portion of the region, and wherein the first state of the note is selected so that the note moves as a scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

139. The method of claim 131 wherein the step of attaching the note to a region comprises the step of attaching the note to a moving note section of a nonscrollable portion of the region, and wherein the second state of the note is selected so that the note does not move as a scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

141. The method of claim 140 wherein the second program is an application program.

142. The method of claim 141 wherein the first region is a desktop and the second region is a window.

143. The method of claim 140 wherein the second program is an operating system.

144. The method of claim 143 wherein the first region is a desktop and the second region is a desktop.

145. The method of claim 140 wherein the first region is active, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the note from the active region to the inactive region without making the inactive region active.

146. The method of claim 145 wherein the step of moving the note from the active region to the inactive region comprises the step of moving the note to the inactive region so that the note is inactive after the note is moved to the inactive region and so that the note remains inactive until the note is made active.

147. The method of claim 140 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region without making the second inactive region active.

148. The method of claim 147 wherein the step of moving the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region comprises the step of moving the note to the second inactive region so that the note remains inactive after the note is moved to the second inactive region and until the note is made active, and so that the second inactive region remains inactive after the note is attached to the second inactive region and until the second inactive region is made active.

149. The method of claim 140 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein the second region is active, and wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the note from the inactive region to the active region without making the inactive region active.

150. The method of claim 149 wherein the step of moving the note from the inactive region to the active region comprises the step of moving the note to the active region so that the note becomes active after the note is moved to the active region, and so that the active region remains active after the note is attached to the active region and until the active region is made inactive.

152. The apparatus claim 151 wherein the region displaying means comprises a first operating system for displaying the first region and a second operating system for displaying the second region.

153. The apparatus claim 151 wherein the region displaying means comprises a first application program for displaying the first region and a second application program for displaying the second region.

154. The apparatus claim 151 wherein the region displaying means comprises an application program for displaying the first region and an operating system for displaying the second region.

155. The apparatus claim 151 wherein the region displaying means comprises an operating system for displaying the first region and an application for displaying the second region.

156. The apparatus claim 151 wherein the note displaying means comprises a note program, wherein the region displaying means comprises a first program for displaying the first region, wherein the first program is compliant with the note program, and wherein the region displaying means comprises a second program for displaying the second region, wherein the second program is compliant with the note program.

157. The apparatus claim 151 wherein the note displaying means comprises a note program, wherein the region displaying means comprises a first program for displaying the first region, wherein the first program is compliant with the note program, and wherein the region displaying means comprises a second program for displaying the second region, wherein the second program is not compliant with the note program.

158. The apparatus of claim 157 further comprising means for providing immediate feedback that the second program will not accept the note.

159. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the first region is active, wherein the second region is inactive, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for moving the note from the active region to the inactive region without making the inactive region active.

160. The apparatus of claim 159 wherein the means for moving the note from the active region to the inactive region comprises means for moving the note to the inactive region so that the note is inactive after the note is moved to the inactive region, and so that the note remains inactive until the note is made active.

161. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the first region inactive, wherein the second region inactive, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for moving the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region without making the second inactive region active.

162. The apparatus of claim 161 wherein the means for moving the note from the first inactive region to the second inactive region comprises means for moving the note to the second inactive region so that the note remains inactive after the note is moved to the second inactive region and until the note is made active, and so that the second inactive region remains inactive after the note is attached to the second inactive region and until the second inactive region is made active.

163. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the first region is inactive, wherein the second region is active, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for moving the note from the inactive region to the active region without making the inactive region active.

164. The apparatus of claim 163 wherein the means for moving the note from the inactive region to the active region comprises means for moving the note to the active region so that the note becomes active after the note is moved to the active region, and so that the active region remains active after the note is attached to the active region and until the active region is made inactive.

165. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the note is a first note, wherein the first or second region has a second note, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for moving the first note so that the second note is changed to permit contents under the second note to be viewed.

166. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein one of the first and second regions has a boundary, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for moving the note across the boundary.

167. The apparatus of claim 166 wherein the means for moving the note across the boundary comprises means for attaching the note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

168. The apparatus of claim 166 wherein the means for moving the note across the boundary comprises means for dragging the note from the first region directly to the second region.

169. The apparatus of claim 166 wherein the note displaying means comprises means for displaying first and second notes, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for attaching the first note to the first region, means for attaching the second note to the second region, and means for adding at least some information concerning the first and second notes to an index.

170. The apparatus of claim 169 wherein the means for moving the note across the boundary comprises means for dragging a note from the first region directly to the second region.

171. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the note displaying means comprises means for displaying first and second notes, and wherein the note moving means comprises means for attaching the first note to the first region, means for attaching the second note to the second region, and means for adding at least some information concerning the first and second notes to an index.

172. The apparatus of claim 171 wherein the note moving means comprises means for dragging the first note from the first region directly to the second region.

173. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the note moving means comprises means for dragging the note from the first region directly to the second region.

174. The apparatus of claim 173 wherein the means for dragging the note comprises means for attaching a note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

175. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the note moving means comprises means for attaching a note to an object in the second region so that the note moves with the object.

176. The apparatus of claim 151 wherein the note moving means comprises means for displaying the note so that the note overlaps a boundary of the second region.

124. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that first and second regions are displayed in response to execution of the program code;

attaching a first note to the first region;

attaching a second note to the second region; and

,

adding at least some information concerning the first and second notes to an index.

130. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that first and second notes are displayed; and

,

moving the first note so that the second note is changed to permit contents under the second note to be viewed.

131. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing program code in the data processing system so that a note is created, wherein the note has an option, and wherein the option has first and second states; and

,

attaching the note to a region so that, if the first state of the option is selected, the note moves as a scrollable portion of the region scrolls and so that, if the second state of the option is selected, the note does not move as a scrollable portion of the region scrolls.

140. A method comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of:

executing a first program in the data processing system, wherein the first program is an operating system, and wherein a first region is displayed in response to execution of the first program;

executing a second program in the data processing system, wherein a second region is displayed in response to execution of the second program, and wherein the first and second programs are different programs; and

,

executing a third program in the data processing system to attach a note to one of the first and second regions, wherein the third program is compliant with the first and second programs, and wherein the third program is not a part of the first and second programs.

151. An apparatus comprising:

region displaying means for displaying first and second regions;

note displaying means for displaying a note at the first region; and

,

note moving means for moving the note from the first region directly to the second region so that the note is moved from the first region to the second region without storing the note in an intermediate storage location.