Edit selection control

• US 20040128309A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seraphin, Vinod R., Gurney, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An edit selection control. The edit selection control can include a drop down list box coupled to a list of entries of full textual length; an edit box coupled to the drop down list box within the edit selection control and configured to display a selected one of the entries; and, list management logic coupled to the edit box and programmed to accept through the edit box as an alternative selection to the list of entries, a manually specified entry. Importantly, the edit selection control can have a structure configurable for embedding within a markup language document.

Claims

1. An edit selection control article of manufacture comprising:

a drop down list box coupled to a list of entries of full textual length;

an edit box coupled to said drop down list box within the edit selection control and configured to display a selected one of said entries; and

,

list management logic coupled to said edit box and programmed to accept through said edit box as an alternative selection to said list of entries, a manually specified entry;

the edit selection control having a structure defined by a dynamic markup language for use in a markup language document.

2. The edit selection control of claim 1, wherein said dynamic markup language comprises dynamic hypertext markup language (DHTML).

3. The edit selection control of claim 1, wherein said edit box is configured to display said selected one of said entries in abbreviated textual length.

4. The edit selection control of claim 1, further comprising selection transformation logic coupled to said edit box and programmed to transform said selected one of said entries into a hidden value.

5. The edit selection control of claim 1, further comprising keyboard navigation logic for navigating the edit selection control.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of transforming said selection into a hidden value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said returning step comprises the step of returning said hidden value to said calling programmatic entity.

6. A method of selecting an entry in an edit selection control, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving focus in the edit selection control;

detecting a user request to drop down a list of entries in the edit selection control;

responsive to a user selection of one of said entries, displaying said user selection in an editable text field;

permitting manual entry of a selection in said editable text field in lieu of selecting one of said entries;

returning said selection to a calling programmatic entity; and

,

adding said manual entry to said list of entries.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said displaying step comprises the step of displaying an abbreviated version of said user selection in said editable text field.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of embedding the edit selection control in markup for rendering in a Web browser.

11. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for selecting an entry in an edit selection control, said computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving focus in the edit selection control;

detecting a user request to drop down a list of entries in the edit selection control;

responsive to a user selection of one of said entries, displaying said user selection in an editable text field;

permitting manual entry of a selection in said editable text field in lieu of selecting one of said entries;

returning said selection to a calling programmatic entity; and

,

adding said manual entry to said list of entries.

12. The machine readable storage of claim 11, wherein said displaying step comprises the step of displaying an abbreviated version of said user selection in said editable text field.

13. The machine readable storage of claim 11, further comprising the step of adding said manual entry to said list of entries.

14. The machine readable storage of claim 11, further comprising the step of transforming said selection into a hidden value.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 14, wherein said returning step comprises the step of returning said hidden value to said calling programmatic entity.