Rich drag drop user interface

• US 20060070007A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McKee, Timothy P., Hoefnagels, Stephan, Van Dok, Cornelis K., Cummins, Charles, Beam, Tyler K., De Vorchik, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

In an electronic file system, preview information is provided to the user during a drag operation of a selected object onto a target object. The information indicates what type(s) of action is to be taken should the selected object be dropped onto the target object. The action(s) to be taken may depend upon the type of the selected object and/or the type of the target object. For example, where the selected object is an item and the target object is a persisted auto-list, the action may include adding, removing, or modifying one or more properties of the selected object to conform to one or more criteria defined by the persisted auto-list. Also, numerical feedback may be provided to the user where multiple objects are selected. For example, where seven objects are selected, the textual number “7” may appear next to the cursor.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

detecting a drag/drop operation of an object onto a persisted auto-list in an electronic file system, wherein the persisted auto-list defines a criterion; and

responsive to detecting the drag/drop operation, either modifying, adding, or removing at least one property associated with the object to conform with the criterion.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the object does not change a location in the electronic file system as a result of detecting the drag/drop operation.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further for determining whether the at least one property can be modified, added, or removed to conform with the criterion.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further for:

determining whether the object is within a scope of the persisted auto-list; and

if the object is not within the scope, then copying the object to a location within the scope, and

wherein the at least one property is an intrinsic property of the copy of the object.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the object is a folder containing a plurality of items, wherein the at least one property is an intrinsic property of each of the plurality of items, and wherein each of the items remain in the folder as a result of the drag/drop operation.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the object is a list referencing a plurality of items, wherein the at least one property is an intrinsic property of each of the plurality of items, and wherein each of the items do not change a location in the electronic file system as a result of detecting the drag/drop operation.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further for displaying, during a drag portion of the drag/drop operation, an indication that the at least one property will be modified, added, or removed.

8. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising conforming a property of a first item in an electronic file system to a criterion of a persisted auto-list responsive to a request to add the first item to the persisted auto-list.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the request is a drop operation in a graphical user interface of the first item onto the persisted auto-list.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the request is a drag/drop operation in a graphical user interface of a second item onto the persisted auto-list, wherein the second item is not within a scope of the persisted auto-list, and wherein the computer-executable instructions are further for copying the second item to create the first item within the scope.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the request is an operation to paste the first item to the persisted auto-list.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further for automatically determining the at least one property from a plurality of properties of the first item.

13. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

responsive to detecting a request to associate a first object with a folder in a graphical user interface, either moving the item into the folder or copying the item into the folder;

responsive to detecting a request to associate a second object with a list in the graphical user interface, adding a shortcut to the second object in the list; and

responsive to detecting a request to associate a third object with a persisted auto-list in the graphical user interface, affecting either a property associated with the third object or a property of a copy of the third object in a manner that depends on a criterion defined by the persisted auto-list.

14. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the third object is outside a scope of the persisted auto-list, wherein the step of affecting further includes copying the third object to generate the copy of the third object, and wherein the copy of the third object is located within the scope of the persisted auto-list.

15. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the first, second, and third objects are each an item.

16. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the first, second, and third objects are each a folder containing an item, and wherein the property is an intrinsic property of the item.

17. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the first, second, and third objects are each a list referencing an item, and wherein the property is an intrinsic property of the item.

18. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the first request is a drop operation of the first object onto the folder, the second request is a drop operation of the second object onto the list, and the third request is a drop operation of the third object onto the persisted auto-list.

19. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the first request is a paste operation of the first object to the folder, the second request is a paste operation of the second object to the list, and the third request is a paste operation of the third object to the persisted auto-list.

20. The computer-executable instructions of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further for:

responsive to a drag operation of the first object over the folder, generating a first icon for display;

responsive to a drag operation of the second object over the list, generating a second icon for display, wherein the second icon is different from the first icon; and

responsive to a drag operation of the third object over the persisted auto-list, generating a third icon for display, wherein the third icon is different from the first and second icons.