Method for reallocating table formats in real-time

• US 20060150078A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Paul, Brookler, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention improve upon existing auto formatting functions for tables presented in a graphical user interface by providing an improved mechanism for changing table columns in real-time. One embodiment of the invention incorporates a callback or module in a program implementing the mechanism for changing table columns in real-time that intercepts a table column resize event and automatically resizes the other columns in the table. In resizing the table columns the module can employ various approaches. For instance, during a resize event the module may calculate the amount of space around each word in each column and readjust the amount of space around the text in order to keep the columns a size that has substantially equivalent white space around each of the respective column entries. Another strategy the module may employ is to adjust the columns to comprise an approximately equivalent width ratio as the table is made wider or narrower. The system may utilize these and other resizing approaches to arrive at a desired result. In addition, columns may be designated as frozen in which case they are not altered while the other columns are altered. Columns may alternatively be set to unfrozen to allow the columns to resize along with other columns using the methods of one or more embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for reallocating table formats in real-time comprising:

altering a table column of a table via a user interface executing on a computing device interacted with by a user;

intercepting a table column event generated with a module presenting said table via said user interface wherein said table column event occurs as a result of said altering said table column;

calculating a plurality of new column widths for all columns of said table based on all column contents using a strategy pattern;

adjusting said plurality of new column widths on said user interface for said table; and

,

repeating said intercepting, said calculating and said adjusting while said user continues said altering said table column.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern comprises accessing a parent family strategy pattern of a parent family.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a first column selected from said table is set to frozen mode and thereafter does not take part in said adjusting said plurality of new column widths step.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a first column selected from said table is set to unfrozen mode and thereafter takes part in said adjusting said plurality of new column widths step.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern comprises determining an amount of white space on each side of said all columns.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said white space on each side of said all columns is equal.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said white space on each side of said all columns is based on each item in each of said all columns.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern comprises determining ratios between said all columns.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern comprises calculating a function based on each item in each of said all columns and said ratios between said all columns.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said strategy pattern comprises use of a minimum and maximum allowable column width parameter.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern uses a table width mode during said calculating a plurality of new column widths wherein said table width mode is selected from the group consisting of VARIABLE and CONSTANT.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern uses a scope during said calculating a plurality of new column widths wherein said scope is selected from the group consisting of table scope and document scope.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said strategy pattern changes in real-time based on a user input.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said user input comprises holding down a keyboard key.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said user input comprises turning a scroll wheel.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said altering comprises updating said table column from a database field.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising altering all tables in a document comprising a particular element in at least one cell of said all tables.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said altering comprises typing in said table column.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said altering comprises deleting text from said table column.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said altering comprises dragging said table column.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said altering comprises pasting an object into said table column.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said altering comprises deleting an object from said table column.

23. An apparatus for reallocating table formats in real-time comprising:

means for altering a table column of a table via a user interface executing on a computing device interacted with by a user;

means for intercepting a table column event generated with a module presenting said table via said user interface wherein said table column event occurs as a result of said means for altering said table column;

means for calculating a plurality of new column widths for all columns of said table based on all column contents using a strategy pattern;

means for adjusting said plurality of new column widths on said user interface for said table; and

,

means for repeating said means for intercepting, said means for calculating and said means for adjusting while said user operates said means for altering said table column.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said strategy pattern comprises means for accessing a parent family strategy pattern of a parent family.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for altering comprises means for updating said table column from a database field.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising means for altering all tables in a document comprising a particular element in at least one cell of said all tables.