Rich drag drop user interface

• US 20070016872A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hoefnagels, Stephan, Cummins, Charles, De Vorchik, David, Van Dok, Cornelis, McKee, Timothy, Beam, Tyler
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

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:

(a) receiving first user input to a graphical user interface;

(b) detecting that the first user input represents a dragging of a first object to a second object;

(c) in response to step (b), providing an indication to the user as to a first action that will be taken in response to a second user input representing a dropping of the first object onto the second object.

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

(d) detecting that a third user input represents a selecting of the first object in together with at least a third object; and

in response to step (d), displaying a textual number representing a quantity of the objects that are selected.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the textual number is displayed such that the textual number moves with movement of a cursor.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication is displayed such that the indication moves with movement of a cursor.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication is displayed such that the indication does not move with movement of a cursor.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication is a different graphical icon depending upon what the first action is.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first action is a moving of a file system location of the first object.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first action is a copying of the first object.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first action is an adding of a reference to the first object in the second object.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first action is a modifying, adding, or removing of at least one property of the first object to meet at least one criterion defined by the second object.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication includes a textual description of the action.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first action depends upon a type of the second object.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication is not presented until the first object is dragged to the second object.

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

responsive to an object being dragged to a persisted auto-list in a graphical user interface, displaying an indication representing an action to modify, add, or remove at least one property associated with the object; and

responsive to the object being dropped onto the persisted auto-list after the step of displaying, causing the action to be performed.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the object is an item.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the object is a folder and the action is to modify, add, or remove at least one property of an object contained in the folder.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the persisted auto-list has a scope that does not include the object, and where the action is to copy the object into the scope and to modify, add, or remove at least one property of the copy of the object.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the action results in properties of the object conforming to at least one criterion defined by the persisted auto-list.

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

detecting a dragging of a first displayed object to a second displayed object; and

in response the step of detecting, displaying a plurality of icons simultaneously, each icon representing a different one of a plurality of actions that will be taken in response to a dropping of the first object onto the second object.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of actions includes an action to affect a property of the first object and an action to make a copy of the first object.