Graphical method for creating an object

• US 5,392,389 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fleming, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, BA
• Application Number:
  US08/268,888
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/156, 395/157-161
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A method and system for creating objects in a computer system having a display screen and a device for manipulating objects on the screen. The method includes displaying an object dispenser icon on the screen and a dispensable object mini-icon on the object dispenser icon. Objects may be created by dragging dispensable object icons out of the object dispenser icon, or by opening the dispensable object mini-icon. The objects dispensed by the dispenser may be modified by opening the object dispenser icon or by "dropping" a modified object icon on the dispenser icon. The dispenser icon may be moved about the display screen.

Claims

1. A graphical method of creating an object in a computer system having a display screen and means for manipulating objects on said display screen, which comprises the steps of:

displaying an object dispenser icon on said screen;

dropping a dispensable object icon representative of a single identified object on said object dispenser icon;

displaying a dispensable object mini-icon on said object dispenser icon;

dragging said dispensable object mini-icon to another location on said display screen;

automatically replacing said dragged dispensable object mini-icon with a dispensable object icon in response to dropping of said dragged dispensable object mini-icon; and

displaying said dispensable object mini-icon on said object dispenser icon in response to dropping of said dragged dispensable mini-icon wherein multiple copies of said dispensable object icon may be graphically created.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of:

opening said dispensable object icon; and

automatically displaying a window having contents represented by said dispensable object icon.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, including the steps of:

modifying the contents of said window represented by said dispensable object icon.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of:

opening said object dispenser icon;

automatically displaying a window represented by said dispensable object mini-icon; and

,

revising the object represented by said dispensable object mini-icon.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, including the steps of:

closing said window.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, including the steps of:

dispensing a dispensable object icon from said object dispenser, said dispensable object icon representing the revised object.