Graphical method of indicating the position of and performing an operation on a plurality of selected objects in a computer system

• US 5,550,969 A
• Filed: 01/12/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fleming, Stephen S., Torres, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US08/180,514
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 395/159, 395/157, 395/156, 395/155, 345/123-125, 345/121, 345/119, 345/145
• US Class Current: 715/787
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method of indicating the position of multiple selections of objects in a windowed computer user interface. The method includes displaying objects to be selected in a window which includes a scroll bar. When objects in the window are selected, a marker icon is automatically placed in the scroll bar in response to such selection.

Claims

1. A method for enhanced efficiency in the manipulation of objects within a computer system which includes a display screen for displaying a display window, user operable means for manipulating objects on said display screen, a scroll bar associated with said display window for indicating an available display area which exceeds said display window in size and a position indicator within said scroll bar for graphically indicating a relative position within said available display area of a portion of said available display area which is visible within said display window, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

displaying objects to be selected within said display window;

automatically placing a first marker icon in said scroll bar in response to selection of a first object within said display window;

simultaneously displaying said first marker icon and said position indicator within said scroll bar wherein a relative position of said first object within said available display area may be graphically depicted; and

performing an action on said first object in response to dragging of said marker icon to a target object.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of automatically displaying a selection collection icon within said display screen in response to dragging said first marker icon.

3. A system for enhanced efficiency in the manipulation of objects within a computer system which includes a display screen for displaying a display window, user operable means for manipulating objects on said display screen, a scroll bar associated with said display window for indicating an available display area which exceeds said display window in size and a position indicator within said scroll bar for graphically indicating a relative position within said available display area of a portion of said available display area which is visible within said display window, said system comprising:

means for displaying objects to be selected within said display window;

means for automatically placing a first marker icon in said scroll bar in response to selection of a first object within said display window;

means for simultaneously displaying said first marker icon and said position indicator within said scroll bar wherein a relative position of said first object within said available display area may be graphically depicted; and

means for performing an action on said first object in response to dragging of said marker icon to a target object.

4. The system according to claim 3 further including means for automatically displaying a selection collection icon within said display screen in response to dragging said first marker icon.