Method and apparatus for improved manipulation of data between an application program and the files system on a computer-controlled display system

• US 5,598,524 A
• Filed: 03/03/1993
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Evans, David L., Stern, Mark L., Johnston, Robert G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US08/025,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/157, 395/159, 395/164, 395/600, 395/650, 395/700, 345/118
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allowing selecting within a window on a computer system display within a first application program and moving that item to a second position on a display controlled by a file system manager. A file is created by the file system manager which is representative of the discrete data item selected and dragged. A representation of the data is provided on the computer system display, such as an icon specified by the application program from which the data originated and identifying file name.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating data between a first application program and a file system of a computer-controlled display system comprising the following steps:

a. a user selecting an item in a first window, said first window under control of a first application program;

b. said user dragging said item to a second window, said second window under control of a file system manager of said computer controlled display system;

c. said user deselecting said item; and

d. said file system manager automatically creating a file having a type indicated by said item said file containing first data which is received from said first application program and contains content represented by said item.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data comprises text information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data comprises graphic information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data comprises sound information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data comprises video information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said fast data comprises numeric information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein an icon is associated with said file which is a representation of said first data contained in said file.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said icon associated with said file is received from said first application program.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said icon associated with said file is determined based upon the type of data received from said first application program and a default icon for said type of data.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said file has a filename according to the type of data of said first data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said filename is specified by said first application program.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

a. said user selecting said icon and dragging said icon into a third window, said third window under control of a second application program;

b. said user deselecting said icon while said icon is in said third window; and

c. said third application program receiving said first data from said file system manager and inserting said first data into a second data represented in the third window.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data comprises a plurality of representations of data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said storing step of said first file comprises storing said first data in said plurality of representations.

15. An apparatus for manipulating data between a first application program and a file system of a computer-controlled display system comprising;

a. means for a user selecting an item in a first window, said first window under control of the first application program;

b. means for said user dragging said item into a second window, said second window under control of a file system manager of said computer controlled display system;

c. means for said user deselecting said item; and

d. means for said file system manager automatically creating a file having at type indicated by said item, said file containing first data which is received from said first application program and contains content represented by said item.

16. A system for manipulating data between a first application program and a file system manager of a computer controlled display system comprising:

a first window on a display of the computer controlled display system, said first window under the control of the first application program, said first window displaying a representation of an item;

a second window on the display of the computer controlled display system, said second window under the control of the file system manager;

a cursor control means coupled to the computer controlled display system and operable by a user, said user selecting the item, dragging the item to the second window and deselecting the item using the cursor control means;

upon deselection of the item in the second window, said file system manager creating a file having a type indicated by the item, said file containing data received from the first application program.

17. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein an icon is associated with said file which is a representation of said data contained in said file, said icon received from the first application program.

18. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein an icon associated with said file is determined based upon the type of data received from said first application program and a default icon for said type of data.

19. The system as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

an icon representative of the file created in the second window;

a third window under control of a second application program;

said user, using the cursor control device, dragging said icon into the third window and deselecting said icon while said icon is in said third window; and

said third application program receiving said data from said file system manager and inserting said data into a second data represented in the third window.