Method and system for providing improved specification of multiple sort criteria in a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A method for efficiently specifying multiple sort criteria for a graphical user interface control, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a list of all possible sort criteria in a sort order control;
displaying a selection indicator next to each sort criteria in the sort order control;
entering a selection of a sort criteria;
indicating the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator next to the sort criteria; and
placing a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for providing improved controls in a graphical user interface. One feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to assign multiple values to the control. This multi-value field control includes an extension to known controls that allows the user to enter more than one value into the control. After a value has been entered into the multi-value field control, the user can modify or delete the value. Another feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to efficiently specify multiple sort criteria for the control. This sort order control lists all of the possible sort criteria together with a selection indicator next to each sort criteria. When the user selects a sort criteria, the sort order control indicates the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator and places a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria. Another feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to manipulate lists in the control. The list operations that can be performed using the list control include: (1) swapping columns, (2) freezing and unfreezing columns, (3) hiding and showing columns, and (4) finding text in columns.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for efficiently specifying multiple sort criteria for a graphical user interface control, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a list of all possible sort criteria in a sort order control; displaying a selection indicator next to each sort criteria in the sort order control; entering a selection of a sort criteria; indicating the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator next to the sort criteria; and placing a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for efficiently specifying multiple sort criteria for a graphical user interface control, the system comprising:
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a central processing unit for controlling the system; a storage connected to the central processing unit; and a graphical user interface stored in the storage for execution by the central processing unit, the graphical user interface including a sort order control for; displaying a list of all possible sort criteria in the sort order control, displaying a selection indicator next to each sort criteria in the sort order control, entering a selection of a sort criteria, indicating the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator next to the sort criteria, and placing a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria.
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12. A computer program product for use in a computer system, the computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for efficiently specifying multiple sort criteria for a graphical user interface control, the computer readable program code means including; computer readable program code means for displaying a list of all possible sort criteria in a sort order control; computer readable program code means for displaying a selection indicator next to each sort criteria in the sort order control; computer readable program code means for entering a selection of a sort criteria; computer readable program code means for indicating the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator next to the sort criteria; and computer readable program code means for placing a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria.
Specification