Icon transformation system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form;
(b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form;
(c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon;
(d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form;
(e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form;
(f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and
(g) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code.
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Abstract
A method, system and program for transforming one or more icons in an object-oriented, graphical environment. The icon transformations entail the changing of an icon from one state to another using drag and drop techniques. The user drops an input object icon onto the transformer object icon. The transformer object removes the input object from the graphical environment, changes its contents and/or attributes, and places the new output icon on the desktop. Icon transformers convert objects in a one-to-one, many-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many fashion.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19)
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8. A method for converting a data object from a first form to a second form, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for converting a data object from a first form to a second form for execution with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying information including a plurality of icons with at least one transformation icon, said computer program stored on a computer readable medium in a binary digital format directly executable by a processor in a computer system device, comprising:
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(a) cursor selection means for selecting a first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (b) means for positioning the first icon over a transformation icon, wherein said transformation icon is associated with conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (c) means for retrieving attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon; (d) means for determining if said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code operable to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; (e) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for removing said first icon associated with said data object in said first form; (f) means, operable when said attributes of said data object in said first form associated with said first icon match expected attributes associated with said conversion code, for executing said conversion code to convert said data object in said first form to said second form; and (g) means for creating a second icon associated with said data object converted from said first form to said second form by said conversion code. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification