Method and system for automatically causing editable text to substantially occupy a text frame

• US 6,256,650 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoten, Matthew Paul, Cedar, Cy Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US09/080,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 707/517, 707/518, 707/519, 707/520, 707/521, 707/526, 707/530, 345/127, 345/128, 345/129, 345/130, 345/131, 345/471, 345/472
• US Class Current: 715/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40

Abstract

A method and system for causing editable text to substantially occupy an associated text frame. The system and method operate in a standard text editing environment of a text editing application program. The height of the editable text is altered, without the need for user interaction, directly in the standard text editing environment.

A fullness ratio is determined, which may be defined as a ratio of the height of the editable text to the height of the text frame. If the fullness ratio is not within a predetermined range of values, the height of the editable text will be altered. An ideal height for the editable text is determined that will cause the fullness ratio to be within the predetermined range of values. The ideal height is a function of the font size of the characters that make up the editable text. So, an ideal font size must be determined, that when applied to the editable text, will cause the fullness ratio to be within the predetermined range of values.

To determine the ideal font size, a theoretical font size is determined. The theoretical font size may be described as a “best guess” at the ideal font size. The theoretical font size is applied to the editable text and the fullness ratio is again determined. If the fullness ratio is not within the predetermined range, another theoretical font size is determined and the method is repeated. When the fullness ratio is determined to be within the predetermined range, the theoretical font size is considered to be the ideal font size. The ideal font size is applied to the editable text, causing the editable text to substantially occupy the text frame.

Claims

1. A computer system for causing editable text to substantially occupy a text frame, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a display device functionally coupled to the CPU, the display device being operative for displaying a text frame and editable text associated with the text frame, the editable text comprising a plurality of characters and having an initial dimension and initial font size;

an input device functionally coupled to the CPU, the input device operable to input the editable text into the text frame; and

the CPU, responsive to the input of the editable text, operable for;

determining a fixed dimension of the text frame,

dynamically calculating an ideal dimension of the editable text, the ideal dimension being within a predetermined range of percentages of the fixed dimension of the text frame, comprising;

determining a theoretical font size for the characters;

changing the initial font size of the characters to the theoretical font size;

determining a theoretical dimension for the editable text after the initial font size of the characters is changed to the theoretical font size;

determining a theoretical fullness ratio;

determining that the theoretical fullness ratio is within the predetermined range of values; and

in response to the theoretical fullness ratio being within the predetermined range of values, using the theoretical dimension as the ideal dimension, and

changing the initial dimension of the editable text to the ideal dimension, so as to cause the editable text to substantially occupy the text frame.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial height;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal height; and

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed height.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial width;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal width; and

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed width.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the initial dimension of the editable text is defined by an initial font size;

wherein the ideal dimension is defined by an ideal font size; and

wherein the CPU changes the initial dimension of the editable text to the ideal dimension by changing the initial font size to the ideal font size.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the the theoretical fullness ratio comprises a ratio of the theoretical dimension of the editable text compared to the fixed dimension of the text frame.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, prior to determining the theoretical font size for the characters, the CPU dynamically calculates the ideal dimension of the editable text by:

determining an initial fullness ratio, the initial fullness ratio being a ratio of the initial dimension of the editable text compared to the fixed dimension of the text frame; and

making an initial determination that the initial fullness ratio is not within a predetermined range of values.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial height;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal eight;

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed height; and

wherein the theoretical dimension comprises a theoretical height.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial width;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal width;

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed width; and

wherein the theoretical dimension comprises a theoretical width.

9. In a computer system operable to execute a text editing application, a method for causing editable text to substantially occupy a text frame, comprising:

receiving editable text for display in association with a text frame, the editable text comprising a character and having an initial dimension;

in response to receipt of the editable text, determining a fixed dimension of the text frame,

in response to determining the fixed dimension of the text frame, dynamically calculating an ideal dimension of the editable text, the ideal dimension being within a predetermined range of percentages of the fixed dimension of the text frame, comprising;

determining an initial fullness ratio;

making an initial determination that the initial fullness ratio is not within the predetermined range of values;

in response to the initial determination, calculating a theoretical font size for the characters;

changing the initial font size of the characters to the theoretical font size;

determining a theoretical dimension for the editable text after the initial font size of the characters is changed to the theoretical font size;

calculating a theoretical fullness ratio;

determining that the theoretical fullness ratio is within the predetermined range of values; and

in response to the theoretical fullness ratio being within the predetermined range of values, using the theoretical dimension as the ideal dimension; and

changing the initial dimension of the editable text to the ideal dimension, so as to cause the editable text to substantially occupy the text frame.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial height;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal height; and

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed height.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial width;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal width; and

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed width.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the initial dimension of the editable text is defined by an initial font size;

wherein the ideal dimension is defined by an ideal font size; and

wherein changing the initial dimension of the editable text to the ideal dimension comprises changing the initial font size to the ideal font size.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 9.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the initial fullness ratio comprises a ratio of the initial dimension of the editable text compared to the fixed dimension of the text frame.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial height;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal height;

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed height; and

wherein the theoretical dimension comprises a theoretical height.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial width;

wherein the ideal dimension comprises an ideal width;

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed width; and

wherein the theoretical dimension comprises a theoretical width.

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 14.

18. In a computer system operable to execute a text editing application, a method for altering editable text in a text editing environment of the text editing application in order to cause the editable text to substantially occupy a text frame associated with the editable text, the editable text having an initial dimension and comprising a character having an initial font size, and the text frame having a fixed dimension, the method comprising:

determining a theoretical font size for the character comprising the editable text;

changing the initial font size of the character to the theoretical font size;

determining a theoretical dimension for the editable text after the initial font size of the character is changed to the theoretical font size;

determining a theoretical fullness ratio, the theoretical fullness ratio being a ratio of the theoretical dimension compared to the fixed dimension of the text frame; and

determining that the theoretical fullness ratio is within the predetermined range of values.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

prior to determining the theoretical font size for the character, determining an initial fullness ratio, the initial fullness ratio being a ratio of the initial dimension of the editable text compared to the fixed dimension of the text frame; and

making an initial determination that the initial fullness ratio is not within a predetermined range of values.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial height;

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed height; and

wherein the theoretical dimension comprises a theoretical height.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the initial dimension comprises an initial width;

wherein the fixed dimension comprises a fixed width; and

wherein the theoretical dimension comprises a theoretical width.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the theoretical font size for the character comprises:

quadratically determining a quadratic font size for the character based on a mathematical square root of the initial fullness ratio; and

using the quadratic font size as the theoretical font size.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the theoretical font size for the character further comprises the steps of:

setting a maximum allowed font size for the character;

setting a minimum allowed font size for the character;

determining that the quadratic font size is not within a range defined by the maximum allowed font size and the minimum allowed font size; and

instead of using the quadratic font size as the theoretical font size, using a halfway font size as the theoretical font size, the halfway font size being substantially halfway between the maximum allowed font size and the minimum allowed font size.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein determining a theoretical font size for the character comprises:

quadratically determining a quadratic font size for the character based on a mathematical square root of the initial fullness ratio;

linearly determining a linear font size for the character based on the initial fullness ratio;

interpolating between the linear font size and the quadratic font size to determine an interpolated font size; and

using the interpolated font size as the theoretical font size.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining the theoretical font size for the character further comprises:

setting a maximum allowed font size for the character;

setting a minimum allowed font size for the character;

determining that the interpolated font size is not within a range defined by the maximum allowed font size and the minimum allowed font size; and

instead of using the interpolated font size as the theoretical font size, using a halfway font size as the theoretical font size, the halfway font size being substantially halfway between the maximum allowed font size and the minimum allowed font size as the theoretical font size.

26. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 18.