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Apparatus, methods, programming for automatically laying out documents

  • US 6,826,727 B1
  • Filed: 11/24/1999
  • Issued: 11/30/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computerized method of laying out a document containing a combination of text and shape elements, said method comprising:

  • providing a user interface with controls for enabling a user to;

    place a sequence box, which has a sequencing axis, in the document;

    cause one or more shape elements to be located in the sequence box;

    cause a shape element, including one in the sequence box having at least one text or shape element as contents, to have a minimize property in at least one dimension; and

    cause a shape element, including one in the sequence box, to have a maximize property in at least one dimension; and

    performing an automatic layout process in which elements of the document are laid out onto a 2-dimensional area in which each such element is given a precise position and size, including;

    arranging shape elements, if any, placed within the sequence box in a sequence along the sequence box'"'"'s sequencing axis;

    minimizing the size given to any shape element which has the minimize property in a given dimension, including any shape element within the sequence box, by making the element as small as its contents, if any, will allow in the given dimension, over a given length range; and

    maximizing the size given to any shape element which has the maximize property in a given dimension by making the element expand to encompass space available in the given dimension, over a given length range, said maximizing including, if the maximized shape element is within the sequence box, expanding it to encompass space available within the sequence box.

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