Establishing and displaying dynamic grids
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for displaying gridlines on a display, comprising:
- identifying a first object and a second object previously placed on the display within a band of a selected object as the selected object is dragged into a location on the display;
determining the placement of a first gridline aligned to the first object and a second gridline aligned to the second object; and
displaying at least one of the first gridline and the second gridline in response to the selected object being dragged to the location, wherein the first gridline and the second gridline are operative to assist a user in repositioning the selected object on the display with equal spacing between the first object, the second object, and the selected object, wherein the first gridline and the second gridline are temporarily stored in a list of dynamic gridlines.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system that assists the user of computer drawing programs to accurately place new objects on a drawing is described. The system establishes and displays dynamic gridlines according to objects already placed on the drawing. As a new object is dragged for placement on the drawing, the system analyzes the areas around the new object for already-placed objects. The system then determines the spacing between the already-placed objects and indicates to the user where the dragged object should be placed to maintain the same spacing as the objects already placed on the drawing.
56 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for displaying gridlines on a display, comprising:
-
identifying a first object and a second object previously placed on the display within a band of a selected object as the selected object is dragged into a location on the display; determining the placement of a first gridline aligned to the first object and a second gridline aligned to the second object; and displaying at least one of the first gridline and the second gridline in response to the selected object being dragged to the location, wherein the first gridline and the second gridline are operative to assist a user in repositioning the selected object on the display with equal spacing between the first object, the second object, and the selected object, wherein the first gridline and the second gridline are temporarily stored in a list of dynamic gridlines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A computer-implemented method to dynamically display a temporary gridline in a drawing, the method comprising:
-
while a selected object is being dragged in the drawing, searching the drawing for a nearest placed object in bands located above, below, and to each side of the selected object; determining a location for a temporary gridline relative to the placed object by adding a default avenue distance to the thickness of the placed object; and displaying the temporary gridline at the determined location when the selected object is dragged within a certain distance of the temporary gridline, where the temporary gridline facilitates a user of the computer system establishing equal spacing between a plurality of objects. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to display gridlines on a display by:
-
identifying a first object and a second object previously placed in a line on the display within bands above, below, and to the sides of an object selected to be dragged into a location on the display; determining the placement of a first gridline and a second gridline relative to the identified objects, where the first gridline is perpendicular to the second gridline and the first gridline intersects the second gridline along the line indicating a position for the selected object, where the second object is positioned along the line halfway between the first object and the intersection; and displaying at least one of the gridlines when the selected object is moved within a predetermined distance of the at least one gridline. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer-implemented method for assisting a drawing program, comprising:
-
moving a selected object on an electronic drawing page; identifying a first object and a second object, where the first object and the second object were previously placed on the electronic drawing page and the first object is presently located a distance below the second object; determining a likely destination of the selected object based on the present locations of the first object and the second object, where the likely destination is located the distance below the first object; and indicating to a user of the drawing program the determined likely destination as the selected object is moved in the electronic drawing page, wherein indicating the determined likely destination comprises; establishing dynamic gridlines for the drawing, wherein the dynamic gridlines are temporarily stored in a list of dynamic gridline; and displaying the dynamic gridlines to the user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A computer-implemented method to dynamically display temporary gridlines in a drawing, the method comprising:
-
while a selected object is being dragged in the drawing, searching the drawing for a nearest placed object in bands located above, below, and to each side of the selected object; determining locations for a first across temporary gridline and a second across temporary gridline, where the first across temporary gridline is a distance D from the placed object and the second across temporary gridline is a distance 2D from the placed object, and where D is computed by adding the width of the placed object and a default avenue distance; determining a location for an along temporary gridline that bisects the placed object and that runs parallel to the band being searched; storing the determined locations in a list for retrieving as the selected object is dragged in the drawing; and as the selected object is being dragged in the drawing, displaying the second across temporary gridline and the along temporary gridline in the drawing. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to establish temporary gridlines in a drawing by:
-
while a selected object is being dragged in the drawing, searching the drawing for a nearest placed object in bands located above, below, and to each side of the selected object; determining locations for a first across temporary gridline and a second across temporary gridline, where the first across temporary gridline is a distance D from the placed object and the second across temporary gridline is a distance 2D from the placed object, and where D is computed by adding the width of the placed object and a default avenue distance; determining a location for an along temporary gridline that bisects the placed object and that runs parallel to the band being searched; storing the determined locations in a list for retrieving as the selected object is dragged in the drawing; and as the selected object is being dragged in the drawing, displaying the second across temporary gridline and the along temporary gridline in the drawing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
-
Specification