Method and apparatus in a data processing system for list ordering with multiple selection

• US 7,117,451 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company, LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sielken, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MYLINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/864,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 345/766, 345/739, 345/783, 345/823, 345/826, 345/582, 715/530, 715/788, 715/845, 707/7
• US Class Current: 715/788
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for ordering multiple elements within a set of elements in a list in a data processing system. The set of elements are presented in a list format in a graphical user interface. The present invention waits for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the first user input, monitoring is performed for a second user input indicating a movement of the selected elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the second user input, the selected elements are automatically reordered within the set of elements based on the user input. In this manner, the elements may be manipulated within the list using a single user input rather that requiring a user input to manipulate each element individually.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for ordering elements included within a list, the method comprising:

presenting the elements in a list format in a first order in a graphical user interface;

receiving a first user input selecting a set of the elements from the list;

responsive to detecting the first user input, monitoring for a second user input, indicating a movement of the set of elements within the list; and

responsive to detecting the second user input, automatically reordering the elements in the list including;

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of contiguous elements, automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements together as one unit as if said set were a single list element to create a modified list of elements in a second order, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously; and

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of noncontiguous elements, automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements as one unit, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously, wherein each element in the set of elements has a relative order and spacing to another element in the set of elements, and wherein the relative order and spacing are preserved.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved in a first direction within the list by a selected number of locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved in a second direction within the list by a selected number of locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved to a first end of the list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved to a second end of the list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input is received by a selection of a control associated with the set of elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the control is a navigation button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input includes an identification of a direction in which the set of elements are to be moved and wherein the automatically reordering step comprises:

determining whether the set of elements can be moved in the direction identified by the second user input; and

responsive to a determination that the set of elements can be moved in the direction, moving the set of elements in the direction.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the list in a window.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is received from a user selection of a control displayed with the list.

11. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communication unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory include, a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to present elements included within a list in a list format in a first order in a graphical user interface;

receive a first user input selecting a set of elements from the list;

monitor for a second user input, indicating a movement of the set of elements in the list in response to detecting the first user input; and

automatically reordering the elements in the list including;

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of contiguous elements, automatically reorder the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements together as one unit as if said set were a single list element to create a modified list of elements in a second order, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously; and

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of non-contiguous elements, automatically reorder the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements as one unit, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously, wherein each element in the set of elements has a relative order and spacing to another element in die set of elements, and wherein the relative order and spacing are preserved.

12. A data processing system for ordering elements included within a list, the data processing system comprising:

presenting means for presenting the elements in a, list format in a first order in a graphical user interface;

receiving means for receiving a first user input selecting a set of the elements from the list;

monitoring means, responsive to detecting the first user input, for monitoring for a second user input, indicating a movement of the set of elements within the list; and

reordering means, responsive to detecting the second user input, for automatically reordering the elements in the list including;

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of contiguous elements, reordering means for automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements together as one unit as if said set were a single list element to create a modified list of elements in a second order; and

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of non-contiguous elements, reordering automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements as one unit, said sat of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously by moving, within the list, the set of elements together as one unit as if said set were a single list element to create a modified list of elements in a second orders said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously, wherein each element in the set of elements has a relative order and spacing to another element in the set of elements, and wherein the relative order and spacing are preserved.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved in a first direction within the list by a selected number of locations.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved in a second direction within the list by a selected number of locations.

15. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved a first end of the list.

16. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved to a second end of the list.

17. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the second user input is received by a selection of a control associated with the set of elements.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the control is a navigation button.

19. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the second user input includes an identification of a direction in which the set of elements are to be moved and wherein the automatically reordering means comprises:

first means for determining whether the set of elements can be moved in the direction identified by the second user input; and

second means, responsive to a determination that the set of elements can be moved in the direction, for moving the set of elements in the direction.

20. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying means for displaying the list in a window.

21. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the user input is received from a user selection of a control displayed with the list.

22. A computer recordable medium comprising a computer program product for ordering elements included within a list, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for presenting the elements in a list format in a first order in a graphical user interface;

second instructions for receiving a first user input selecting the set of elements from the list;

third instructions, responsive to detecting the first user input, for monitoring for a second user input indicating a movement of the set of elements; and

fourth instructions, responsive to detecting the second user input, for automatically reordering the elements in the list including;

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of contiguous elements, instructions for automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements together as one unit as if said set were a single list element to create a modified list of elements in a second order, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously; and

when the set of elements comprises a plurality of non-contiguous elements, instructions for automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements as one unit, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously, wherein each element in the set of elements has a relative order and spacing to another element in the set of elements, and wherein the relative order and spacing are preserved.

23. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved in a first direction within the list by a selected number of locations.

24. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved in a second direction within the list by a selected number of locations.

25. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the second user input causes she set of elements to be moved to a first end of the list.

26. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the second user input causes the set of elements to be moved to a second end of the list.

27. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the second user input is received by a selection of a control associated with the set of elements.

28. The computer recordable medium of claim 27, wherein the control is a navigation button.

29. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the second user input includes an identification of a direction in which the set of elements are to be moved and wherein the fourth instructions comprises:

first sub-instructions for determining whether the set of elements can be moved in the direction identified by the second user input; and

second sub-instructions, responsive to a determination that the set of elements can be moved in the direction, for moving each element in the set of elements in the direction.

30. The computer recordable medium of claim 22 further comprising:

third instructions for displaying the list in a window.

31. The computer recordable medium of claim 22, wherein the user input is received from a user selection of a control displayed with the list.