Edit selection control

• US 7,949,957 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seraphin, Vinod R., Gurney, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitaro; Ryan F
• Application Number:
  US10/335,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,066 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/843, 715/825
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An edit selection control. The edit selection control can include a drop down list box coupled to a list of entries of full textual length; an edit box coupled to the drop down list box within the edit selection control and configured to display a selected one of the entries; and, list management logic coupled to the edit box and programmed to accept through the edit box as an alternative selection to the list of entries, a manually specified entry. Importantly, the edit selection control can have a structure configurable for embedding within a markup language document.

Claims

1. An edit selection control article of manufacture comprising:

a combo box coupled to a list of entries of full textual length;

an edit box coupled to said combo box within the edit selection control and configured to display a selected one of said entries;

and, list management logic executing in memory of a computer coupled to said edit box and programmed to accept through said edit box as an alternative selection to said list of entries, a manually specified entry;

the edit selection control having a structure defined by a dynamic markup language for use in a markup language document;

and, selection transformation logic coupled to said edit box and programmed to transform said selected one of said entries into a hidden value and to return the computed value to a calling application based upon the selected one of the entries.

2. The edit selection control of claim 1, wherein said dynamic markup language comprises dynamic hypertext markup language (DHTML).

3. The edit selection control of claim 1, wherein said edit box is configured to display said selected one of said entries in abbreviated textual length.

4. The edit selection control of claim 1, further comprising keyboard navigation logic for navigating the edit selection control.

5. A method of selecting an entry in an edit selection control, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving focus in the edit selection control;

detecting a user request to drop down a list of entries in the edit selection control;

responsive to a user selection of one of said entries, displaying an abbreviated version of said user selection in an editable text field;

permitting manual entry of a selection in said editable text field in lieu of selecting one of said entries;

transforming said selection into a hidden value;

returning said hidden value to a calling programmatic entity; and

,

adding said manual entry to said list of entries.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of embedding the edit selection control in markup for rendering in a Web browser.

7. A non-transitory machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for selecting an entry in an edit selection control, said computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving focus in the edit selection control;

detecting a user request to drop down a list of entries in the edit selection control;

responsive to a user selection of one of said entries, displaying an abbreviated version of said user selection in an editable text field;

permitting manual entry of a selection in said editable text field in lieu of selecting one of said entries;

transforming said selection into a hidden value;

returning said hidden value to a calling programmatic entity;

and, adding said manual entry to said list of entries.