Method and data processing system for providing an improved graphics design tool
First Claim
1. A method for performing an operation on a graphic object in a display of overlapping graphic objects in a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing a model of a graphic object, wherein said model includes an indication of whether said graphic object is a parent or child of another graphic object;
displaying a plurality of overlapping graphic objects to a user;
detecting a selection by the user of a graphics editing operation to be performed on a graphic object;
detecting a position of a pointer with respect to a display of said plurality of overlapping graphic objects;
displaying to a user a list of overlapping graphic objects which coincide with said pointer position and on which said graphics editing operation can be performed;
detecting a selection by the user of one graphic object of said indicated plurality of overlapping graphic objects as a target graphic object without the user changing said pointer position to make said selection;
performing said graphics editing operation on said target graphic object; and
making said target graphic object visible during performance of the graphics editing operation on said target graphic object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and software tool for performing an operation on a graphic object in a display of overlapping graphic objects in a data processing system are provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting the position of a pointer on the display; displaying to a user an indication of potential target objects of the operation which coincide with the pointer position; detecting a selection of one of the indicated potential target objects as the target object; and performing the operation on the selected object. In the case where the target object is not the outermost layer of the graphic objects on the display, the method may also comprise temporarily making the selected target object visible during performance of the operation on the target object by making the overlying objects transparent.
49 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for performing an operation on a graphic object in a display of overlapping graphic objects in a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a model of a graphic object, wherein said model includes an indication of whether said graphic object is a parent or child of another graphic object; displaying a plurality of overlapping graphic objects to a user; detecting a selection by the user of a graphics editing operation to be performed on a graphic object; detecting a position of a pointer with respect to a display of said plurality of overlapping graphic objects; displaying to a user a list of overlapping graphic objects which coincide with said pointer position and on which said graphics editing operation can be performed; detecting a selection by the user of one graphic object of said indicated plurality of overlapping graphic objects as a target graphic object without the user changing said pointer position to make said selection; performing said graphics editing operation on said target graphic object; and making said target graphic object visible during performance of the graphics editing operation on said target graphic object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A data processing system comprising a processor and a memory having stored thereon a software tool for performing a graphics editing operation on a graphic object in a display of overlapping graphic objects in a data processing system, the software tool being operable to cause control circuitry within said data processing system to:
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store a model of a graphic object, wherein said model includes an indication of whether said graphic object is a parent or child of another graphic object; display a plurality of overlapping graphic objects to a user; detect a selection by the user of a graphics editing operation to be performed on a graphic object; detect a position of a pointer with respect to a display of said plurality of overlapping graphic objects; display to a user a list of overlapping graphic objects which coincide with said pointer position and on which said graphics editing operation can be performed; detect a selection by the user of one graphic object of said indicated plurality of overlapping graphic objects as a target graphic object without the user changing said pointer position to make said selection; perform the graphics manipulation operation on said target graphic object; and make said target graphic object visible during performance of the graphics editing operation on said target graphic object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification