Editing the text of an arbitrary graphic via a hierarchical list

• US 8,510,657 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gilbert, Brent, Shelly, Cynthia C., Pritting, Gary A., St. Amant, Kim Tapia, Kotler, Matthew J., Wolf, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US10/957,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20060070005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,239 Days
• Field of Search: 715/731
• US Class Current: 715/731
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/137 Hierarchical processing, e.g. outlines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating graphical content, comprising:

providing a content entry area for entering textual data;

receiving a first line of text and a second line of text in the content entry area;

receiving one or more formats in addition to the first line of text and the second line of text, wherein the one or more formats comprise at least one of;

a carriage return, an indent, a tab, a bullet, a text formatting, and a line spacing;

in response to receiving the one or more formats, determining a parent/child relationship between the first line of text and the second line of text based on the one or more formats;

providing a layout gallery area for selecting one or more of a plurality of graphical layout definitions to be combined with the first line of text and the second line of text, wherein each of the plurality of graphical layout definitions defines a graphical layout for the graphical content;

receiving a selection of a first graphical layout definition;

providing a drawing canvas area for displaying the graphical content, wherein the drawing canvas area is separate from the content entry area and the layout gallery area;

creating the graphical content by;

combining the first line of text with the first graphical layout definition to generate a first shape,

combining the second line of text with the first graphical layout definition to generate a second shape,

displaying the first shape in the drawing canvas area without displaying the first shape in the content entry area, wherein the first shape at least substantially encapsulates the first line of text,

displaying the second shape in the drawing canvas area without displaying the second shape in the content entry area, wherein the second shape at least substantially encapsulates the second line of text,

displaying a transition between the first shape and the second shape in the drawing canvas area, the transition representing the parent/child relationship between the first line of text and the second line of text; and

substantially simultaneously displaying the first line of text and the second line of text in the content entry area and the first shape and the second shape in the drawing canvas area.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein as the one or more formats are received to the textual data one or more changes are displayed in the graphical content.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the textual data is a hierarchical list.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the textual data is received when a user enters textual data in the content entry area.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4, wherein the textual data is received when the user copies and pastes textual data into the content entry area.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4, wherein the textual data is received when the user types textual data in the content entry area.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4, wherein the textual data is linked to information in another application.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical content is based on the textual data and a default graphical layout definition.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising a style gallery area for selecting one or more of a plurality of graphical style definitions to be combined with the first line of text and the second line of text, wherein each of the plurality of graphical style definitions defines a graphical style for the graphical content.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphical layout definitions comprise one or more categories of diagrams, the one or more categories of diagrams comprising hierarchical diagrams, process diagrams, cycle diagrams, relationship diagrams, and pyramid diagrams.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein a server computer system receives the textual data, and wherein the server computer system automatically creates the graphical content to send to a client computer system.

12. A computer storage device having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

providing a content entry area for entering content;

receiving a first portion of content and a second portion of content in the content entry area;

receiving one or more formats in addition to the first portion of content and the second portion of content, wherein the one or more formats comprise at least one of;

a carriage return, an indent, a tab, a bullet, a text formatting, and a line spacing;

in response to receiving the one or more formats, determining a relationship between the first portion of content and the second portion of content;

providing a gallery area for selecting one or more of a plurality of graphical definitions to be combined with the first portion of content and the second portion of content, wherein each of the plurality of graphical definitions defines a graphical layout or a style for the graphical content;

receiving a selection of a graphical definition;

providing a drawing canvas area for displaying the graphical content, wherein the drawing canvas area is separate from the content entry area and the gallery area;

creating the graphical content by;

combining the first portion of content with the graphical definition to generate a first shape,

combining the second portion of content with the graphical definition to generate a second shape,

displaying the first shape in the drawing canvas area without displaying the first shape in the content entry area, wherein the first shape at least substantially encapsulates the first portion of content,

displaying the second shape in the drawing canvas area without displaying the second shape in the content entry area, wherein the second shape at least substantially encapsulates the second portion of content,

displaying a transition between the first shape and the second shape in the drawing canvas area, the transition representing the relationship between the first portion of content and the second portion of content; and

substantially simultaneously displaying the first portion of content and the second portion of content in the content entry area and the graphical content in the drawing canvas area.

13. The computer storage device according to claim 12, wherein the content includes one of textual data, audio data, and visual data.

14. The computer storage device according to claim 13, wherein as the one or more formats are received to the textual data one or more changes are displayed in the graphical content.

15. The computer storage device according to claim 13, wherein the textual data is a hierarchical list.

16. The computer storage device according to claim 12, wherein the content is received when a user enters content in the content entry area.

17. The computer storage device according to claim 16, wherein the content is received when the user copies and pastes content into the content entry area.

18. The computer storage device according to claim 16, wherein the content is received when the user types content in the content entry area.

19. The computer storage device according to claim 16, wherein the content is linked to information in another application.

20. The computer storage device according to claim 12, wherein the graphical content is based on the content and a default graphical definition.

21. The computer storage device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of graphical definitions comprises one or more graphical layout definitions and one or more graphical style definitions.

22. The computer storage device according to claim 21, wherein the one or more graphical layout definitions comprise one or more categories of diagrams, wherein the one or more categories of diagrams comprise hierarchical diagrams, process diagrams, cycle diagrams, relationship diagrams, and pyramid diagrams.

23. The computer storage device according to claim 12, wherein a server computer system receives the content, and wherein the server computer system automatically creates the graphical content to send to a client computer system.

24. A system for editing graphical content, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and containing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method, comprising;

receiving content in a content entry area, wherein the content includes a plurality of portions of the content;

receiving one or more formats to the content, wherein the one or more formats comprise at least one of;

a carriage return, an indent, a tab, a bullet, a text formatting, and a line spacing;

in response to receiving the one or more formats, determining relationships between the plurality of portions of the content based on the one or more formats;

displaying the graphical content in a drawing canvas area, wherein the drawing canvas area is a separate area from the content entry area, the displaying comprising;

combining a first portion of content with a first graphical definition selected from a gallery area to display a first shape, the first shape at least substantially encapsulating the first portion of content, the first shape displayed in the drawing canvas area without being displayed in the content entry area;

combining a second portion of content with the first graphical definition to display a second shape, the second shape at least substantially encapsulating the second portion of content, the second shape displayed in the drawing canvas area without being displayed in the content entry area;

displaying a transition between the first shape and the second shape, the transition representing a relationship between the first portion of content and the second portion of content;

receiving one or more changes to the graphical content in the drawing canvas area, wherein the one or more changes include modifying at least one of;

the first shape, the second shape, and the transition;

creating corresponding modifications to at least one of;

the first portion of content, the second portion of content, and the one or more formats in the content entry area as the one or more changes are received to the graphical content; and

substantially simultaneously displaying the at least one modified first shape, second shape, or transition of the graphical content in the drawing canvas area and the at least one correspondingly modified first portion of content, second portion of content, or one or more formats in the content entry area.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the one or more changes are to the first portion of content or the second portion of content in the content entry area.

26. The system according to claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second graphical definition;

displaying modified graphical content in the drawing canvas area, comprising;

combining the first portion of content with the second graphical definition to display a third shape, the third shape at least substantially encapsulating the first portion of content, the third shape displayed in the drawing canvas area without being displayed in the content entry area;

combining the second portion of content with the second graphical definition to display a fourth shape, the fourth shape at least substantially encapsulating the second portion of content, the fourth shape displayed in the drawing canvas area without being displayed in the content entry area;

displaying the transition between the third shape and the fourth shape, the transition representing the relationship between the first portion of content and the second portion of content.

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein the one or more changes are made directly to the transition of the graphical content in the drawing canvas area and the corresponding modifications are to the one or more formats in the content entry area.

28. A computer storage device having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

displaying graphical content in a drawing canvas area, wherein the graphical content is a combination of content received in a content entry area and a selection of a first graphical definition from a plurality of graphical definitions provided in a gallery area, and wherein the drawing canvas area is separate from the content entry area and the gallery area;

receiving one or more changes to the content in the content entry area;

wherein the one or more changes include adding or removing one or more formats to the content;

wherein the one or more formats to the content comprise at least one of;

a carriage return, an indent, a tab, a bullet, a text formatting, and a line spacing; and

wherein the one or more formats to the content determine relationships within the content;

modifying one or more graphical elements of a plurality of graphical elements of the graphical content in the drawing canvas area as the one or more changes to the content are received in the content entry area, wherein the plurality of graphical elements of the graphical content comprise a plurality of shapes, wherein each shape at least substantially encapsulates at least one portion of the content, wherein each shape is displayed in the drawing canvas area without being displayed in the content entry area, wherein relationships between the plurality of shapes correspond to the relationships within the content determined by the one or more formats, and wherein the changes to the one or more formats cause corresponding changes in the relationships between the plurality of shapes; and

substantially simultaneously displaying the one or more changes to the content in the content entry area and the modified one or more graphical elements in the drawing canvas area.

29. The computer storage device according to claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second graphical definition, wherein new graphical content is a combination of the second graphical definition and the content.

30. The computer storage device according to claim 28, wherein the one or more changes are directly to the plurality of graphical elements of the graphical content in the drawing canvas and corresponding changes are substantially simultaneously reproduced in the content in the content entry area.

31. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and one or more user interface selection devices, a computer-implemented method of providing graphical content, comprising:

presenting a definition gallery for selecting from a plurality of graphical definitions, wherein each of the plurality graphical definitions defines a layout or a style for the graphical content;

receiving a selection of a graphical definition, wherein the selected graphical definition comprises any one of;

a process diagram, a cycle diagram, a relationship diagram, or a pyramid diagram;

presenting a content entry area, wherein the content entry area is a separate area from the definition gallery;

presenting a drawing canvas, wherein the drawing canvas is separate from the definition gallery and the content entry area;

receiving textual content in the content entry area, wherein the textual content comprises at least a first portion of content and a second portion of content;

receiving one or more formats in addition to the textual content, wherein the one or more formats determine a relationship between the first portion of content and the second portion of content;

substantially simultaneously displaying graphical content in the drawing canvas, comprising;

combining the first portion of content with the selected graphical definition to display a first shape, the first shape at least substantially encapsulating the first portion of content, the first shape displayed in the drawing canvas without being displayed in the content entry area;

combining the second portion of content with the selected graphical definition to display a second shape, the second shape at least substantially encapsulating the second portion of content, the second shape displayed in the drawing canvas without being displayed in the content entry area;

displaying a transition between the first shape and the second shape on the drawing canvas, the transition representing the relationship between the first portion of content and the second portion of content; and

receiving a change to the graphical content in the drawing canvas; and

in response to receiving the change, making a corresponding change to at least one of the textual content and the one or more formats displayed in the content entry area as the change is received in the drawing canvas.

32. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the textual content is a hierarchical list.

33. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the textual content is received when a user copies and pastes textual content into the content entry area.

34. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the textual content is received when a user types content in the content entry area.

35. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the textual content is linked to information in another application.

36. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein some of the textual content in the content entry area is not displayed in the drawing canvas.

37. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the graphical content is based on the textual content and a default graphical definition.

38. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the graphical content is automatically created in the drawing canvas as the textual content is received in the content entry area.

39. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein the textual content is automatically created in the content entry area as graphical content is received in the drawing canvas.

40. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, further comprising a live preview of the graphical content before presenting the graphical content in the drawing canvas.

41. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, comprising:

receiving one or more changes to the graphical content; and

automatically modifying one or more graphical elements of the graphical content according to the one or more changes as the one or more changes are received.

42. The computer-implemented method according to claim 41, wherein the one or more changes to the graphical content cause one or more corresponding changes to the textual content in the content entry area.

43. The computer-implemented method according to claim 41, wherein the one or more changes to the graphical content correspond to a new selection from the plurality of graphical definitions, wherein new graphical content is a combination of the new selection of graphical definition and the textual content.

44. The computer-implemented method according to claim 41, wherein the one or more changes to the graphical content are made in the drawing canvas and are reproduced in the textual content in the content entry area.

45. The computer-implemented method according to claim 31, wherein a server computer system receives the textual content, and wherein the server computer system automatically creates the graphical content to send to a client computer system.