Modifying and formatting a chart using pictorially provided chart elements

• US 8,605,090 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Garg, Anupam, Patterson, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A
• Application Number:
  US11/445,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for modifying a chart. Chart elements are provided to a user pictorially. Each picture represents a chart modification. The chart elements are used to modify the formatting of a standard chart according to user preferences. The modified chart document is then displayed to the user including user desired formatting.

Claims

1. A method for formatting a chart, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device comprising a memory storage and a processing unit, a standard chart;

providing, by the computing device, a plurality of chart elements pictorially, wherein each of the plurality of chart elements represents a chart modification for use in changing the standard chart;

modifying, by the computing device, the standard chart with one or more of the plurality of chart elements, wherein modifying the standard chart comprises;

presenting, by the computing device, a first gallery representing a feature of the standard chart for possible modification, wherein the feature of the standard chart for possible modification comprises a horizontal axis title, a vertical axis title, and a depth axis title;

receiving, by the computing device, a user selection of the horizontal axis title for possible modification from the first gallery;

in response to receiving the user selection of the horizontal axis title, presenting, by the computing device, a second gallery comprising a set of options as to how the selected horizontal axis title could be modified, the set of options comprising a first option to not display an axis title, a second option to display the axis title below a horizontal axis and to resize the standard chart, and a third option to overlay the horizontal axis title on the standard chart without resizing the standard chart; and

receiving, by the computing device, a user selection of one of the options from the second gallery to modify the standard chart; and

displaying, by the computing device, the modified chart.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an input for selecting the plurality of chart elements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of chart elements reside in a chart ribbon.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing a plurality of art objects in the chart ribbon for modifying the standard chart by adding and editing drawing elements, text and pictures.

5. A system for modifying a chart, the system comprising:

a memory storage;

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

receive a standard chart;

provide a plurality of chart elements pictorially;

receive input for selecting chart elements;

modify the standard chart based on the received input, wherein the processing unit in modifying the standard chart is operative to;

present a first gallery representing a feature of the standard chart for possible modification, wherein the feature of the standard chart for possible modification comprises a horizontal axis title, a vertical axis title, and a depth axis title;

receive a selection of the horizontal axis title for possible modification from the first gallery;

in response to receiving the selection, present a second gallery comprising a set of options as to how the selected horizontal axis title could be modified, the set of options comprising a first option to not display an axis title, a second option to display the axis title below a horizontal axis and to resize the standard chart, and a third option to overlay the horizontal axis title on the standard chart without resizing the standard chart; and

receive a selection of one of the options from the second gallery to modify the standard chart; and

display the modified chart; and

a display device for displaying the modified chart.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit is associated with a server.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit is associated with a client-side device.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit is further operative to provide a plurality of art objects in a chart ribbon comprising the plurality of chart elements for modifying the standard chart by adding and editing drawing elements, text and pictures.