Real time preview

• US 20040139401A1
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 8324450 Canada Inc.
• Original Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Woodward, Bruce G., Unbedacht, Kevin C., Johnson, Eric D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/526
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines

Abstract

Computer software applications presently allow the User to preview the impact of some commands on active documents via a small preview window. However, such preview windows are not representative of how the command will impact the entire document. The invention provides a method and system of efficiently and effectively previewing the impact of User commands on the entire document by executing User commands as they are identified. Leaving the menu open, the User is able to identify successive commands until the desired result is reached. Embodiments are described for execution of general commands, text editing commands, relocations of margins or guidelines, and relocations of graphic objects.

Claims

1. A method of providing real time preview of commands in a computer system having means for displaying said commands on a display screen, said method comprising the step of:

responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 in a computer system having means for operating a document editing program and means for storing an active document in a memory medium, wherein said means for displaying commands on a display screen comprises means for displaying menu options in a menu or toolbar option list, and said step of responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command comprises the step of:

responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by performing the step of;

inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 in a computer system having means for displaying at least part of said active document in a document display window, and further responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by performing the step following said step of inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document, of:

refreshing said document display window.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 in a computer system having means for tracking a cursor position and said step of responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document comprises the step of:

responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by said cursor hovering over said identified menu option by performing the step of;

inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said step of responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by said cursor hovering over said identified menu option by inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document comprises the step of:

responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by said cursor hovering over said identified menu option for a predetermined period of time by performing the step of;

inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 in a computer system having means for receiving a command to accept a previewed change and following said step of refreshing said document display window performing the step of:

responding to said command to accept said previewed change by closing said menu or toolbar option list.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 in a computer system having means for operating a document editing program, means for displaying at least part of an active document in a document display window and means for storing said active document in a memory medium, wherein said means for displaying commands on a display screen comprises means for displaying document guidelines or margins, and said step of responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command comprises the steps of:

responding to one of said guidelines or margins being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by;

inserting code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said second location into said memory medium storing said active document; and

removing code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 following said step of removing code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document, comprising the step of:

refreshing said document display window.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 in a computer system having means for providing an Undo stack, comprising the step of:

responding to said grabbed guideline or margin being released by performing the step of;

pushing said code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said second location onto said Undo Stack.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 in a computer system having means for tracking a cursor position and said step of responding to one of said guidelines or margins being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location comprises the step of:

responding to one of said guidelines or margins being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by moving said cursor position.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said steps of removing, inserting and refreshing are performed in response to said cursor position remaining stationary for a predetermined period of time.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1 in a computer system having means for operating a graphic editing program, means for displaying at least part of an active graphic document in a document display window and means for storing said active graphic document in a memory medium, wherein said means for displaying commands on a display screen comprises means for relocating graphic objects in said active graphic document, and said step of responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command comprises the steps of:

responding to one of said graphic objects being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by;

inserting code corresponding to said graphic object at said second location into said memory medium storing said active graphic document; and

removing code corresponding to said graphic object at said first location from said memory medium storing said active graphic document.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 following said step of removing code corresponding to said graphic object at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document, comprising the step of:

refreshing said document display window.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 in a computer system having means for providing an Undo Stack, said method comprising the step of:

responding to said grabbed graphic object being released by pushing said code corresponding to said graphic object in said second location onto said Undo Stack.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 in a computer system having means for tracking a cursor position and said step of responding to one of said graphic objects being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location comprises the step of:

responding to one of said graphic objects being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by moving said cursor position.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said steps of removing, inserting and refreshing are performed in response to said cursor position remaining stationary for a predetermined period of time.

7. A method of providing real time preview of changes to an active document in a computer system having means for operating a document editing program, means for displaying at least part of an active document in a document display window, means for storing said active document in a memory medium, means for selecting menu options from a menu or toolbar option list, means for receiving a command to accept a previewed change, and means for tracking a cursor position, comprising the steps of:

responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by said cursor hovering over said identified menu option for a predetermined period of time and said identified menu option being enabled for real time preview by performing the steps of;

inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document;

refreshing said document display window; and

responding to said command to accept said previewed change by closing said menu or toolbar option list.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, prior to said step of responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by said cursor hovering over said identified menu option, performing the step of:

responding to an existing format code in said memory medium for storing said active document which matches a format code corresponding to said identified menu option by removing said existing format code from said document.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, in a computer system having means for storing commands on an Undo Stack, and further comprising the step of:

responding to said command to accept said previewed change by storing said format code corresponding to said identified menu option on said Undo Stack.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

responding to said cursor being moved off of said menu or toolbar option list while it is open, by performing the steps of;

removing said identified menu option format code from said memory medium storing said active document;

responding to a matching code having been removed from said active document by re-inserting said removed existing format code into said memory medium storing said active document;

refreshing said document display window; and

closing said menu or toolbar option list.

16. A method of providing real time preview of changes to guidelines or margins in a computer system having means for operating a document editing program, means for displaying at least part of an active document in a document display window, means for storing said active document in a memory medium, means for tracking a cursor position, means for displaying guidelines or margins and means for providing an Undo Stack, said method comprising the steps of:

responding to one of said guidelines or margins being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by moving said cursor position, followed by said cursor position remaining stationary for a predetermined period of time, by performing the steps of;

inserting code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said second location into said memory medium storing said active document;

removing code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said first location from said memory medium storing said active document;

refreshing said document display window; and

responding to said grabbed guideline or margin being released by pushing said code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said second location onto said Undo Stack.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said steps of removing, inserting, refreshing and responding to said grabbed guideline being released are performed in response to said cursor position remaining stationary for a predetermined period of time, and said method further comprises the prior step of:

responding to one of said guidelines or margins being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by moving said cursor position by performing the step of;

drawing an outline of said grabbed guideline or margin in said second location.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 comprising the steps following of:

responding to a request to cancel said grabbed and relocated guideline or margin by performing the steps of;

removing code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said second location from said memory medium for storing said active document;

removing code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said second location from said Undo Stack;

inserting code corresponding to said grabbed guideline or margin in said first location from said memory medium for storing said active document; and

refreshing said document display window.

24. A method of providing real time preview of changes to graphic objects in a computer system having means for operating a graphic editing program, means for displaying at least part of an active graphic document in a document display window, means for storing said active graphic document in a memory medium, means for tracking a cursor position, means for relocating graphic objects in said active graphic document and means for providing an Undo Stack, said method comprising the steps of:

responding to one of said graphic objects being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by moving said cursor position, followed by said cursor position remaining stationary for a predetermined period of time, by performing the steps of;

inserting code corresponding to said grabbed graphic object in said second location into said memory medium storing said active document;

removing code corresponding to said grabbed graphic object in said first location from said memory medium storing said active document;

refreshing said document display window; and

responding to said grabbed graphic object being released by pushing said code corresponding to said grabbed graphic object in said second location onto said Undo Stack.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein said steps of removing, inserting, refreshing and responding to said grabbed graphic object being released are performed in response to said cursor position remaining stationary for a predetermined period of time, and comprising the prior step of:

responding to one of said graphic objects being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by moving said cursor position, by drawing an outline of said grabbed graphic object in said second location.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, comprising the steps of:

responding to a request to cancel said grabbed and relocated graphic object by performing the steps of;

removing code corresponding to said grabbed graphic object in said second location from said memory medium for storing said active document;

removing code corresponding to said grabbed graphic object in said second location from said Undo Stack;

inserting code corresponding to said grabbed graphic object in said first location from said memory medium for storing said active document; and

refreshing said document display window.

27. A computer readable storage medium storing machine code executable by a computer to perform the steps of:

responding to a command being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command.

28. The computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 27 wherein said step of responding to a command being identified comprises the step of:

responding to a menu option in a menu or toolbar option list being identified by performing the step of;

inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into a memory medium storing an active document.

29. The computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 28 further comprises the step of responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by performing the step following said step of inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document, of:

refreshing a document display window.

30. The computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 27 wherein said step of responding to a command being identified comprises the steps of:

responding to a guideline or margin being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location in an active document by;

inserting code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said second location into a memory medium storing said active document; and

removing code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document.

31. The computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 30 wherein following said step of removing code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document, performing the step of:

refreshing said document display window.

32. The computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 27 wherein said step of responding to a command being identified comprises the steps of:

responding to a graphic object being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location in an active document by;

inserting code corresponding to said graphic object at said second location into a memory medium storing said active graphic document; and

removing code corresponding to said graphic object at said first location from said memory medium storing said active graphic document.

33. The computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 32 wherein following said step of removing code corresponding to said graphic object at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document, performing the step of:

refreshing said document display window.

34. A system of providing real time preview of commands comprising:

a computer system having;

means for displaying said commands on a display screen; and

means for responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command.

35. The system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said computer system further comprises:

means for operating a document editing program;

means for storing an active document in a memory medium;

said means for displaying commands on a display screen comprises means for displaying menu options in a menu or toolbar option list, and

said means for responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command comprises means for responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document.

36. The system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said computer system further comprises:

means for displaying at least part of said active document in a document display window; and

means for responding to one of said menu options in said menu or toolbar option list being identified by refreshing said document display window following said step of inserting code corresponding to said identified menu option into said memory medium storing said active document.

37. The system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said computer system further comprises:

means for operating a document editing program;

means for displaying at least part of an active document in a document display window;

means for storing said active document in a memory medium;

said means for displaying commands on a display screen comprises means for displaying document guidelines or margins; and

said means for responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command comprises means for responding to one of said guidelines or margins being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by;

inserting code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said second location into said memory medium storing said active document; and

removing code corresponding to said guideline or margin at said first location from said memory medium storing said active document.

38. The system as claimed in claim 37 further comprising means for refreshing said document display window.

39. The system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said computer system further comprises:

means for operating a graphic editing program;

means for displaying at least part of an active graphic document in a document display window; and

means for storing said active graphic document in a memory medium;

said means for displaying commands on a display screen comprises means for relocating graphic objects in said active graphic document; and

said means for responding to one of said commands being identified by executing computer code corresponding to said identified command comprises means for responding to one of said graphic objects being grabbed and relocated from a first location to a second location by;

inserting code corresponding to said graphic object at said second location into said memory medium storing said active graphic document; and

removing code corresponding to said graphic object at said first location from said memory medium storing said active graphic document.

40. The system as claimed in claim 39 further comprising means for refreshing said document display window.