System and method for viewing and editing multi-value properties

• US 20050251748A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McKee, Timothy P., Miner, Patrice L., Beam, Tyler K., De Vorchik, David G., Gusmorino, Paul A., Harvey, Marcus, Karas, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 7,188,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

In a display of properties (or metadata) for multiple selected files, properties may be aggregated. Visual differentiation may be used to associate displayed aggregated values with one or more selected files to which the values pertain. Multi-value properties may also be aggregated and differentiated and/or accentuated. When aggregating multiple multi-value properties, steps may be taken to carry relative priority or positioning assigned by each of the selected files to which the multi-value properties pertain. Aggregated multi-value properties may include prompt text informing them of editing options, and users may edit properties by editing the displayed aggregated properties. Changes to the aggregated properties may be applied to the properties of the various selected files.

Claims

1. A method of displaying file properties, comprising the steps of:

receiving a selection of multiple files of a computer system, said files each having at least one multi-value property;

displaying, on a display of said computer system, an aggregation of values of said multi-value properties of said multiple files, wherein at least one displayed value is visually differentiated to correlate said value with one or more of said selected files.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one displayed value is visually differentiated in a manner to indicate that said value is associated with all of said selected files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one displayed value is visually differentiated in a manner to indicate that said value is associated with a subset of said selected files.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of visually differentiating said one or more of said selected files in a manner corresponding to said at least one displayed value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of normalizing said multi-value properties of said selected multiple files.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of arranging said aggregation of values based on priorities given by said multiple files.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of arranging includes the steps of:

establishing an integer constant C; and

tallying priority votes for each value found in the multi-value properties of said selected files for places 1 through C.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of arranging further includes the step of, for one of places 1 through C, granting that place to a value having the most priority votes for that place.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of arranging further includes the step of peeking, in the event of a tie between two or more values for said one of places 1 through C, ahead to the next sequential place after said one of places 1 through C, and awarding said one of places 1 through C based on the results of said peeking.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of including a prompt text string with said displayed aggregation of values.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of automatically removing said prompt text string in response to a user initiating a data entry operation in said displayed aggregated values.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of automatically replacing said prompt text string in response to said user terminating said data entry operation.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of 1, further comprising the step of displaying a dropdown menu of suggestions in response to a user initiating a data entry operation in said displayed aggregated values.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said menu of suggestions is automatically filtered based on contextual criteria.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of sorting said filtered menu of suggestions.

16. A method of displaying data, comprising the steps of:

displaying, on a computer system display, a list of files to a user;

receiving user selection of a plurality of said files;

displaying a preview of one or more of said files;

displaying metadata of said selected files while said preview is displayed, wherein at least a portion of said metadata is an aggregation of values of multi-value properties of said selected plurality of files; and

visually differentiating one or more of said aggregated values to identify one or more associations between said values and one or more of said selected files.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said aggregated values are displayed in a field, and said field appends prompt text to an end of said aggregated values.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of automatically removing said prompt text in response to user initiation of a data entry operation in said field.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of arranging said displayed aggregated values in accordance with respective priorities associated with each of said selected files.

20. A method of editing file metadata, comprising the steps of:

displaying aggregated values of multi-value properties of a plurality of selected files;

visually differentiating at least one of said aggregated values to indicate an association between said differentiated value and one or more of said plurality of selected files;

revising said displayed aggregated values in accordance with a user request to edit said values; and

making a corresponding revision to properties of each of said selected files in response to said user editing said aggregated values.