RICH DRAG DROP USER INTERFACE

• US 20100017734A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: CUMMINS, CHARLES, McKee, Timothy P., Hoefnagels, Stephan, Van Dok, Cornelis K., Beam, Tyler K., De Vorchik, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,354,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

In an electronic file system, preview information is provided to the user during a drag operation of a selected object onto a target object. The information indicates what type(s) of action is to be taken should the selected object be dropped onto the target object. The action(s) to be taken may depend upon the type of the selected object and/or the type of the target object. For example, where the selected object is an item and the target object is a persisted auto-list, the action may include adding, removing, or modifying one or more properties of the selected object to conform to one or more criteria defined by the persisted auto-list. Also, numerical feedback may be provided to the user where multiple objects are selected. For example, where seven objects are selected, the textual number “7” may appear next to the cursor.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method for dragging and dropping an object, the method comprising:

receiving a user input via a graphical user interface to drag an object proximate to a persisted auto-list;

displaying a plurality of indications to the user, the plurality of indications representing actions to modify, add, or remove properties associated with the object being dragged; and

modifying, adding, or removing the properties associated with the object being dragged, in response to the object being dropped onto the persisted auto-list after said displaying.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein one of the actions comprises moving a file system location of the object.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein one of the actions comprises copying the object.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein one of the actions comprises modifying, adding, or removing at least one property of the object to meet at least one criterion defined by the persisted auto-list.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the object is a folder and the action is to modify, add, or remove at least one property of a second object contained in the folder.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the persisted auto-list comprises a scope that does not include the object, and wherein the action comprises copying the object into the scope and modifying, adding, or removing at least one property of the copy of the object.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of indications comprises displaying one or more iconic, graphical, or textual indications.

8. A computer implemented method for displaying icons using a computer system having a processor, memory, and data storage subsystems, the method comprising:

detecting a dragging of a first displayed object of a first type proximate to a second displayed object of a second type; and

simultaneously displaying a plurality of icons to a user in response to said detecting, the plurality of icons representing a respective plurality of actions that will be taken in response to a dropping of the first displayed object onto the second displayed object;

wherein the plurality of icons displayed is based upon the first type of the first displayed object and the second type of the second displayed object.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

performing the plurality of actions in response to the first displayed object being dropped onto the second displayed object.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of actions comprises moving a file system location of the first displayed object.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of actions comprises copying the first displayed object.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of actions comprises modifying, adding, or removing at least one property of the first displayed object to meet at least one criterion defined by the second displayed object.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the dragging of the first displayed object of the first type to the second displayed object of the second type comprises, utilizing a virtual container representing a set of items as one of the first type and the second type.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein simultaneously displaying the plurality of icons further comprises, displaying a window listing a plurality of child objects contained within the second displayed object, and displaying an icon representative of an action to be taken with the plurality of child objects in response to the dragging of the first displayed object proximate to the corresponding plurality of child objects.

15. In a computer system having a processor, memory and data storage subsystems, a computer-implemented icon displaying system, comprising:

a first displayed object of a first type;

a second displayed object of a second type; and

a plurality of icons simultaneously displayed to a user via a graphical user interface of the computer-implemented icon displaying system in response to the first displayed object being dragged proximate to the second displayed object, the plurality of icons representing a respective plurality of actions to be taken in response to the first displayed object being dropped onto the second displayed object,

wherein the plurality of icons simultaneously displayed is based upon the first type of the first displayed object and the second type of the second displayed object.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of icons represents a moved file system location of the first displayed object.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of icons represents a copy of the first displayed object.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of icons represents a modified, added, or removed property of the first displayed object to meet at least one criterion defined by the second displayed object.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein one of the first type and the second type comprises a virtual container representing a set of items.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the first displayed object and the second displayed object comprise at least one of a list, a persisted auto-list, a folder, and a stack.