Method and apparatus for improved notebook control in a data procesing system

• US 5,604,861 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Scannell, Peter, Douglas, Thomas B., Torres, Robert J., Kahl, Daryl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, BA
• Application Number:
  US08/546,151
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161
• US Class Current: 715/776
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for improving a notebook control system. The notebook includes a number of panels organized into sections in accordance with an organizational scheme. Divider pages are provided for separating sections. Each divider page includes a tab portion which extends outward therefrom. A graphical representation, indicative of the organizational scheme, is provided in the tab portions. The tab portions are arranged in at least partially overlapping relationship with one another.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for providing notebook control of software objects, comprising the method steps of:

organizing said software objects into a plurality of sections, with particular ones of said plurality of sections including software objects arranged for selective display in a workspace, with said workspace providing a visual representation of at least one page;

providing a plurality of divider pages for defining boundaries for said plurality of sections, and providing a plurality of tab portions with each divider page including a tab portion;

automatically organizing said plurality of tab portions of said plurality of divider pages with selected ones of said plurality of tab portions in overlapping relation with adjoining others of said plurality of tab portions;

allowing a user to Interactively specify an amount of said overlapping relation between said selected ones of said plurality of tab portions and said adjoining others of said plurality of tab portions; and

automatically adjusting said overlapping relation between said plurality of tab portions in accordance with said amount of said overlapping relation specified by said user.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting said overlapping relation of said plurality of tab portions to ensure display on said data processing system of said graphic representations in their entireties.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting said overlapping relation of said plurality of tab portions to ensure display on said data processing system of said graphic representations in groups with differing percentages of visual display.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting said overlapping relation of said plurality of tab portions to ensure (a) display of said graphic representations on a selected number of said plurality of tab portions in their entireties and (b) display of a fractional region of remaining one of said plurality of tab portions, without display of any portion of said graphic representations on said plurality of tab portions.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

arranging and displaying said plurality of tab portions in one of;

(a) horizontal arrangement relative to said workspace of each of said plurality of sections;

or

(b) vertical arrangement relative to said workspace of each of said plurality of sections.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically regrouping said plurality of tab portions to obtain full display of selected ones of said graphic representations in response to an operator command.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of tab portions are arranged and displayed in a plurality of tab rows, with upper tab rows providing a fuller view of said graphic representations than lower tab rows which are at least partially obscured due to said partially overlapping relation between particular ones of said plurality of tab portions, said method further including:

automatically initiating rearrangement and display of said plurality of tab rows in response to an operator command.

8. A method according to claim 1:

wherein said plurality of tab portions are arranged and displayed in a plurality of tab rows, with upper tab rows providing a fuller view of said graphic representations than lower tab rows which are at least partially obscured due to said partially overlapping relation between particular ones of said plurality of said tab portions.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

arranging and displaying said tab rows to provide a selected amount of overlap between particular ones of said plurality of tab portions on adjoining tab rows.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

arranging and displaying said graphic representations on said plurality of tab portions of said tab rows to display only a selected and uniform proportional portion of said graphic representations in each of said tab rows.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying selected ones of said software objects in said workspace in response to operator input indicating selection of a particular one of said plurality of tab portions.

12. A method in a data processing system for providing notebook control of software objects, with said software objects being organized into a plurality of sections with selected sections including software objects arranged for selective display in a workspace which provides a visual representation of at least one page, said sections being separated by divider pages with each said divider page including a tab portion, comprising the method steps of:

arranging said data processing system said tab portions in partially overlapping tab rows;

determining a percentage portion of said graphic representations for each particular tab row which will be displayed on said data processing system;

allowing a user to interactively specify said percentage portion of said graphic representations for each particular tab row which will be displayed on said data processing system; and

displaying on said data processing system said tab rows In accordance with said percentage portion of said graphic representations for said each particular tab row specified by said user.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

rearranging said tab rows in response to an operator input.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

maintaining said percentage portion display of said graphic representations for each particular tab row, notwithstanding said rearranging of said tab rows.

15. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

displaying selected ones of said software objects in said workspace in response to operator input indicating selection of a particular tab portion.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of displaying selected ones of said software objects comprises:

displaying selected ones of said software objects in an active workspace in response to operator input indicating selection of a particular tab portion.

17. A data processing system which maintains notebook control of software objects, comprising:

means for organizing software objects into a plurality of sections, with selected sections including software objects arranged for selective display in a workspace, and with divider pages defining boundaries for said plurality of sections, and a plurality of tab portions;

means for allowing a user to interactively specify an amount of overlap between selected ones of said tab portions and adjoining others of said tab portions; and

means for automatically displaying said tab portions of said divider pages in accordance with said amount of overlap between said selected ones of said tab portions and said adjoining offers of said tab portions specified by said user.

18. A data processing system according to claim 17 wherein said means for displaying comprises:

means for displaying said plurality of tab portions of said divider pages in tab rows with selected ones of said tab rows partially overlapping selected others of said tab rows to display only selected percentage portions of said graphic representations of each particular tab rows.

19. A data processing system according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for allowing rearrangement of said plurality of tab portions in response to an operator input.

20. A data processing system according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for allowing rearrangement of said tab rows in response to an operator input.

21. A data processing system according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for allowing rearrangement of said tab rows in response to an operator input, and maintaining display of only said selected percentage portions of said graphic representations for each particular tab rows notwithstanding said rearranging.