Lazy drag of graphical user interface (GUI) objects

• US 5,764,873 A
• Filed: 04/14/1994
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Magid, Peter G., Berry, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/227,813
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A computer system employs a graphical user interface and pointing device to allow a user to drag icons, representing data or objects, without holding the mouse button, or other key, actively depressed. The system allows the user to select and add icons, from a displayed window, to a "drag set". Multiple "drag sets" are linked to a "lazy drag" set, the contents of which may be moved to a target location. At the target location, the user decides what operation is to be performed with the data or objects linked to the "lazy drag" set.

Claims

1. For a computer controlled display system having a graphical user interface, a computer display, graphically displayed objects, and drag sets, each said drag set comprising multiple said graphically displayed objects, are movably positioned on said computer display by actions of a user relative to said graphically displayed objects, an apparatus for allowing a user to perform a "lazy drag" operation, in which an image representing a composite one or more of said drag sets is moved to a selected target location on said computer display without requiring said user to hold any key or switch element of said computer system continually depressed in order to move the composite image to said selected target location, comprising:

display means for generating and displaying said graphically displayed objects on said display, a first of said graphically displayed objects displayed within a first area within a window displayed within said display, and a second of said graphically displayed objects displayed within a second area within said window, wherein said first area is not adjacent to said second area;

associating means for associating said first and said second of said selected graphically displayed objects into at least one drag set, wherein said drag set includes noncontiguous areas of said window;

coupling means for statically coupling one or more of said drag sets into a "lazy drag" set;

positioning means for selectively positioning a cursor at said selected target location on said display without altering the appearance or positions of the individual objects associated with said "lazy drag" set, without providing a visual graphical indication of a size of said "lazy drag" set, and without requiring said user to depress any key or switch element of said computer system in order to move said composite image to said selected target location; and

releasing means for releasing said "lazy drag" set at said selected target location where said composite image has been positioned.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

means for deleting any of said graphical displayed objects from any of said drag sets.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

means for deleting any of said one or more drag sets from said "lazy drag" set.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

selecting means, associated with said one or more selected objects in said "lazy drag" set, for selecting between either a cut, copy, or link type operation only in response to releasing said "lazy drag" set utilizing said releasing means.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said graphical displayed objects are displayed in one or more windows.

6. For a computer system having a computer display and a graphical user interface wherein graphically displayed objects are movably positioned on said computer display by actions of a user relative to displayed images of said objects, a method of enabling said user of said computer system to perform a "lazy drag" operation, in which an image representing a composite of one or more of said displayed objects is moved to a selected location on said computer display without requiring said user to depress any key or switch element of said computer system in order to move the composite image to said selected target location, said method comprising:

associating a first and a second selected displayed objects into at least one drag set, said first object displayed within a first area within a window displayed within said display, and said second object displayed within a second area within said window, wherein said first area is not adjacent to said second area;

statically linking one or more of said drag sets into a "lazy drag" set;

positioning a cursor at said target location on said display without altering the appearance or positions of the individual objects that are statically linked to said "lazy drag" set, and without providing a visual graphical indication of a size of said "lazy drag" set; and

creating a statically fixed display of said composite image at said selected target location.

7. The method as in claim 6 further comprises:

selecting between either a move, copy, cut, or link type of operation only after the step of positioning said cursor.

8. The method as in claim 7 further comprising:

deleting said displayed objects after the step of selecting if a cut type of data tranfer operation has been selected.

9. For a computer controlled display system having a graphical user interface, a computer display, graphically displayed objects, and drag sets, each said drag set comprising one or more of said graphically displayed objects, are movably positioned on said computer display by actions of a user relative to said graphically displayed objects, an apparatus for allowing a user to perform a "lazy drag" operation, in which an image representing a composite one or more of said drag sets is moved to a selected target location on said computer display without requiring said user to hold any key or switch element of said computer system continually depressed in order to move the composite image to said selected target location, comprising:

display means for generating and displaying said graphically displayed objects on said display;

associating means for associating one or more selected graphically displayed objects into at least one drag set;

coupling means for statically coupling one or more of said drag sets into a "lazy drag" set;

positioning means for selectively positioning a cursor at said selected target location on said display without altering the appearance or positions of the individual objects associated with said "lazy drag" set, and without requiring said user to depress any key or switch element of said computer system in order to move said composite image to said selected target location;

releasing means for releasing said "lazy drag" set at said selected target location where said composite image has been positioned; and

selecting means, associated with said one or more selected objects in said "lazy drag" set, for selecting between either a cut, copy, or link type operation only in response to releasing said "lazy drag" set utilizing said releasing means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for deleting any of said graphically displayed objects from any of said drag sets.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for deleting any of said one or more drag sets from said "lazy drag" set.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said graphically displayed objects are displayed in one or more windows.

13. For a computer system having a computer display and a graphical user interface wherein graphically displayed objects are movably positioned on said computer display by actions of a user relative to displayed images of said objects, a method of enabling said user of said computer system to perform a "lazy drag" operation, in which an image representing a composite of one or more of said displayed objects is moved to a selected location on said computer display without requiring said user to depress any key or switch element of said computer system in order to move the composite image to said selected target location, said method comprising:

associating one or more selected displayed objects into at least one drag set;

statically linking one or more of said drag sets into a "lazy drag" set;

positioning a cursor at said target location on said display without altering the appearance or positions of the individual objects that are statically linked to said "lazy drag" set;

creating a statically fixed display of said composite image at said selected target location; and

selecting between either a move, copy, cut, or link type of operation only after the step of positioning said cursor.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising deleting said displayed objects after the step of selecting if a cut type of data transfer has been selected.