Method for adding a cell to the side of an existing table in a document

• US 6,678,865 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pratley, Christopher Hugh, Namba, Katsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paula, Cesar B
• Application Number:
  US09/612,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 707/509-510, 707/503-504, 345/862, 345/858
• US Class Current: 715/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines

Abstract

A method and system for inserting a table over text, for splitting a cell with text into two or more cells, for converting a bordered paragraph into a table, and for adding cells to a table. A table drawing tool allows a user to insert a table over existing text in a document, convert a bordered paragraph into a table, split a table cell into multiple cells, and add cells to a table, among other features. To insert a table over existing text, a subset of the plurality of lines of text that the table covers is determined. A determination is made whether the subset of text needs to be placed inside the table. If so, then the subset of text is extracted from the electronic file and the subset is placed inside a paragraph. The table is inserted into the electronic file with a height equal to the height of the extracted subset of text and the paragraph is pasted into the table. If it is determined that the subset of text does not need to be placed inside the table, then the table is added to the electronic file as a paragraph, without any text in the paragraph.

Claims

1. For an electronic system for creating and editing an electronic file including a plurality of lines of text, a method for adding a cell to the side of an existing table, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the cell is along a vertical axis of the existing table irrespective of a horizontal distance between the cell and the existing table;

if so, then adding the cell as a new cell in the existing table; and

if the cell is not along the vertical axis of the existing table, then inserting the cell into the electronic file with a non-table paragraph positioned between the cell and the existing table.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the cell as a new cell in the existing table comprises adding the cell using height attributes of the nearest row of cells in the existing table.

3. For an electronic system for creating and editing an electronic file including a plurality of lines of text, a method for adding a cell to the side of an existing table using a horizontal drag, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a starting point of the drag is within a vertical distance covered by the existing table irrespective of a horizontal distance between the cell and the existing table;

if so, then adding the cell as a new cell in the existing table; and

if the cell is not within the vertical axis of the existing table, then inserting the cell into the electronic file with a non-table paragraph positioned between the cell and the existing table.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein adding the cell as a new cell in the existing table comprises adding the cell using height attributes of the nearest row of cells in the existing table.