Space tool feedback by changing the displayed visual apperance of objects to be moved before insertion of space

• US 7,864,195 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rimas, Emily K., Grutzmacher, Rich, Wakeam, Jamie N., Iwema, Marieke, Jones, F. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier; Jeffery A
• Application Number:
  US11/056,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345676-680, 345/179, 715/863, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/163 Handling of whitespace

Abstract

A space tool that inserts space into or deletes space from a document is described. The space tool provides the user with feedback as to which objects will be moved when space is inserted into or deleted from a document. To provide the user with this feedback, the space tool identifies the objects that will be moved when space is inserted or deleted, and changes the appearance of these objects. For example, the space tool may gray out or fade identified electronic ink objects that will be moved. Alternatively, or additionally, the space tool may move identified objects in real time, so that their location continually corresponds with what their location will be after space has been inserted or deleted.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of inserting space into a document containing objects and displayed on a display device, the objects including electronic ink, the computer-implemented method comprising:

determining a first threshold position in the document based on received user input;

changing a displayed visual appearance on the display device of all of the objects located on a first side of the first threshold position that will be moved if space is inserted upon determining the first threshold position,

wherein the appearance of all of the objects located on the first side of the first threshold position is changed, without blocking any portion of the objects, by changing a color of the objects, graying the objects, or fading the objects;

determining a second threshold position; and

inserting space between the first threshold position and the second threshold position when the second threshold position is on the first side of the first threshold position.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the document includes lines spaced apart according to a line height, and wherein determining the first threshold position includes calculating the line height between adjacent lines and locating the first threshold position at a predetermined distance from the pointer position based on the line height.

3. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a first cursor line intersecting the first threshold position, wherein the first cursor line extends across the document and intersects two adjacent segments, and space is inserted in only one of the two segments of the document, the space being inserted in a direction parallel to the line.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein an object is located on the first side of the first threshold position only if greater than fifty percent of the object is located on the first side of the first threshold position.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein changing the appearance of all of the objects located on the first side of the first threshold position includes changing a color of a bounding box of each object, graying a bounding box of each object, fading a bounding box of each object, or providing dashed lines for a bounding box of each object.

6. One or more computer storage media having instructions stored thereon, executed by a computer processor, for inserting space into the document containing objects, as recited in claim 1.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a space between the first threshold position and the second threshold position if the second threshold position is below the first threshold position.