Method and apparatus for enhancing template creation and manipulation in a graphical user interface

US6016146A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• John C. Beer · San Diego, US
• Mark T. Bowman · Boca Raton, US
• Georgia Ann Gibson · Georgetown, US
• John Lovgren · Austin, US
• Marianne Poythress Radding · Georgetown, US
• Julieta Kaoru Yamakawa · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 27, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 18, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 27, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F9/451
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhancing template manipulation and creation in a graphical user interface. The user can create numerous additional templates from an existing object, template, or "generic" template. The method includes the computer-implemented steps of positioning a copy of at least one object into a template area pane and creating at least one template in the template area pane from that copied object. The apparatus includes a processor, a display device, pointing device, a template area pane displayed on the display device, at least one object which is positioned into the template area pane. The template area pane creates at least one template from the object and displays that template in the template area pane.