Abstract The method which allows to enter field dependent record selection criteria into a text processing system comprising a keyboard (10), a processor (11), a storage (16) and a display (14), involves the automatic expansion of the boundaries of the selected field in both the header row and qualifying rows when more space is required to enter, for example, lengthy qualifiers into the field, a number of qualifiers which are ORed together, or different spellings of the same qualifier. The expansion results automatically in accordance with the relationship of the end of data position to the right field boundary marker position to move repetitively the marker a fixed number of character positions, for example, five, towards the right of the display, and, when additional space is required, to shift repetitively the field name and entered data to the left five character positions.
A method for automatically expanding the displayed width of a selected field in a text processing system when field dependent record selection criteria is entered into a selected field of a qualifying row which is displayed below a header row on the screen of the system which also processes spatially related data stored as vector formatted records establishing predefined row and column positions of the data; said method being characterized in that the current position of the end of data is compared against the current position of the right boundary to determine whether the displayed width of a the selected field must be expanded.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for automatically expanding the displayed width of a selected field in a text processing system when field dependent record selection criteria is entered into a selected field of a qualifying row which is displayed below a header row on the screen of the system which also processes spatially related data stored as vector formatted records establishing predefined row and column positions of the data; said method being characterized in that the current position of the end of data is compared against the current position of the right boundary to determine whether the displayed width of a the selected field must be expanded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which the width of said selected field in the qualifying row expands automatically in increments comprising a plurality of character positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method recited in claim 2 in which the right boundary line is moved to the right in increments until said right boundary line coincides with the right edge of the screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method recited in claim 3 in which the left boundary of the field, the field name and the data entered into said qualifying row are left shifted automatically in response to a predetermined relationship between the position of the end of data and the right edge of said screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method recited in claim 4 in which said left shift includes a predetermined number of character positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method recited in claim 5 in which the data in said qualifying row is left shifted off the left edge of the screen, but the field title is maintained on the screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method recited in claim 4 in which the left boundary is shifted in one move to coincide with the left edge of the screen as if a horizontal segmenting of the display had occurred.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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