EP0094494A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Column layout reference area display management
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1983-03-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-25
Abstract
Abstract method for editing data stored in a word processing system in a table entry format. Means are provided for operator selection and definition of a top reference area (178, 212, 222) for displaying table column headings or a side reference area (186, 196, 204, 208, 220, 226, 234) for displaying table row entry headings, or both. A vertical separator column (184) of video-reverse spaces separates the display screen into left and right viewports, when a side reference is defined. A horizontal separator bar (176) of video-reverse spaces separates the display screen into top and bottom viewpoints when a top reference is defined. Means are also provided for scrolling the displayed side reference area headings in synchronism with the scrolling of the editable portion of the table, and segmenting the top reference area headings in synchronism with the segmenting of the portion of the editable table entries.
Inventors
- 👤 James Terry Repass
- 👤 Kenneth Osborn Shipp, Jr.
- 👤 Richard Brian Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:12
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/177
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A column reference area display management system for use in editing a table in the visual display area, the table being recorded in the memory of a word processing system, including a keyboard, processor, memory means and display means characterized in that it comprises : keyboard means for generating commands for editing a column of date stored in a multicolumn table format, including means for inserting a new column of data in the multicolumn table; memory means for storing said keyboard entered editing commands in an editable column text storage buffer; means for displaying said editable column of the multicolumn table in a viewport of the display; keyboard means for selecting column heading data stored in the multicolumn table format for defining top reference data for said editable column viewport; memory means for storing said selected top reference data in a top reference area storage buffer; keyboard means for selecting table row headings from data stored in multicolumn table format for defining side reference data for said editable column viewport; means for displaying said operator defined top reference data in a viewport above said editable column viewport at the same time said editable column viewport is displayed, said column headings being positioned above corresponding columns of the multicolumn table appearing in said editable viewport; and means for displaying said operator defined side reference data in a viewport adjacent said editable column viewport and at the same time said editable column viewport is displayed, said row headings appearing along corresponding rows of the multicolumn table in said editable column viewport.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A column reference area display management system for use in editing a table in the visual display area, the table being recorded in the memory of a word processing system, including a keyboard, processor, memory means and display means characterized in that it comprises : keyboard means for generating commands for editing a column of date stored in a multicolumn table format, including means for inserting a new column of data in the multicolumn table; memory means for storing said keyboard entered editing commands in an editable column text storage buffer; means for displaying said editable column of the multicolumn table in a viewport of the display; keyboard means for selecting column heading data stored in the multicolumn table format for defining top reference data for said editable column viewport; memory means for storing said selected top reference data in a top reference area storage buffer; keyboard means for selecting table row headings from data stored in multicolumn table format for defining side reference data for said editable column viewport; means for displaying said operator defined top reference data in a viewport above said editable column viewport at the same time said editable column viewport is displayed, said column headings being positioned above corresponding columns of the multicolumn table appearing in said editable viewport; and means for displaying said operator defined side reference data in a viewport adjacent said editable column viewport and at the same time said editable column viewport is displayed, said row headings appearing along corresponding rows of the multicolumn table in said editable column viewport.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The column reference area display management system according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises : means for synchronizing said top reference data displayed in said top reference viewport with the corresponding columns displayed in said editable column viewport as said editable column viewport is segmented in either direction horizontally across the display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The column reference area display management system according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it further comprises : means for synchronizing said side reference data displayed in said side reference viewport with the corresponding rows displayed in said editable column viewport as said editable column viewport is scrolled in either direction vertically up or down the display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The column reference area display management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it further comprises : means for visually separating said top reference viewport from said editable column viewport; and means for visually separating said side reference viewport from said editable column viewport.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The column reference area display management system according to claim 4 characterized in that said means for visually separating said top reference viewport from said editable column viewport is a horizontal separator bar of video-reverse spaces across the display, and said means for visually separating said side reference viewport from said editable column viewport is a vertical separator column od video-reverse spaces appearing on the display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The column reference area display management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that it further comprises : means for displaying a scale line in the said editable column viewport, including means to synchronize the display of said scale line in the segment of the multicolumn table displayed in said editable column viewport.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The column reference area display management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that it further comprises : keyboard means for defining the width of said side reference area viewport; and keyboard means for defining the number of lines of columnar headings to be displayed in said top reference viewport.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The column reference area display management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said operator defined top and side reference viewports are stored in memory for subsequent table editing operations on a document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The column reference area display management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that it further comprises : means for displaying a column reference area menu on the display, said column reference area menu including instructions for keyboard definition of said top reference viewport and said side reference viewport.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The column reference area display management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that it further comprises : means for storing said keyboard generated commands for editing a column of data; keyboard means for executing said stored commands for editing a column of data; and keyboard means for cancelling said keyboard generated commands for editing a column, whereby the operator generated keyboard commands for editing column data may be cancelled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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