Method for handling obscured items on computer displays

A method of displaying items in layers, the method comprising the steps, performed in a data processing system, of:

• executing first program code to display a plurality of items so that each of the items is displayed as a different layer with respect to each of the other items and so that at least portions of items in lower layers are obscured by items in upper layers, wherein one of the items is a note;
• and,
• executing second program code to move the note to a layer so that, when the moved note is at the layer, those items, which are displayed in layers above the moved note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the moved note, are cut out in order to expose the otherwise obscured portion of the moved note and so that an otherwise obscured portion of an item which is layered below the moved note is revealed.

A method of displaying items in layers, the method comprising the steps, performed in a data processing system, of:

• executing first program code to display a plurality of items so that each of the items is displayed as a different layer with respect to each of the other items and so that at least portions of items in lower layers are obscured by items in upper layers, wherein one of the items is a note;
• and,
• executing second program code to select the note so that those items, which are displayed in layers above the note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the note, are cut out by a cut-out area in order to expose the portion of the note and so that an otherwise obscured portion of an item which is layered below the note is revealed through a cut-out border around the note.

A method of displaying items in layers, the method comprising the steps, performed in a data processing system of:

• executing first program code to display a plurality of items so that each of the items is displayed as a different layer with respect to each of the other items and so that the items have an order of layering, wherein one of the items is a note;
• and,
• executing second program code to select the note so that those items, which are displayed in layers above the selected note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the selected note, are cut out in order to expose the otherwise obscured portion of the selected note and so that the order of layering of the items is not changed.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium;
• and,
• program code stored on the computer readable storage medium, wherein the program code is arranged so that, when the program code is executed by a computer, (i) a note is selected, and (ii) items, which are displayed in layers above the selected note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the selected note, are cut out in order to expose the otherwise obscured portion of the selected note and so that an otherwise obscured portion of an item which is layered below the selected note is revealed.

A computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, wherein the program code is arranged so that, when the program code is executed by a computer, (i) a note is moved to a layer on a display, and (ii) when the moved note is at the layer, those items, which are displayed in layers above the moved note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the moved note, are cut out in order to expose the otherwise obscured portion of the moved note, and an otherwise obscured portion of an item which is layered below the moved note is revealed.

A computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, wherein the program code is arranged so that, when the program code is executed by a computer, a note is selected so that items, which are displayed in layers above the selected note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the selected note, are cut out by a cut-out area in order to expose the otherwise obscured portion of the selected note and so that an otherwise obscured portion of an item which is layered below the selected note is revealed through a cut-out border.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium;
• and,
• program code stored on the computer readable storage medium, wherein the program code is arranged so that, when the program code is executed by a computer, (i) a note is selected, and (ii) items, which are displayed in layers above the selected note and which would otherwise obscure a portion of the selected note, are cut out in order to expose the otherwise obscured portion of the selected note, and the order of layering of the items is not changed.