US 5,848,429 A · Object-oriented global cursor tool which operates in an incompatible document by embedding a compatible frame in the document

Abstract

An innovative system and method provide a cursor tool framework and tool server with support for multiple cursors on any given system, and supports the selection of a cursor tool utilizing a cursor. The framework and server facilitate the association of cursor tools to a cursor in a process independent space such that tools can be used cross-process and cross-document. The framework also provides default functionality for communication among cursor tools and the canvas on which they are used. This high degree of interaction allows any cursor tool and any document to function together such that the cursor tool can be written without the knowledge of the document developer. A frame creation tool awaits the detection of a mouse button depression. Then, a document component is created. The document component type is assigned at a tools inception. Then a rectangle interactor is invoked. The rectangle interactor provides a rubber band GUI pivoting around a first selected point. The interactor continues to process until the mouse button is released. Finally, the document component is embedded in the previously created frame. One global frame tool allows a user to interactively select a rectangular frame region and embed a document component in the frame.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for performing a cursor tool operation in response to a user request on a computer with a display device having displayed thereon a cursor and a document window with a first document component therein and a cursor tool object having a member function for performing the cursor tool operation the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether the first document component is compatible with the cursor tool object member function;
(b) creating a second document component in response to the user request when the first document component is not compatible with the cursor tool object member function, the second document component being compatible with the cursor tool object member function;
(c) embedding the second document component in the document window at the cursor location;
and
(d) executing the cursor tool object member function to perform the cursor tool operation within the second document component.

2 more elements

A computer program product for performing a cursor tool operation in response to a user request on a computer with a memory, a display device having displayed thereon a cursor and a document window with a first document component therein and a cursor tool object having a member function for performing the cursor tool operation, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including:

program code for constructing in the memory a tool negotiator which determines whether the first document component is compatible with the cursor tool object member function;
a creation mechanism for creating a second document component in the memory in response to the user request when the first document component is not compatible with the cursor tool object member function, the second document component being compatible with the cursor tool object member function;
an embedder function which embeds the second document component in the document window at the cursor location;
and
a calling mechanism for executing the cursor tool object member function to perform the cursor tool operation within the second document component.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Object-oriented global cursor tool which operates in an incompatible document by embedding a compatible frame in the document

Life of this patent

Object-oriented global cursor tool which operates in an incompatible document by embedding a compatible frame in the document

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18