Graphical undo/redo manager and method

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• a task list residing in the memory, the task list including a plurality of time-ordered tasks that include a plurality of previously-executed tasks;
• and
• a computer program residing in the memory, the computer program including an undo/redo manager that allows a user to select a first previously-executed task from the task list, the selection of the first task causing at least one of the plurality of previously-executed tasks to be undone, the undo/redo manager including a currency indicator that indicates whether each of the plurality of tasks in the task list has been undone, the undo/redo manager collapsing a plurality of the tasks on the task list into a marker upon explicit selection of the plurality of tasks by the user and upon the execution of a predetermined command in the computer program.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• a computer program residing in the memory;
• means residing in the memory for generating a time-ordered task list of a plurality of previously-executed tasks including the last task that was executed;
• means for displaying the task list to a user;
• means for selecting a first of the previously-executed tasks;
• means for undoing each of the plurality of previously-executed tasks that are after the first task in time;
• and
• means for collapsing a plurality of the previously-executed tasks into a marker.

A method for undoing a plurality of previously-executed tasks in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a time-ordered task list of the plurality of previously-executed tasks including the last task that was executed;
• displaying the task list to a user;
• receiving a user selection of a first of the previously-executed tasks;
• undoing each of the plurality of previously-executed tasks that are after the first task in time;
• and
• collapsing a plurality of the tasks on the task list into a marker.

A computer readable program product comprising:

• (A) a computer program including:
• a task list of time-ordered tasks that include a plurality of previously-executed tasks;
• and
• an undo/redo manager that allows a user to select a first previously-executed task from the task list, the selection of the first task causing at least one of the plurality of previously-executed tasks to be undone, the undo/redo manager including a currency indicator that indicates whether each of the plurality of tasks in the task list has been undone, the undo/redo manager collapsing a plurality of the tasks on the task list into a marker upon explicit selection of the plurality of tasks by the user and upon the execution of at least one predetermined command in the computer program;
• and
• (B) signal bearing media bearing the computer program.