Method and system for dynamically manipulating values associated with graphical elements displayed within a graphical user interface

A system for dynamically manipulating values associated with graphical elements displayed within a graphic interface of a data-processing system, comprising:

• means for displaying with said graphic interface, a pointer element associated with a pointing device, wherein said pointer element is capable of moving in multiple directions in response to movement of said pointing device;
• means for displaying within said graphic interface, a trackslide element and a moveable slider that permits users to dynamically decrease or increase values associated with said trackslide element, such that said moveable slider is constrained to move only in a first direction along said trackslide element;
• means for graphically attaching, in response to user input, said pointer element to said moveable slider and graphically altering an appearance of said trackslide element in response to said attaching;
• and
• means for thereafter translating movement of said pointing device into movement of said moveable slider in response to movement of said pointing device in said first direction while ignoring movement of said pointing device in other directions, such that said moveable slider may be accurately and efficiently moved along said trackslide element without requiring said pointing device to be constrained to movement in a single direction.

A program product residing in computer memory in a computer system for dynamically manipulating values associated with graphical elements displayed within a graphic interface of a data processing system, comprising:

• instruction means residing in a computer system for displaying within said graphic interface, a pointer element associated with a pointing device, wherein said pointer element is capable of moving in multiple directions in response to movement of said pointing device;
• instruction means residing in a computer system for displaying within said graphic interface, a trackslide element and a moveable slider that permits users to dynamically decrease or increase values associated with said trackslide element, such that said moveable slider is constrained to move only in a first direction along said trackslide element;
• instruction means residing in a computer system for graphically attaching, in response to user input, said pointer element to said moveable slider and graphically altering an appearance of said trackslide element in response to said attaching;
• and
• instruction means residing in a computer system for thereafter translating movement of said pointing device into movement of said moveable slider in response to movement of said pointing device in said first direction while ignoring movement of said pointing device in other directions, such that said moveable slider may be accurately and efficiently moved along said trackslide element without requiring said pointing device to be constrained to movement in a single direction.