Layer viewport for enhanced viewing in layered drawings

A system for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the system comprising:

• means for creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows;
• means for associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction;
• means for displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information;
• and
• means for capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising:

• a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows;
• b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction;
• c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information;
• and
• d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.

A method for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the method comprising:

• a) creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport includes a minimize all button, and wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows;
• b) associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction;
• c) displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information;
• and
• d) capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.

A system for displaying hidden information on a display screen, the display screen displaying a plurality of application windows, a first window of the plurality of application windows obscuring the hidden information within a second window of the plurality of application windows, the system comprising:

• means for creating a viewport as a topmost window in response to a first user interaction, wherein the viewport includes a minimize all button, and wherein the viewport is moveable to any point on the display screen independent from the plurality of application windows;
• means for associating the second application window with the viewport in response to a second user interaction;
• means for displaying the hidden information in the viewport whenever the viewport is positioned over the hidden information;
• and
• means for capturing at least a portion of the hidden information displayed in the viewport as static information in the viewport.