# US 7,614,007 B2 · Executing multiple file management operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,614,007 B2 - Document ID: US7614007B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/759,932 - Filed: 2004-01-16 - Published: 2005-07-21 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2004-01-16 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Vijaylaxmi Chakravarty; Oltea Mihaela Herescu; Claudia Andrea Salzberg; Robert Lee Snider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7614007B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and device for executing multiple operations on different files displayed on a graphical user interface. A pre-defined combination of keys is assigned a particular operation, such as “Delete,” “Copy,” “Move,” etc. As a first combination of keys is engaged, one or more files are selected, using a pointing device such as a mouse. The selected files are color-coded, indicating a first operation to be performed on the selected files. A second combination of keys is then engaged, and a second operation is assigned to other selected files. When satisfied that the selected operations are correct for all of the selected files, a user then executes the operations by depressing the “Enter” or similar key. By viewing different operations for different files before the operations are executed, a user is given an overview of all operations to be applied to all selected files, thus improving file management. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for applying a set of operations for execution on a corresponding file displayed on a graphical user interface, such that the set includes a plurality of different operations, the method comprising: associating a different operation with each of a plurality of active icon inputs; associating a distinct visual display feature with each of the plurality of active icon inputs for each of the different operations; selecting a first active icon input to apply a first operation to be executed on a displayed file; selecting a file display for the displayed file on a graphical user interface (GUI) to associate the selected first active icon input with the displayed file; presenting a first distinct visual feature associated with the first operation in a first portion of the file display of the displayed file; selecting a second active icon input to apply a second operation to be executed on the displayed file; reselecting the file display for the displayed file to associate the selected second active icon input with the displayed file; and presenting a second distinct visual feature associated with the second operation in a second portion of the reselected file display of the displayed file such that the first distinct visual feature is also being presented. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequently executing the first and second operations on the displayed file, after the first and second distinct visual features are respectively displayed on the first and second portions of the file display of the displayed file and the first and second operations are confirmed for execution on the displayed file. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the distinct visual features are color-coded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the distinct visual features are geometric patterns. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of active icon inputs are selected by using an input device to click on active icons which are displayed on the GUI. ### Claim 6 A computer system for applying a set of operations for execution on a corresponding file displayed on a graphical user interface, such that the set includes a plurality of different operations, the system comprising: a monitor for displaying a file display for a displayed file in a graphical user interface (GUI); a plurality of active icon inputs, each input being associated with a different operation to be applied to the displayed file, each different operation being associated with a distinct visual display applied to the file display for the displayed file; and an input device for selecting the file display for the displayed file in the GUI in a first instance after engaging a first active icon input and reselecting the file display for the displayed file in a second subsequent instance after engaging a second active icon input from the plurality of active icon inputs, wherein a first operation to be applied for execution on the displayed file is associated with the first a icon input and a second operation to be applied for execution on the displayed file is associated with the second active icon input, wherein a first portion of the file display of the displayed file presents a first distinct visual feature associated with the first operation, and wherein a second portion of the file display of the displayed file presents a second distinct visual feature associated with the second operation, and wherein a pre-determined hierarchy between the first operation and the second operation determines whether the first operation or the second operation will first be executed on the displayed file. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer system of claim 6, further comprising: an execution unit for executing the first and second operations on the displayed file according to a pre-determined hierarchy of execution for the first and second operations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The computer system of claim 6, wherein the distinct visual features are color-coded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The computer system of claim 6, wherein the distinct visual features are geometric patterns. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The computer system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of inputs are selected icons on a graphical user interface (GUI). ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The computer system of claim 6, wherein the displayed file is a sensitive file selected for deletion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer system of claim 11, wherein the sensitive file is erased from a hard disk on a computer by pre-formatting only areas on the hard disk that had stored the sensitive file via multiple overwrites of those disk areas using opposing bit patterns. ### Claim 13 A computer program product, residing on a computer storage medium, for applying a set of operations for execution on a corresponding file displayed on a graphical user interface, such that the set includes a plurality of different operations, the computer program product comprising: computer program code for associating a different operation with each of a plurality of active icon inputs; computer program code for associating a distinct visual display feature with each of the plurality of active icon inputs for each of the plurality of operations; computer program code for selecting a first active icon input to apply a first operation for execution on a displayed file; computer program code for selecting a file display for the displayed file on a graphical user interface (GUI) to associate the selected first active icon input with the displayed file; computer program code for presenting a first distinct visual feature associated with the first operation in a first portion of the file display of the displayed file; computer program code for selecting a second active icon input to apply a second operation for execution on the displayed file; computer code for reselecting the file display for the displayed file to associate the selected second active icon input with the displayed file; and computer program code for presenting a second distinct visual feature associated with the second operation in a second portion of the reselected file display of the displayed file such that the first distinct visual feature is also being presented. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising: computer program code for executing the first and second operations on the displayed file according to a pre-determined hierarchy of execution as between the first and second operations. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the distinct visual features are color-coded. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the distinct visual features are geometric patterns. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the displayed file is a sensitive file selected for deletion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the plurality of active icon inputs are selected by using an input device to click on active icons which are displayed on the GUI.