Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Mark Nelson

Evan Moran

Heidi Munson

Barry Christopher Allyn

David Gordon Bradlee

Michael Joe Woolf

Mike Woolf

Alexander H Malek

Phillip David Allen

Craig A Hobbs

Eilene Hao Klaka

Emil Cicos

Scott Morgan LeGendre

Cathy Lynn McBride

Philippe-Joseph Arida

David Bradlee, Jr

Helene Martin

Patrick Leahy

Information in a diagram is logically structured using lists, containers, and callouts without requiring the diagram author to explicitly define a structure or map any diagram contents to a structure. Logical relationships are inferred based on actions associated with shapes, groupings, and attributes of shapes/groupings taken by the author. Feedback mechanisms are provided to communicate an underlying structure to the author. Intelligent behaviors are enabled to expose manipulation of diagrams based on their logical structure.

Inferring diagram structure through implicit shape relationships

A mechanism is provided for saving workflow execution state and mapping the execution state to graphical elements overlaid on a graphical drawing representing the workflow generated by a separate application. The graphical drawing may be a flowchart drawing corresponding to one or more paths of the workflow and the graphical elements may provide status information associated with individual steps or groups of steps of the workflow execution.

Workflow visualization

A method and system for providing a user with user-friendly handles for manipulating graphics and other displayed objects using a pointer. An initial toolset of handles can evolve into a toolset with enhanced functionality. Selecting an object can invoke a first toolset. Pausing the pointer over an object for a preset length of time can invoke a second toolset with additional functionality. Continuing to maintain the pointer's stationary position over the object can invoke a third toolset. A rotation tool handle can rotate an object about an axis of rotation in response to pointer-based input. Moving a pointer over a rotation tool handles can invoke an axis-of-rotation tool for repositioning the axis of rotation using the pointer.

Intuitive tools for manipulating objects in a display

Technologies are described herein for creating, displaying, and editing a sub-process within a process diagram. A diagramming application provides for the grouping of existing process operations of a process diagram into a sub-process. The sub-process is displayed within the process diagram as a container that may be expanded and collapsed in-place within the diagram to display or hide the corresponding sub-process operations without leaving the context of the process diagram. Similarly, a single process operation within a process diagram may be selected for the creation of an associated sub-process. An expanded container including the newly created sub-process operations and a collapsed container representing the sub-process operations replace the single process operation and are concurrently hidden and displayed according to a user selection of a collapse or expand control.

Creating, displaying, and editing a sub-process within a process diagram

A facility for adapting a subject color to be compatible with a basis color is described. The facility accesses a color transformation specification that specifies how the subject color is to be adapted to be compatible with the basis color. The facility then applies the accessed color transformation specification to the subject color to adapt the subject color to be compatible with the basis color.

Color scheme-compatible color selection with hue preservation

Adornments are applied to shapes in a diagram that graphically displays data about those shapes. Once the adornments are applied to a shape, the information displayed is automatically updated as the underlying shape data changes. The appearance of the diagram is updated automatically when the user updates the data for their shapes. The set of adornments that may be applied to shapes is extensible. A mechanism and interface is defined for creating additional adornments that have customized looks or behaviors.

System and method for adorning shapes with data driven objects

Methods and systems are provided for bounding data entered into one or more spreadsheet application cells. A bounding function is applied to a given cell that places bounds on values or formula results that may be entered into the cell. If a user enters a value to a bounded cell that exceeds or otherwise violates the bounds applied to the cell, or if a formula directed to the cell evaluates a value to the bounded cell that exceeds or otherwise violates the bounds applied to the cell, the value entered into the cell will be a value most closely approximating the desired value or evaluated value, but that does not exceed or otherwise violate the bounds set for the cell.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Mark Nelson