International Business Machines Corporation

Paul D Waldo

John W McInroy

Rex A McCaskill

Jianming Dong

Jo A Elliott

Shirley Lynn Martin

Johnny G Barnes

Thomas L Adam

Freddie R White

Harold R Webster

Card-sorting exercises are used to understand how users would intuitively group or sort information topics, in order to better design an instrument that provides these topics, such as a website. When a user is not familiar with some of the topics, they are allowed to leave these items unsorted, in order that wild guesses do not skew the results. The algorithm verifies that the unsorted items are unfamiliar, then tracks instances of unsorted items so that these responses are mathematically removed from the calculations.

User interface and algorithm to handle 'unknown' data in card-sorting exercise and cluster analysis

A method and system for dynamically representing cluster analysis results. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a hierarchical tree is graphically displayed. The hierarchical tree represents cluster analysis of relationships between multiple items utilizing an initial distance constraint value, wherein the graphical display includes a graphically alterable threshold indicator positioned within the hierarchical tree that graphically marks the distance constraint value. The presentation of the graphical display of the hierarchical tree is dynamically altered to reflect a user-determined distance constraint value, in response to user-controlled alteration of the graphical position of the threshold indicator, such that upon changing a distance constraint for a cluster analysis, the hierarchical tree which graphically represents the cluster analysis is dynamically altered.

Method and system for dynamically representing cluster analysis results

The specification discloses a method for using stored information about previous file setups to permit portions of the previous file setup to be reconstructed and selectively used for different tasks or for the stored setup to be used for multiple, compatible files. A specified task to be performed on a file is selected by the operator from a task menu. The current frame for the task specified is displayed to the operator. From the displayed frame, the operator requests stored information about a previous file setup from a diskette. Stored information about the previous file setup is interrogated to determine whether the setup contained a current frame and/or frames lower in the hierarchy of the current frame. If the result of the interrogation is positive, the stored information is further interrogated to determine whether the fields in the previous file setup are compatible with the current file. If the result of the second interrogation is positive, the stored information is copied into the current frame and/or frames lower in the hierarchy of the current frame to produce an updated setup containing restored frames.

Selective use of restored file setups

An improved method is disclosed for entering record selection criteria into an interactive text processing system which also processes spatially related data that is stored in vector formatted record. A qualifying frame is displayed consisting of a header row and, for example, three qualifying rows. The header row includes the field names and the qualifying rows are blank, except for the vertical lines depicting field boundaries. Selection criteria are entered into the system by positioning the cursor to the appropriate row/column intersection and entering the selection data for that field. Criterium entered in different fields in one row represent a 'logical AND' selection, while criterium in different rows represent a 'logical OR' situation. The improvement involves the automatic expansion of the left and right field boundaries of the selected field in both the header row and qualifying rows when more space is required to enter lengthy qualifiers, a number of qualifiers which are ORed together, or different spellings of the same qualifier. The expansion results automatically in accordance with the relationship of the end of data position to the right field boundary marker position to move repetitively the marker towards the right edge of the display, and, when additional space is required, to shift repetitively the field name and entered data to the left providing additional character positions at the right edge of the field.

Method for automatic field width expansion in a text processing system

An information processing system (10) has a terminal (12) which functions with a diskette storage (14). The terminal (12) includes a display screen (16) and keyboard (18) wherein an operator enters alphanumeric characters and predefined commands. A file of information is stored on the diskette storage (14). The file is made up of a plurality of records. Each of the records comprises a plurality of fields. The fields include character fields, arithmetic fields and text fields. The text fields include alphanumeric, punctuation and control characters, the character fields include alphanumeric and punctuation characters and exclude control characters and the arithmetic fields include numeric characters and exclude control characters. By inputting commands to the keyboard (18) the operator reads a record from storage (14) and displays it on the screen (16). The content of the fields in the record are displayed on the screen (16) except for the text fields. For each text field there is displayed an asterisk (60). The operator selects a text field by positioning a cursor (62) beneath the corresponding asterisk and then inputting a down cursor command. In response to the down cursor command the terminal (12) opens a text window on the screen (16) and displays the corresponding text field on the lower portion (16b) of the screen (16). The operator is then free to edit the text field. After completion of the editing the operator enters a command to incorporate the edited text field with the selected record. The record with the edited text field can then be returned to the file in the storage (14).

File processing method using expanding display windows for selected

An information processing system is disclosed which includes a display, a memory, a keyboard and a control unit. The system may store and display data in a table format by record and field. The system may be employed in an entry edit mode whereby data is entered or edited by an operator through the keyboard into the system. The system may also operate in a record selection mode whereby data in a field having a predetermined relation to a field value may be selected by the system. The system permits the entry of comparison operators and field values below the field heading in the display for the field to be searched. The keys representing the comparison operators and the keys representing data are at separate locations on the keyboard to prevent operator error in input. This feature is particularly advantageous when one symbol may be employed both as a comparison operator and data. Such a symbol would then be represented by two keys on the keyboard. The system also includes a syntax check routine which acts to detect syntax errors in data entered. The system rejects the improper data and informs the operator through the display. The syntax check routine also may be programmed for the type of data to be entered into each field. The routine will then check each data to be entered in a given field to determined if the data is of the proper type.

Method and apparatus for processing a file of record information

A system for use in an electronic digital signal processor for assembling multiple report definition instructions to create a shell document to generate a file report. The system enables an operator to depress an instruction key to call up an instruction menu and select for display the report definition instruction menu. The operator chooses report instructions desired in any order, and the system inserts chosen instructions in proper order to build the shell document. The operator keys report information in between the instructions. The shell document is stored in machine-dependent language to enable the document to be redisplayed in operator-dependent language as determined by the current program loaded in the processor.

Report preparation

An improved method is disclosed for assisting the operator of an interactive text processing system in entering instructional data which defines to the system changes to stored spatially related data. The method involves the operator identifying to the system the task to be accomplished and the name and the location of the source file in the system, displaying to the operator on the screen of the display device the header portion of the file, which defines the fields or column names, and converting sequences of operator keystrokes representing conventional text editing operations on selected fields of the displayed header to instructions for use by the system in processing records of the file.

Interactively rearranging spatially related data

An improved method is disclosed for assisting the operator of an interactive text processing system. The method assists the operator in entering interactively selection criteria to be used in selecting records from the existing file. The improved method involves displaying to the operator the header portion of the existing file, along with a predetermined number of 'qualifying rows' in response to the operator having identified to the system the task to be accomplished and the name and the location of the existing file in the system. The method further involves movement of the cursor vertically and horizontally to row and column positions for entering of the selection criteria. After entering criteria into the displayed rows, the next operation of the cursor down key while in the last row is interpreted as an instruction to the system to add an additional row so that another 'logical OR' selection criteria can be added to the previous criteria.

Method of entering criteria for selecting records of spatially related

An improved method is disclosed for providing to the operator of an interactive text processing system a displayed summary confirming the effect of requested changes to the field order in an existing file of spatially related data stored in the system prior to creation of new file. The method involves simultaneously displaying to the operator on one screen the header portions of the existing source file and the destination file and causing the data in predetermined fields of each header to be displayed in a manner which is different than the manner in which the data in the remaining fields of said headers is displayed so as to manifest to the operator similar treatment by the system of the data in both headers which is similarly displayed. The header portion of the source file is displayed such that those fields which are not to be copied into the destination file are reverse video displayed, while those fields which are to be copied to the destination file are in normal display. The header portion in the destination file is displayed such that those fields which appear in the existing file and which are to receive data from the source file are displayed in normal manner, while fields which are not to receive data from the source file are reverse video displayed. The resulting display then manifests to the operator those fields which will be copied from the source file to the destination file and provides the opportunity for the operator to confirm the correctness of the interactively entered instructions prior to actual creation of the new file.

Method for displaying source and destination file headers for easy

An improved method is disclosed for printing a file of spatially related data stored in an interactive text processing system as vector formatted records. The method involves establishing for the printer the number of print positions for the print line, and transferring the field titles which make up the header portion of the file from storage to the print buffer sequentially, along with an indication of the maximum permissible field width until all of the field names have been transferred. The process involves determining when a new print line is to be started for the header data in those situations where more than one print line is necessary to accommodate all of the field name data of the header by determining if the next field in the sequence to be printed will fit in the space left on the print line previously specified and, if not, then entering a carriage return signal after the last transferred field. The process continues until all of the field names have been transferred. During the process a table is established indicating by line number and print position number where each field of a record starts.

Method of controlling a printer in an interactive text processing system

A method of, and system for, increasing the number of characters available to be printed with a single print element. If a printer is printing from storage and the character being presented to the printer does not match the print element in use, a determination is made as to whether the character is in fact available on the element. If so, the character is caused to be printed. If not, a determination is made as to whether the presented character can be constructed from characters existing on the print element. If so, construction is caused to occur to avoid a print element change. If, however, the presented character does not exist on the print element and cannot be constructed from characters that do exist on the print element, a requirement for a print element change is signalled. Following a change, printing will continue with the new print element as long as characters are available, or can be constructed from available characters. As such, throughput is improved and required operator attention is diminished.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Paul D Waldo