International Business Machines Corporation

Richard B Wood

Kenneth O Shipp, Jr

James T Repass

Thomas M Ruiz

John S Wang

Hampton K Conner, Jr

Donald G Petersen

A method and object-oriented architecture for interfacing a user to a relational database system The contour of the interface is defined by a profile object and a task object. The profile object, in response to user selection, defines one of multiple role objects with associated user proficiency and system behavioral characteristics. The task object responds to parameters derived from the profile object to generating a query for the relational database system. In one form, the task object includes one or more functional objects suitable to query the database. Representative functional objects are the domain object (used to formulate problem oriented queries), the analysis object (used to analyze the data extracted from the database), the report object (used to generate a user response format), and the link object (used to relate the components within the task object). The interface according to the invention matches the abilities of the user to the resources of the database system, manipulates problem oriented high-level queries, and provides an object oriented architecture readily amenable to object refinement.

User interface for a relational database using a task object for

A method of, and system for, designating footnotes and footnote references based on, and beginning with, an operator defined initial designation. The initial designation can be made up of both a variable functional portion and an accompanying fixed aesthetic portion. The functional portion is for numbering and can be either a numeric or other graphic character. The fixed portion can be both cosmetic and functional and can be made up of a character or characters. The designation can be located either on-line or in an indexed position. When numeric characters are used in number designating footnotes and footnote references, there is an incrementing by one of the operator selected initial number for each succeeding footnote and footnote reference designated. When other graphic characters are used in number designating footnotes and footnote references, the number of graphic characters is increased by one for each succeeding footnote and footnote reference designated. The initial designation can be selected to include either any number or number of graphic characters for numbering purposes. Also, numbers and the number of graphic characters can be reset, on a section basis such as by document page or chapter, to those initially defined. Further, if there is to be an intermingling of numeric and other graphic characters for designating footnotes and footnote references, incrementing and increasing of the numeric and other graphic characters is from the corresponding numeric or other graphic character last used for designating a footnote and footnote reference.

Designation of footnotes and footnote reference

A method of managing body and footnote text during preparation, review, editing, and printing of a document. Preparation can be accomplished in a one pass input keying operation without regard to (1) storage of the body and footnote text, and (2) numbering of reference points in the body text and corresponding footnotes. During preparation there is separate storage of the body and footnote text, separate display frames are provided for each, editing is permitted in the frame being operated on, and the system automatically numbers and updates the numbering of the reference points and footnotes. For a review of the appearance of the document in its to-be-printed format, and any editing thereof, the body and footnote text are assembled for display. Thereafter, the document can be printed.

Footnote management for display and printing

A method for editing data stored in a word processing system in table entry format. Means are provided for operator selection and definition of a top reference area for displaying table column headings or a side reference area for displaying table row entry headings, or both. A vertical separator column of video-reverse spaces separates the display screen into left and right viewports, when a side reference is defined. A horizontal separator bar of video-reverse spaces separates the display screen into top and bottom viewpoints when a top reference is defined. Means are also provided for scrolling the displayed side reference area headings in synchronism with the scrolling of the editable portion of the table, and segmenting the top reference area headings in synchronism with the segmenting of the portion of the editable table entries.

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Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Richard B Wood