Method for automatic field width expansion in a text processing system

Abstract

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.