The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1995
Zhiqiang Liu, Atlanta, GA (US);
Vijay Vasandani, Roswell, GA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for providing improved controls in a graphical user interface. One feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to assign multiple values to the control. This multi-value field control includes an extension to known controls that allows the user to enter more than one value into the control. After a value has been entered into the multi-value field control, the user can modify or delete the value. Another feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to efficiently specify multiple sort criteria for the control. This sort order control lists all of the possible sort criteria together with a selection indicator next to each sort criteria. When the user selects a sort criteria, the sort order control indicates the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator and places a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria. Another feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to manipulate lists in the control. The list operations that can be performed using the list control include: (1) swapping columns, (2) freezing and unfreezing columns, (3) hiding and showing columns, and (4) finding text in columns.