UI Control for Document Region Selection and Formatting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphical user interfaces (GUIs) make it difficult for users to visualize and interact with specific regions of electronic documents, such as formatting codes and mathematical equations, as these elements are not easily selectable or editable without affecting the document's layout, and user interface controls can be hard to locate within the interface.
Innovation Solution
A new UI control is introduced that provides a border around selected document regions, allowing users to visualize boundaries without altering the document's layout, and includes selectable regions and UI elements for actions, displayed with varying transparency to indicate activity and provide easy access to editing and formatting options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If formatting codes and XML are applied to document contents, then document formatting and structure are enhanced, but the boundaries of formatting become difficult to determine and the underlying code is not visible to users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual indicators such as colored borders, highlights, and background shading to document regions with applied formatting. These visual cues make invisible formatting boundaries visible to users without altering the actual document content or layout, allowing users to easily identify and select formatted regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual layer that sits between the user and the document content. This intermediary layer displays formatting information through overlays, borders, and indicators while leaving the original document unchanged, enabling users to see formatting boundaries without directly viewing the underlying XML or code.
2Loss of information
If formatting is revealed to users, then the underlying XML and formatting codes become visible, but the look and flow of the document is changed making it difficult to edit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic visual indicators that appear and disappear based on user interaction. Formatting boundaries and visual cues are displayed only when users hover over or select specific regions, and disappear when users begin editing. This dynamic behavior allows users to see formatting information when needed but eliminates distractions during the editing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic display of formatting information triggered by user actions such as hovering, clicking, or selecting. The visual indicators appear temporarily to show formatting boundaries and then disappear, allowing users to gather formatting information on demand without permanent visual changes that would interfere with editing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users search menus and icons to locate UI controls for selected region actions, then comprehensive controls are available, but the process is time consuming and frustrating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays relevant UI controls and formatting options in proximity to the selected document region before users need them. When users select a formatted region, context-sensitive controls, buttons, and options appear automatically near the selection, eliminating the need to search through menus and toolbars.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements context-sensitive UI elements that are specific to each selected region and its formatting. Different document regions (tables, images, text blocks) display different relevant controls in their local context, providing users with exactly the controls they need for that specific region rather than requiring them to search through all available controls.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and computer-readable medium are provided for interacting with a portion of an electronic document. According to the method, a UI control is displayed that includes a border surrounding the portion of the electronic document and one or more UI items that allow actions to be performed on the portion of the electronic document. The UI control may be displayed continually or displayed when user input is received within the portion of the electronic document. The border of the UI control may form a bounded region that is displayed transparently over the display of the portion of the electronic document. The transparency of the bounded region may be increased gradually when user input is received in the portion of the electronic document and removed gradually when user input is subsequently received outside the portion. A selectable region may be provided within the UI control for selecting and moving the portion of the electronic document to another location within the document.