Abstract: A method and system to create dynamic associations or links between objects. In one embodiment, the methods and systems can utilize the links to modify a document having at least one object, where based on the association or link, an object in a document can be replaced with an abbreviated form of the object. A switch, button, or other capability to toggle can allow a selection and/or display of the abbreviated document and the unabbreviated version. In an embodiment, the methods and systems can be used to provide a selectable, pre-configured response in a document.

Abstract: A method and system to create dynamic associations or links between objects. The associations or links can be created by a linkify engine that creates the links by processing a document. The linkify engine can maintain and/or access at least one database or other memory component capable of storing data from which the associations can be formed. The linkify engine can also utilize configuration data to assist in determining associations. Objects in the document that can be linked by the linkify engine can include a word, group of words, number or group of numbers, image, icon, picture, or other object in a document. The document objects can be associated or linked to document objects in other documents, or to applications, images, icons, pictures, or other textual and non-textual objects that may not be associated with a document. In one embodiment, the association between objects can be represented as a hypertext link.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a method and apparatus for synchronizing interface objects of an application's graphic user interface (GUI) with underlying data. A design tool is used in embodiments of the invention to specify an interface object's binding properties. Data binding properties can define an association between an interface object and underlying data for synchronization purposes. In addition, a validation binding can be specified for an interface object that can be used to validate the data entered via the interface object. An expression binding associates an interface object to a plurality of interface objects and/or underlying data sources that contain data used in evaluating an expression the result of which is displayed in the interface object. A query expression binding associates a plurality of interface objects and/or underlying data sources and to an evaluatable expression the result of which is used in a query to retrieve a data source's data.

Abstract: A graphical editing system is provided which creates a "place-holder" that holds or suspends a complex gesture or complex menu selection before committing to the command. Such a place-holder acts as a virtual stylus, i.e. as if the user was actually holding the stylus to the screen just prior to committing to the command. The virtual stylus thus allows the user to execute other arbitrary drawings or menu commands or gestures while the original complex command is suspended. The user can then return to the complex command he/she chooses and remove the place-holder to commit to the command or cancel the command if desired. The virtual stylus can take on many forms, e.g., a hand with a pointed finger, an icon or any other desired indicator, and the virtual stylus can be created by any user action, e.g., an actuated stylus button, pressure sensitive display surface or by sensing the time during which the stylus remains stationary on the display screen. The virtual stylus can be removed in basically the same way.