Abstract: A method and system are provided for performing actions on content in a region within a free form two-dimensional workspace. In a computer software application, a region is defined within the workspace, an action is associated with the region, content is received within the region, and an action is performed on the content in the region. The region may be defined by generating an outline object to define a region within the workspace. An action may be associated with the region by selecting an action from a list of actions to associate with the region. The actions performed may be handwriting recognition, adding data to a contacts list, adding data to a task list, and identifying a recognizer for the content. The actions may also include editing data entered in a region.

Abstract: A program module may allow a user to change a user interface language. Because a help feature often refers to user interface terms, a user may become confused if the help feature refers to user interface terms in the help language rather than in the user interface language. HTML help feature file tagging may be altered with an HTML tag set so that these user interface terms may be identified and converted to the user interface language. Once a user interface term is identified in the HTML help feature file of the help feature language, the corresponding user interface term may be retrieved from the help feature file of the user interface language by identifying the same tag. The corresponding user interface term of the help feature file of the user interface language may then be plugged into the help feature file of the help feature language and displayed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a simplified system and method for manipulating data in a data processing application. The system and method allow the user to manipulate data in a table-like manner without resorting to other data entry screens or windows to define a table-like structure. Rather, the table-like structure is defined by interactively monitoring inputs received from a user. For example, if a user enters a tab following data on a same line, the present invention will manipulate that data as two columns of information. Thus, without performing additional tasks tangential to inputting data, the user is provided with table-like features, such as wrapping text, adjusting column width, and the like. In another embodiment, the table-like structure is determined by scanning contiguous lines for lines with identical horizontal alignment in relation to a first line.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for creating asides within an electronic document are provided. The keystroke combination is defined for creating an aside with an electronic document. If the keystroke combination is received, a location is identified within the electronic document for an aside object. Once the location for the aside has been determined, an outline object is created at the location. The outline object holds text or other contents for the aside. An insertion point is then placed within the object. The user may then enter keystrokes or other data into the second object. If the keystroke combination is again entered, the insertion point is returned to its location immediately prior to moving the insertion point to the aside object. The keystroke combination for creating an aside and the keystroke combination for returning from the aside may be identical. Asides may also be created in various portions of an electronic document, such as a title portion, in a similar manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically adjusting printing settings to optimize the fit of text, data and/or images on printed pages. Once selected text or data is designated for printing, a determination is made as to whether the selected text or data may be printed on a single page or whether multiple pages are required. The best fit of the text or data on a single or multiple pages is accomplished by incrementally adjusting a number of different print settings until an optimum fit of the text or data is achieved on a single page or on a set of pages. Print settings include margins, scale, and orientation.

Abstract: Described is a mechanism for visually categorizing electronic notes so that important information within the notes can be easily discerned. More specifically, a user may request to categorize an object (i.e., a note) in a document that is being displayed on a screen. The request may be received through a menu selection, a short-key combination, an ink gesture, and the like. The request specifies which one of several visual indicators to apply to the object. When the visual indicator is applied, the object becomes distinguishable from other objects displayed in the document on the screen. The visual indicator may be displayed in proximity to the object on the screen and may have a formatting attribute therewith which is applied to the object, such as changing a font color for the object, highlighting the object and the like. Each of the several visual indicators is visually distinct.

Abstract: A shared document is displayed in a customized form with highlighted content that identifies significant portions of the document. The highlighted content draws a user's attention to the portions of the document that may have been modified, deleted or added by others since the last time the user accessed the document. The highlighted content directs a user to modified document portions that the user has not yet read.

Abstract: Displaying a writing guide for a free-form document editor by detecting electronic ink, classifying the detected ink as corresponding to handwriting or a drawing, and displaying a handwriting guide or a drawing guide in response to classifying the detected ink as handwriting or a drawing, respectively. The writing guides can provide feedback regarding the classification of the detected ink and can be resized as additional ink is detected. The handwriting guide can comprise a writing area, writing guide portion, bullet guide, indent marker, character notches, gesture guide, or sacrificial guide to create meaningful structure within an outline object of an electronic document.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically changing user interface terms in the help feature to the user interface language chosen by the user as opposed to the help feature language, and for converting and plugging user interface terms. A program module may allow the user to change the user interface language and the help feature language such that the user interface language may be different than the help feature language. Because the help feature often refers to user interface terms, a user may become confused if the help feature refers to user interface terms in the help language rather than in the user interface language. tagging of the HTML help feature files is altered with a special set of HTML tags so that these user interface terms may be identified and converted to the user interface language.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for associating actions with semantic labels in an electronic document. The document is created or edited in an application program module and sections of the electronic document are annotated with semantic labels. The application program module passes the semantic labels to an action DLL. The action DLL is responsible for communicating with the application program module, transmitting the labels to action plug-ins, and receiving, from the action plug-ins, the actions to be associated with the labels. The application program module communicates with the action DLL to retrieve the actions associated with the semantic labels and displays them to a user. The document may be created in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and may be annotated using XML tags. The semantic labels may be associated with strings of text or graphical objects.

Abstract: Displaying a writing guide for a free-form document editor by detecting electronic ink, classifying the detected ink as corresponding to handwriting or a drawing, and displaying a handwriting guide or a drawing guide in response to classifying the detected ink as handwriting or a drawing, respectively. The writing guides can provide feedback regarding the classification of the detected ink and can be resized as additional ink is detected. The handwriting guide can comprise a writing area, writing guide portion, bullet guide, indent marker, character notches, gesture guide, or sacrificial guide to create meaningful structure within an outline object of an electronic document.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a simplified system and method for manipulating data in a data processing application. The system and method allow the user to manipulate data in a table-like manner without resorting to other data entry screens or windows to define a table-like structure. Rather, the table-like structure is defined by interactively monitoring inputs received from a user. For example, if a user enters a tab following data on a same line, the present invention will manipulate that data as two columns of information. Thus, without performing additional tasks tangential to inputting data, the user is provided with table-like features, such as wrapping text, adjusting column width, and the like. In another embodiment, the table-like structure is determined by scanning contiguous lines for lines with identical horizontal alignment in relation to a first line.

Abstract: Described is a mechanism for visually categorizing electronic notes so that important information within the notes can be easily discerned. More specifically, a user may request to categorize an object (i.e., a note) in a document that is being displayed on a screen. The request may be received through a menu selection, a short-key combination, an ink gesture, and the like. The request specifies which one of several visual indicators to apply to the object. When the visual indicator is applied, the object becomes distinguishable from other objects displayed in the document on the screen. The visual indicator may be displayed in proximity to the object on the screen and may have a formatting attribute therewith which is applied to the object, such as changing a font color for the object, highlighting the object and the like. Each of the several visual indicators is visually distinct.

Abstract: A method and system for converting and plugging user interface terms is disclosed. A program module may allow the user to change the user interface language and the help feature language such that the user interface language may be different than the help feature language. Because the help feature often refers to user interface terms, a user may become confused if the help feature refers to user interface terms in the help language rather than in the user interface language. A mechanism for dynamically changing user interface terms in the help feature to the user interface language chosen by the user as opposed to the help feature language is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tagging of the HTML help feature files is altered with a special set of HTML tags so that these user interface terms may be identified and converted to the user interface language.

Abstract: Converting an incoming phonetically-coded string representing an East Asian language into its proper text characters. Conversion is triggered when dynamic IME analysis of the string indicates a threshold probability of correct conversion. Conversion of unconverted phonetic text is also triggered when the user relocates the insertion point. The user may select portions of text affected by conversion error and access a corresponding editable phonetic string and a prioritized list of alternate conversions for that string. The corresponding phonetic string is generated from the selected text if the original input string is unavailable.

Abstract: Detecting an encoding system used to encode computer readable text or data across a wide variety of encoding systems. When a user attempts to download and use text or data on his or her computer, encoded data is passed from the desired text or data file to a series of code readers. Each code reader is programmed to read encoded data according to the rules of a given encoding system. When a given code reader is unable to validate a byte of data according to the encoding system rules associated with that reader, that reader is deactivated. This process of elimination leads to a single reader and a single encoding system. If the list of readers is not eliminated to a single reader, ambiguity resolution is performed to narrow the list of readers to a single reader. Once the list of active readers is narrowed to one, the encoding system associated with that reader is returned as the encoding system with which the data is encoded.