Abstract: Aligning the contents of document objects on an electronic document page. Organizing a page of document objects so textual content is aligned to natural eye scanning patterns promotes readership and usability. When a user creates a new island of text, the new text can be snapped into alignment with an existing island of text. Invisible guidelines that emanate from textual features in a document object can provide a relative alignment reference that floats with the position of the object on the page. In response to placing a content insertion point (“IP”) on an electronic page with an existing document object, the IP can be automatically aligned to the content of the existing document object. A page with several arbitrarily positioned document objects can be automatically rearranged so that the contents of the document objects are each aligned to one another.

Abstract: A table is created using keystrokes on a keyboard. Text to the left of a cursor is contained in a first column of the table when the table is created. Text to the right of the cursor is contained in a second column of the table when the table is created. Ghost feedback may be displayed to indicate a new empty row at the bottom of an existing table. When the cursor reaches the border of the first column as the user enters text, the width of the first column is increased while the width of the table is increased. If the width of the table is at a maximum value the widths of other columns in the table are decreased.

Abstract: Displaying a membrane, or container, around a document object on an electronic document page. In response to placing the insertion point (IP) on the page, a ghost membrane can be displayed on an output screen at the IP. After content is added at the IP, a membrane around the content can be displayed. This membrane can be continually displayed, even when an IP is not in the document object. One or more handles may be displayed around the membrane of a document object containing an IP or underlying a cursor. An IP can also be placed within a hit region associated with a membrane of a document object, allowing a user to add content to that document object at the IP. Similarly, selected text can be dragged from one document object to another document object and added to that document object when the selected text contacts a hit region of the document object.

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: Aligning the contents of document objects on an electronic document page. Organizing a page of document objects so textual content is aligned to natural eye scanning patterns promotes readership and usability. When a user creates a new island of text, the new text can be snapped into alignment with an existing island of text. Invisible guidelines that emanate from textual features in a document object can page. In response to placing a content insertion point (“IP”) on an electronic page with an existing document object, the IP can be automatically aligned to the content of the existing document object. A page with several arbitrarily positioned document objects can be automatically rearranged so that the contents of the document objects are each aligned to one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new and improved embodiments of systems and methods for using a “pen” input as a temporary pointer to highlight a portion of a document and having the “ink” disappear. In embodiments, a method and system for temporarily marking a portion of a document comprises sending a marking directive that produces a visual indicia on a document being viewed on two or more display devices connected over a network, waiting a period of time, and automatically erasing the visual indicia on the document being viewed on the two or more display devices.

Abstract: A table is created using keystrokes on a keyboard. Text to the left of a cursor is contained in a first column of the table when the table is created. Text to the right of the cursor is contained in a second column of the table when the table is created. Ghost feedback may be displayed to indicate a new empty row at the bottom of an existing table. When the cursor reaches the border of the first column as the user enters text, the width of the first column is increased while the width of the table is increased. If the width of the table is at a maximum value the widths of other columns in the table are decreased.

Abstract: A summary page provides a current overview of a document. A query may be created or selected to search for a particular type of data in the document. Metadata associated with the document is analyzed to locate the type of data identified in the query. The query result is displayed on the summary page. A user may scan the summary page to determine an overview of the document based on the query result. The summary page may also include a link to the source of the query result in the document. The query or the query results may be stored in a dynamic content container associated with the document. The dynamic quality of the content container causes the summary page to be continuously updated and synchronous with a current state of the document. Thus, modifications to sources of the query result in the document are dynamically updated on the summary page.

Abstract: Described is a mechanism for importing data into an outline aware application if the data does not include outline structure, and for creating outline structure in the data based on indicia of visual structure that may be present in the data. In one aspect, data is selected for import into the outline application. The data is devoid of outline structure, such as relative level information or parent/child relationship information. However, the data includes indicia of visual structure, such as markup attributes or tab characters. The outline application (or some related component) transforms the selected data into outline structured data based on the indicia of visual structure.

Abstract: Described is a mechanism for pasting data from a source document into a destination document while providing the user with options related to the particular data being pasted. The options allow the user to choose how much formatting or structure to persist. More specifically, the user may select whether to persist general formatting, direct formatting, and/or outline structure through the paste operation.