Abstract: A method of, and system for, using a single keyboard for concurrently interacting with a plurality of terminals. By dividing the keyboard and dedicating one portion to one terminal and another portion to another terminal, a user can have a plurality of applications active at the same time and interact with all.

Abstract: A method of managing the relationship between intermingled objects of different types for editing purposes. Management is through establishing separate and combined modes of operation. When a separate mode is selected, only a selected object will be affected by an edit action. When a combined mode is selected, selection of any object will result in all objects being affected by an edit action.

Abstract: A method of improving printer throughput by selecting a print velocity based on the characteristics of a line to be printed. Incorporated into an application program are all available printing velocities to be used for printing. As each line to be printed is buffered, it is analyzed. Based on the analysis, an optimum velocity is selected by the program for causing a printing of the line.

Abstract: A method of modifying a graphics data stream for improving printer throughput. The data stream is scanned and nulls preceding printable data are converted to text spaces. Text spaces are recognized by the printer to cause a printhead included in the printer to move directly to the first printable data position rather than homing first.

Abstract: A method of, and placing help information on a convenient but unneeded portion of a screen. Help information, when called, is placed on the screen adjacent an operating point, and positioned such that needed information adjacent the point is not covered up or blocked from view.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, building a screen and retrieving related portions of the screen through single button depression. The order with which various portions are built in building a screen is used upon recall of the screen and selection of one portion for controlling selection of related portions. Consider a wheel which is built by building a hub, spokes, rim, and tire in order. Later recall of the wheel and selection of the spokes will permit selection of either the hub or rim upon single button depression.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, accurately manipulating objects on a screen to obtain a desired layout. Objects are called or built and then manipulated in terms of rotation and/or displacement. Accurate manipulation is facilitated by displaying a readout of the extent of rotation and/or displacement. Upon obtaining a desired layout, the layout is stored, printed, used to drive a process, etc.

Abstract: A method of determining character width for proportional spacing printing based on information contained in a dot pattern table. For a selected character, the character dot pattern in the table is analyzed to determine leading blanks and the actual character width. To obtain an overall width for printing, a number of trailing blanks equal to the number of leading blanks is added to the number of leading blanks and the actual character width. As such, a character suitable for proportional spacing printing is in effect built.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, altering the configuration of an art form based on defining a portion of the border of the art form. The definition of the portion is used to call an appropriate routine for permitting operator alteration of the portion. The portion is defined both geometrically and by makeup. Consider a square. If part of the definition includes one side, and another part of the definition is that the side is a solid line, urging the side away from the center of the square will create a rectangle. If part of the definition includes a broken line rather than a solid line, urging the line away from the center will result in a peaked side with the square becoming a polygon. Next consider a circle. If the border portion defined is a solid line semicircle, urging the semicircle away from the center of the circle will result in a shape similar to that of a silhouette of cylinder having domed ends.

Abstract: A method of reducing the need for a reverse indexing capability during multi-pass printing. In environments permitting narrow line spacings, requiring multiple passes to print a line, and where platen indexing is by full head height increments, indexing for completing printing for one line may result in an overshooting of a subsequent print line. Without reverse indexing capabilities, the subsequent line cannot be printed at a proper location or on the subsequent print line. A solution to reduce the occurrence of this problem is to index the platen only to the extent necessary to complete printing of a line on a subsequent pass.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, controlling a view of window information upon editing the information. The view is controlled based on mode selection. For normal information input operations, information scrolling is selected. Related existing information adjacent the newly input information will be viewable, but remote information will eventually be scrolled out of the window. For those instances where all existing information is to remain viewable upon input of additional information, border scrolling will result in a varying of the size of the window.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, merging a portion of one document into another and providing for current viewing and on line editing. During preparation of a document, a paragraph from another document can be included in the document being prepared by referencing the other document and paragraph. The result of referencing is inclusion of the paragraph, a view of the document being prepared, and a document including the included paragraph which is dynamically editable. If the paragraph is edited, an operator decision is to be made as to whether the other document is to be updated according to the editing.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, creating a document on a real time basis and providing a view of adjoining portions of the document. A data object is specified for creating a window on a display screen and data is input into the window. When the window has been filled with data, input of additional data will result in scrolling of the data, and the data will become larger than the window. Upon completion of the data object, the input data is stored, but a windows' worth of data continues to be displayed. When another data object is specified, another window is created on the screen for input of data. The operations are the same as with the first described window. As additional windows are created, the screen will become full. When this occurs, there will be a scrolling of the windows. As each data object is built, it is linked to the preceding data object. Upon completion of input to a window, the window is linked to a preceding window and to the data input into the window.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, designating footnotes and footnote references based on, and beginning with, an operator defined initial designation. The initial designation can be made up of both a variable functional portion and an accompanying fixed aesthetic portion. The functional portion is for numbering and can be either a numeric or other graphic character. The fixed portion can be both cosmetic and functional and can be made up of a character or characters. The designation can be located either on-line or in an indexed position. When numeric characters are used in number designating footnotes and footnote references, there is an incrementing by one of the operator selected initial number for each succeeding footnote and footnote reference designated. When other graphic characters are used in number designating footnotes and footnote references, the number of graphic characters is increased by one for each succeeding footnote and footnote reference designated.

Abstract: A method of managing body and footnote text during preparation, review, editing, and printing of a document. Preparation can be accomplished in a one pass input keying operation without regard to (1) storage of the body and footnote text, and (2) numbering of reference points in the body text and corresponding footnotes. During preparation there is separate storage of the body and footnote text, separate display frames are provided for each, editing is permitted in the frame being operated on, and the system automatically numbers and updates the numbering of the reference points and footnotes. For a review of the appearance of the document in its to-be-printed format, and any editing thereof, the body and footnote text are assembled for display. Thereafter, the document can be printed.

Abstract: A method of assembling, for display, a monthly calendar annotated with exterior current day narrative notes and embedded abbreviated notes. Notes related to a specific day can be prepared on a time independent basis by calling, and keying to, a day screen for the specific day. In addition, keying is used to distinguish between normal and special notes which are to be later displayed in abbreviated and narrative forms, respectively. Upon the occurrence of the specific day and the calling of a calendar screen, the notes are displayed along with an updated calendar. Special notes appear as narrative footnotes and normal notes appear in abbreviated form with the day indications. In the absence of further day screen calling and keying, the footnotes change on a daily basis, while the abbreviated notes remain fixed.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, efficiently managing a temporary base line move operation to obtain an aesthetically pleasing and understandable equation and sub/super-script printout, and avoid excessive keying and indexing calculations. A single control is built based on an established base line. Included in the control are direction of move and magnitude of move from the established base line to the temporary base line. Following printing on the temporary base line, the control can be used to return to the established base line. The major advantages are limited coding, the magnitude of the move is independent of line spacing, and a return to the established base line can be without knowledge of the move magnitude.

Abstract: Apparatus in a disc dictation system for concurrently ejecting a disc from the record/playback station into the unload station and loading a new disc from the load station into the record/playback station. The apparatus includes a carrier member which is movable from a preset home position below the load station, through the record/playback station, to the unload station. Attached to the carrier member are an ejector which disengages the used disc from the record/playback station and a picker which selects a new disc from the load station. The ejector and the picker are carried by the carrier member through its motion and respectively transfer the used disc to the unload station and transfer a new disc into the record/playback station.