Abstract: The invention provides an improved user interface component comprising a set of icons, called Zframes, that correspond to each page in a tabbed notebook. Objects can be copied, moved, or displayed using the Zframes. When a user drags an object off the client surface of an exposed page and drops it into one of the Zframes, the object is moved to the page that corresponds to the Zframe. When an object is dropped into a Zframe it is displayed only as long as the user holds the mouse button down. When a user depresses the mouse button when pointing to a Zframe the corresponding page is displayed while the mouse button is depressed. Links between objects on the exposed page of the tabbed notebook are illustrated using link lines. Links from an object contained in the exposed page to objects on other pages can be illustrated by displaying rings within Zframes that correspond to pages that contain objects linked to a selected object. The rings are removed when the object is released.

Abstract: The present invention provides an object-oriented file structuring system. The invention provides a method of defining DATA objects and CONTAINER objects and SYSTEM objects that facilitates navigation through a file structuring system. Notation and nomenclature are defined for building files composed of CONTAINERs and DATA and SYSTEM objects and for defining relationships between and among files, CONTAINERs and DATA. A FOCUS LIST tracks objects of interest and aids in NAVIGATION. CONTAINER objects contain other objects. DATA objects enclose DATA in either machine-dependent or machine-independent value representations. Developers work with logical files and can freely create and modify the logical relationships of file objects. A RECONSTITUTION algorithm periodically updates the physical file to correspond to the logical file.

Abstract: The present invention provides an object-oriented file structuring system. The invention provides a method of defining DATA objects and CONTAINER objects and SYSTEM objects that facilitates navigation through a file structuring system. Notation and nomenclature are defined for building files composed of CONTAINERs and DATA and SYSTEM objects and for defining relationships between and among files, CONTAINERs and DATA. A FOCUS LIST tracks objects of interest and aids in NAVIGATION. CONTAINER objects contain other objects. DATA objects enclose DATA in either machine-dependent or machine-independent value representations. Developers work with logical files and can freely create and modify the logical relationships of file objects. A RECONSTITUTION algorithm periodically updates the physical file to correspond to the logical file.