Abstract: A method, computer program product and apparatus are provided for capturing inexact date information. In particular, a sophisticated date entry mechanism is provided that is capable of receiving, as input, date information associated with not only exact dates, but also “fuzzy” (i.e., partial or approximate) dates including, for example, “August of 2006,” or “about the first of June in the year 1996.” This date information may be input via any combination of a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, or other input element, and in a plurality of different formats, including, for example, a plain language description of the exact or fuzzy date, and/or a relative description of the date. Once the date information has been received, the date entry mechanism is capable of determining in which format the date information was provided, and determining a date corresponding with the date information based on this format.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and apparatus are provided for capturing inexact date information. In particular, a sophisticated date entry mechanism is provided that is capable of receiving, as input, date information associated with not only exact dates, but also “fuzzy” (i.e., partial or approximate) dates including, for example, “August of 2006,” or “about the first of June in the year 1996.” This date information may be input via any combination of a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, or other input element, and in a plurality of different formats, including, for example, a plain language description of the exact or fuzzy date, and/or a relative description of the date. Once the date information has been received, the date entry mechanism is capable of determining in which format the date information was provided, and determining a date corresponding with the date information based on this format.

Abstract: An electronic progress scoring mechanism or indicator visually informs the user of how much of a task is complete and what is the nature or direction of the progress of task completion (positive or negative). A goal scoring software provides a scale and indicator based display for a task whose progress is to be monitored. The indicator can slide over the scale to indicate the most recent status of the task. A bi-directional reference pointer is displayed adjacent to the scale to provide a visual cue as to whether the most recent status indicates an upward (e.g. “better”) or downward (e.g. “worse”) progress from the immediately preceding status. An overlayed display window may also be provided adjacent to the sliding indicator to textually display the two most recent scores of progress and the relationship between them (i.e., whether there is a positive or negative movement from an earlier score to the most recent score).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for displaying information in a visual scheme in which the visual scheme is assigned to a control button contained within a graphical user interface and assigned to a set of information associated with said control button, and in which the set of information is displayed within the assigned visual scheme when the control button is selected and the set of information is hidden when the control button is deselected. The method and apparatus are direct to a multi-level scheme that allows a user to quickly visually parse data in a complex document as well as individually view or turn off specific parts of the data hierarchy giving the advantage of efficient document consumption and flexible viewing. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used in construing the claims.

Abstract: A method of displaying information is comprised of displaying a representation associated with certain information and displaying, proximate to the representation, an alphanumeric code assigned thereto. The code is comprised of one or more keystrokes needed to select the information associated with the representation. The information may be hierarchically arranged such that a plurality of representations is at the same level in the hierarchical arrangement. In that case, displaying a code may include displaying a code comprised of a common letter/number and a unique number/letter, respectively, proximate to the plurality of representations. Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method of organizing information for a display wherein the information is represented in the display by a plurality of indicium. A code comprised of the input needed to select the information associated with its indicium is assigned.

Abstract: The mouse cursor is moved over the register of a register dialog once a drop-and-drag action has been initiated, then the register under the mouse cursor is automatically moved to the foreground after a variable time interval, and the contents can thus be seen. Process of making the item visible is initiated just by locating the mouse over the register of the concealed registered dialog. The invention can be extended to normal mouse movements (that is to say that other than drag drop.) Dropping an object on to a drop destination in a concealed register of a register dialog for drag and drop actions and drag and drop between the registers of a tabbed dialog or the pages of a workbook (such as the various tables in Excel, for example.

Abstract: Permitting or prohibiting a drop is executed at the beginning of the drag-and-drop action initiated by the user, by mouse-clicking on the object to be dragged, for example. Thus, the drag-and-drop action is shown as a visual drop permission or prohibition in the relevant drop areas, such as a visual queue, for example, check mark, etc. In the preferred embodiment, and upon initiation of the action, the surface components display which areas, parts, elements or substructures can or cannot accept a given object or data element before a mouse pointer, arrow or cursor reaches or moves over the relevant areas, parts, elements or substructures.

Abstract: Permitting or prohibiting a drop is executed at the beginning of the drag-and-drop action initiated by the user, by mouse-clicking on the object to be dragged, for example. Thus, the drag-and-drop action is shown as a visual drop permission or prohibition in the relevant drop areas, such as a visual queue, for example, check mark, etc. In the preferred embodiment, and upon initiation of the action, the surface components display which areas, parts, elements or substructures can or cannot accept a given object or data element before a mouse pointer, arrow or cursor reaches or moves over the relevant areas, parts, elements or substructures.

Abstract: The mouse cursor is moved over the register of a register dialog once a drop-and-drag action has been initiated, then the register under the mouse cursor is automatically moved to the foreground after a variable time interval, and the contents can thus be seen. Process of making the item visible is initiated just by locating the mouse over the register of the concealed registered dialog. The invention can be extended to normal mouse movements (that is to say that other than drag drop.) Dropping an object on to a drop destination in a concealed register of a register dialog for drag and drop actions and drag and drop between the registers of a tabbed dialog or the pages of a workbook (such as the various tables in Excel, for example.

Abstract: An industrial automation computer display presents cumulative or sequential messages to the user through an unobtrusive and discreet navigator and with audio-visual feedback. The messages related to fault-causing events are stored, and the last message is displayed in a space-saving manner in the navigator. A complete list of messages appears when the user requests it through a user-activated icon, allowing navigation to, and assessment of, the messages. After selection of an entry and initiation of a “jump” to the fault location, the list disappears and the discreet navigator is once again reduced to the original message indicator, which can also be made to disappear altogether until the next significant event occurs. That is, the user sees the complete list in a pop-up window for only as long as she/he needs to, and thus considerably more working area is made available.