Abstract: A scrubber object may be dropped onto a container object on a computer system. A dialog box is opened which allows a user to select search criteria for the disposal of files/data within the container. After selecting the appropriate search criteria, the present invention will search the container for items meeting the criteria and will then display a list of those items for user approval. The user may then accept all items in the list for disposal, reject all items on the list for disposal, or accept some items and reject some items on the list for disposal.

Abstract: A method of creating a graphical presentation data stream having special controls/hints which are device independent and permit text to be processed at higher speeds. The special controls/hints are added to the graphical presentation data stream to identify where limitations have been made for text presentation. A begin data characteristic control is added to the graphical presentation data stream to indicate the start of limitations. The limitations remain in effect until an associated end data characteristic control is encountered. An identification field is part of each begin/end characteristic control. The identification field defines the specific process used to generate the delimited portion of the data stream.

Abstract: The method and apparatus may be utilized for the efficient interchange of multimedia data in a data processing system. A sequential data stream is established which includes multiple variable length consecutive sections, each of which includes multiple data samples. Each data sample preferably includes a collection of data and a control structure or header which is utilized to specify a manner of interpreting the collection of data. The control structure preferably includes information regarding the size of the collection of data, the resolution and duration of the collection of data, the manner of data collection employed and the encoding technique utilized, if any. In the depicted embodiment a track collection index is transmitted in conjunction with the sequential data stream and utilized to identify the physical location of various track samples within the data stream.

Abstract: The method and apparatus may be utilized for the efficient interchange of multimedia data in a data processing system. A sequential data stream is established which includes multiple variable length consecutive sections, each of which includes multiple data samples. Each data sample preferably includes a collection of data and a control structure or header which is utilized to specify a manner of interpreting the collection of data. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention a track collection index is transmitted in conjunction with the sequential data stream and utilized to identify the physical location of various track samples within the data stream. Additionally, a track sequence index is provided which may be utilized to identify the logical order in which the data samples are to be utilized in each selected track to create a multi-media presentation along with an indication of the playback speed to be utilized.

Abstract: A text editor provides the capability of balancing data for different sets of identified columns within the same page and across multiple imaged pages. Column balancing, as used herein is the technique of dividing an entity to be displayed into a number of columns of substantially similar size. This allows facing pages in a book to be balanced, selected text data on a page to be either balanced or not balanced, and text data associated with logical document constructs (e.g., chapters) to be independently balanced.

Abstract: In a data processing system capable of responding to operator entered format parameter values the capability is provided for compactly storing directives for temporary formatting changes within text data. When temporary formatting directives are specified, the current values of the formatting parameters to be changed are stored, which enables their immediate and automatic return when the need for the temporary formatting change has passed. This is accomplished by the use of the following three new controls which are used within the text data stream: (a) the Begin Temporary Format Change, (b) the End Temporary Format Change, and (c) the Return to Previous Format. The first two of these controls are used to bracket the format change which is to take place and to identify that the format change contained therein is to be considered temporary so that the formatting states for the parameters to be changed can be remembered.

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: In a printing system comprising a printer controlled by a host processor (11), a system of justification is provided wherein the determination of justification parameters is shared by the host processor (11) and the printer formatting processor (12). Justification means (25) in the host processor (11) determine which spaces in a line are to be altered to effect justification. Means (26, 28 and 13) are provided for conveying data from the host processor to the printer indicating which spaces in a particular line are to be so altered, and means (42) are provided in the printer for determining the size of the indicated spaces necessary to effect such a justification.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for and a method of printing complex characters using a high speed bidirectional on-the-fly printer. In accordance with the present method complex characters are printed in at least two steps. Once the first portion of a character has been printed and prior to the printing of the next character the carrier is turned around and again moved past the print position where the remaining portion of the first mentioned character is printed. This approach is termed "double turnaround".

Abstract: In a high speed trail printer an improved electronic tab rack is provided. A method and apparatus are disclosed for decreasing the time required to determine the location of the next tab involving accessing a condensed tab rack. The condensed tab rack is set up when the tabs are entered and contains for each byte of the basic tab rack one bit indicating whether or not the associated tab rack byte specifies at least one tab stop position.

Abstract: A system having two tab racks for controlling playout of sequentially stored text columns in a side-by-side format. During input keying set up of a job, desired tabs are set in a text tab rack and stored in a text buffer along with the text. These tabs will be in control for following keyed text. If new or additional tabs are required to define column boundaries during later playout, they are keyed, set, and stored prior to the text for the columns. In any event, the tabs in effect at the beginning of input keying of the columnar job will be in control for the column text. Upon later playout from the buffer and when the beginning of the first column is reached, a copy of the tabs set in the text tab rack is transferred to a column tab rack to control the column boundaries. If different tabs are required for the text in the columns, they must have been stored in the buffer after the beginning of the first column or playout must be interrupted for input keying of these tabs.

Abstract: A system for printing a plurality of sequentially stored text columns in a side-by-side format with the line spacing of one column varying from that of another. Each column is to be printed out in an operator defined location. After a line from one of the columns is printed on a print line in a defined location, the carrier is caused to escape. Any corresponding lines from succeeding columns, as determined by their line spacing requirements, are printed on the same line prior to causing a printer carrier return. That is, the line spacing requirement of a column is utilized to determine whether a line from the column is to be printed on the print line being printed.

Abstract: A system for handling multiple printer font requirements during playout of a plurality of sequentially stored text columns in a side-by-side format. A line from one column is printed on a print line, the carrier is caused to escape, and any corresponding line from a succeeding column is printed on the same line. Printing and escapement continue until all corresponding lines from each column are printed on the same print line prior to causing a printer carrier return. During playout within a column, or from column to column, printer font requirements stored with the text are used to determine subsequent system events. If one of the columns, or a portion thereof, is to be printed in a different type style or language, the system will signal a need for a font change, stop the playout and await an indication that a font change has been made.

Abstract: A control system for randomly accessing the contents of a recirculating shift register memory under the control of a processor. The processor provides to the control system an address equivalent to the number of positions the operating point (defined by an operating flag) is to be moved in the shift register memory to access the information desired by the processor. The control system decodes the address, removes the operating flag from the memory character stream and reinserts the operating flag in the memory at the point desired by the processor during a single revolution of the memory.