Abstract: A method of providing a graphical user interface includes displaying a graphic representation of a data object at an initial location, receiving a command selecting the data object from a user, moving the graphical representation of the data object towards a destination location upon receiving an indication of the destination location from a user, and causing an at least indirect transition of the object from a first state to a second state at a time when the graphical representation of the data object is positioned substantially at a final destination location. Output enables a user to distinguish the first state from the second state. A first timer is started in response to receiving an indication of a destination location from a user through the interface. The transition from the first state to the second state is automatically caused only after the first timer has run over a pre-determined period of time.

Abstract: A method of printing documents from a user workstation includes activating a printer driver for submitting a digital document file to a printer, specifying print process settings in the printer driver, and commanding the driver to submit the document file and the settings to the printer. Values of settings are either individually or collectively specified, and a collective specification is a selection of a user-selectable prestored set of settings, called a “template”. Each time a value of at least one of a predetermined set of settings is individually specified and confirmed by a user, a new template is automatically defined and made selectable in the printer driver. A new template can be renamed by the user for easy recognition. Also, a template can easily be deleted, such that the number of templates can be kept practical. The same template management method can be used for other document-related processes, such as faxing and scanning.