Abstract: A two-dimensional scroll icon is provided for scrolling data in a window or panel. The scroll icon has a home position. The scroll icon can be dragged in any direction away from the home position to provide scrolling. Scrolling is in the direction along an imaginary vector extending from the home position to the scroll icon. The rate of scrolling is proportional to the distance of the scroll icon from the home position. The scroll icon also has characters located thereon. Selecting the characters toggles the visibility on and off of the vertical and horizontal scroll bars along the sides of the windows.

Abstract: In a multi-windowed environment, a direct manipulation technique adds the ability to add and delete source objects and target objects to a direct manipulation list. After the direct manipulation operation has begun, a group object is formed. The group object may be positioned proximate without being dropped or released another object which may be a source or a target object. Upon passage of a pre-determined period of time, a menu will open allowing selection of an appropriate option to add to or delete from the group object.

Abstract: A user can directly manipulate objects on a data processing system user interface by dragging a source object and then dropping the source object onto the target. Dropping the source object onto a target performs an action. The action is performed in accordance with parameters. The parameters have defaults. The user can override these defaults by positioning the source object on the target and delaying the drop of the source action. The source object is thus "hovered" over the target. After hovering for a predetermined amount of time, an indication of a successful hover is provided to the user. If the user then drops the source object onto the target, the user is prompted for new parameter values. Upon receiving the new parameter values, the action is then performed in accordance with the new values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide a direct manipulation protocol to allow a user, while dragging a source object to a target object, to pass the source object through one or more intervening processor objects, causing an appropriate action to occur to the source object when it is dropped on the target object. If the source object is passed across a processor object for which no appropriate action occurs, the source object remains unchanged in appearance and content. If the source object undergoes modification, its graphical representation to the user changes, giving the user feedback that the source object has been modified.