Abstract: What is described is a method and system for notifying actions. The method includes a method comprising performing an action, storing an action detail in a memory, retrieving the action detail from the memory in an expandable action menu, and displaying the action detail in the expandable action menu.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for implementing a mass data change tool to update the column data for the selected rows in a table presented in the graphical user interface of a software application. The mass data change tool may include an additional row, a mass data change row, in the table and an initiation means to trigger the mass data change. The additional mass data change row may contain input fields for one more columns of the table for which mass data updating is provided. These input fields may be used to specify valid field values to update the selected rows of the table. The initiation means may be a button or other graphical icon in the additional mass data change row of the table. The initiation means for the mass data change tool may include any known initiation means such as a pull-down menu option or button on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A taskbar control permits system operators to group application instances according to their own preferences. The taskbar control system groups application instances according to a default grouping scheme but permit the default grouping to be managed by operator control. The operator may move application instances among groups or to new groups via drag and drop commands, commands entered through context menus and the like.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for reducing graphical clutter in computer displays. According to the embodiments, one or more graphical control elements may be hidden, and only displayed on a computer screen when needed, for example in response to detection of an interactive event with respect to an interactive field of a display.

Abstract: A timescale selection window provides an application user interface, wherein the window includes a hierarchy of interactive selection zones. Each zone may display temporal information at a respective temporal granularity. User commands may be entered via the selection zone to select date ranges, to navigate among presented dates by units presented in the selection zones or to change granularities presented within the zones. As such, the timescale selection window provides a convenient user tool for navigation.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and system for providing calendar controls in computer displays in a compact, uncluttered format.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing a hierarchical selection box for addressing an e-mail that allows a user to drill down to specific contacts using business organization data. A user may select a category such as employer, department, or specialty area to obtain a display of contacts organized by that category. The system allows a user to schedule appoints in the same way that the user thinks. The user can identify individuals having common characteristics, e.g., being members of the same department, being project managers, and easily select these individuals and request their attendance at a meeting, video conference or telephone conference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a list of selected data entries into a spreadsheet is provided. In some embodiments, data entries may be selected from a data set stored on a computer system using a first computer program to obtain a group of selected data entries. If a user of the first computer program has made a request to export the group of selected data entries from the first computer program to a spreadsheet program, the group of selected data entries may be formatted into a spreadsheet data file that is in a format recognized by the spreadsheet program and the spreadsheet program may execute with the spreadsheet data file. If it is determined that a request was received from the spreadsheet program for refreshed data, a current data value for at least one entry in the data set may be written into a corresponding entry in the spreadsheet data file.

Abstract: Automated generation of business correspondences includes accessing a template to retrieve a business form. The business form is encoded within a word processing application encoded, but also includes encoding for the dynamic generation of one or more fields consistent with formatting that is predefined in a template. Through the retrieval and filtering of business information, the business form includes dynamically generated business information data fields consistent with the filtered business information. The business information populates the appropriate fields in the business form, maintaining the proper formatting, including stylistic and table designations, because of the database formatting of the fields. As such, the business correspondences may be automatically generated with proper and consistent business information formatting. Meta data associated with the data fields in the template may be also used for other programming operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for displaying an expanded e-mail header of an e-mail message that is readily viewable when reading a received message. An e-mail application retrieves data stored in one or more contact files, such as a sender's contact data and displays this information in an expanded e-mail header or other image within the e-mail so that the recipient can view it by simply clicking on the received e-mail or a received request for an appointment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for displaying an external user interface in a groupware application to allow a user to access another application from the groupware application. The external user interface may be accessed from an initial screen within the groupware application that may allow a user to choose from multiple external applications. The user interface may then be expanded to also display user interfaces associated with the application that was selected, as well as the user interfaces associated with the e-mail program. With the external user interface, the user may navigate through the external application from the groupware application by sending multiple queries.