United States Patent [191
`Habib et al.
`
`11111111111111111111111111111111111111111 I
`US005694610A
`5,694,610
`[111 Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EDITING AND
`FORMATTING DATA IN A DIALOG
`WINDOW
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Catherine L. Habib, Redmond; Steven
`Bush, Issaquah, both of Wash.
`
`[73] Assignee: tdicrosoft Corporation, Redmond,
`Wash.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: '196,803
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 14, 1996
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 299,938, Sep. 1, 1994, Pat. No.
`5,579,466.
`Int. CL6
`•••••••••••••.•••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• G0'1F 17124
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl •............................................. 395n93; 3951347
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 395n93, 792,
`395/791, 802, 803, 347, 340, 352, 761;
`358/402
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/1995 Ch.alas ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 395/155
`5,392,386
`5,579,466 1111996 Habib et al ..•......•••....••.•..••••••• 395n93
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Microsoft Mail for Wmdows Version 3.2a, 1992-1994,
`sample screen printouts., 1994.
`Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide, Version 2.0, pp.
`140-145, 491-492, Microsoft Corporation, 1991.
`
`Heller, Martin, Advanced Windows™ Programming, John
`Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY, Chapter 7, pp. 265-282,
`Chapter 8, pp. 283-312, 1992.
`Simpson, Alan, Mastering WordPeifect 5.1 & 5.2 for Win(cid:173)
`dows, Sybex, 1992, 1993.
`Massimo, Casaro, Advanced Windows Programming, Win(cid:173)
`dows-DOS Developer's Journal, Oct. 1993, vol. 4, No. 10,
`pp. 21(4).
`
`Prima.ry Examiner-Joseph H. Feild
`Attonie~ Agent, or Firm--Jones & Askew, !LP
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and system for editing and formatting data in a
`dialog window. A rich text edit control supports a rich text
`edit field in a user dialog. Different behaviors can be
`specified for the rich text edit control such that a dialog
`author can enable or disable the formatting capability of the
`rich text edit field. A user can type directly into the rich text
`edit field and select and modify the formatting characteris(cid:173)
`tics of entered data using the same techniques and mecha(cid:173)
`nisms provided to enter data and to modify the formatting
`characteristics of the data in the underlying user document.
`Pop-up menus and shortcut keys are also available for
`modifying the fonnatting characteristics of data selected in
`the rich text edit field. The rich text edit control can accept
`data from another window and can inherit its formatting
`characteristics in order to display the data the way the data
`will appear in the underlying document. In one embodiment,
`the rich text edit control is provided by the underlying word
`processing application program. so as to utilize the same
`routines for editing and formatting data in a rich text edit
`field as within an underlying document.
`
`37 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Sheet 13 of 18
`
`5,694,610
`
`Create Dialog
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Sheet 14 of 18
`
`5,694,610
`
`N
`
`N
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`Standard Dialog
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`
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`
`Invoke dialog focus/
`navigation/input
`routine
`
`Return
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Sheet 15 of 18
`
`5,694,610
`
`Dialog Specific
`Initialization Routine
`
`• • •
`
`(other control specific initialization)
`
`Obtain indicators to
`RTEC document and
`information structures
`
`Set initial formatting
`and contents of RTEC
`document
`
`Initialize state and
`information structures
`from flags
`
`801
`
`802
`
`803
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Sheet 16 of 18
`
`5,694,610
`
`Rich Text Edit Control
`Callback Routine
`(action, control_ID, dialog_ID)
`
`902
`
`903
`
`Create WP
`>----..i document and other
`info structures
`
`Attach document
`and info structures
`to CID
`
`Return
`
`Reset the current
`">-----M WP doc and
`current selection
`to user doc
`
`905
`
`N
`
`N
`
`Dispose of the
`RTEC doc
`
`Free the RTEC
`info structures
`
`Return
`
`Set RTEC flag =
`-.....:___~· true; currentdoc =
`RTEC doc
`
`Install shortcut
`key keyboard map
`
`Return
`
`Set RTEC flag =
`false; reset current
`doc
`
`Remove shortcut
`key keyboard map
`
`Return
`
`. . .
`
`(other actions)
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Sheet 17 of 18
`
`5,694,610
`
`Win Main
`
`• • •
`
`y
`
`y
`
`N
`
`N
`
`Invoke standard
`character input
`routine
`
`•••
`
`1003
`
`1005
`
`1007
`
`Invoke dialog
`procedure
`with key
`
`Invoke standard
`shortcut handling
`routine
`
`Invoke standard
`navigation or
`clipboard
`handling routine
`
`FIG. 10
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 2, 1997
`
`Sheet 18 of 18
`
`5,694,610
`
`Rich Text Edit Control
`Window Procedure
`
`Pass on mouse events
`to application selection
`and navigation routines
`
`1101
`
`Pass on mouse events
`to standard dialog
`procedure
`
`1102
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 11
`
`

`
`5,694,610
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EDITING AND
`FORMATTING DATA IN A DIALOG
`WINDOW
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELJITED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 08/299,938, filed Sept. 1, 1994 U.S. Pat. No.
`5,579,466.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates generally to a computer
`system for editing and formatting data in a dialog window
`and, more specifically, to a method and system for editing
`and formatting data in a dialog window using a rich text edit
`field.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Often times, a user authoring a document wishes to
`modify some data in the document through the use of a
`dialog window. For example, if the user wishes to replace a
`word in a phrase and to change the formatting of the phrase
`to an italicized larger font, then the user replaces the existing
`word with a new word and reformats the phrase using the
`tools supplied by the application program that manages the
`document (typically a word processing application
`program). In some prior systems, these actions are per(cid:173)
`formed in two separate steps. First, the user modifies the
`textual content typically by deleting the existing word and
`replacing it by a new one or by typing over a selected word.
`Second, the user selects the phrase and invokes a formatting
`command to request formatting changes, typically provided
`by a menu or by a dialog window. For example, in the
`Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 product, the user invokes
`the Format Character dialog window from the menu bar to
`change the font attributes of the selected phrase.
`A dialog window is a window that displays dialog fields
`to provide the user with information and to enable the user 40
`to input information and data to the underlying application
`program. Typically, the information and input capabilities
`provided by the dialog window relate to the context from
`which the dialog window was invoked. For example, when
`the Format Character dialog is invoked as described above, 45
`the input choices and information provided relate to data that
`was selected prior to invoking the dialog. In a typical
`window system, dialog windows are invoked from menu
`commands or by clicking with a user input device, such as
`a mouse, in specific areas on the computer display.
`In a typical computer window system environment, the
`dialog fields displayed in a dialog window are implemented
`by dialog controls supplied by the underlying system (e.g.,
`the window system, operating system, or other similar
`code). For example, some computer systems support stan- 55
`dard dialog controls such as a button for specifying an action
`to perform; a check: box, or similar control, for specifying a
`choice of n out of m items; a radio button, or similar control,
`for specifying a choice of one out of m items; a list control
`for displaying a list of choices; and edit controls for input- 60
`ting data (typically text). In these prior systems, edit controls
`typically include three types: a single-line edit control,
`which allows the user to enter text in a single predetermined
`font not exceeding one line; a multi-line edit control, which
`allows the user to enter multiple lines of text in a single 65
`predetennined font; and display-only single- and multi-line
`"edit" controls, which display text without edit capability.
`
`2
`FIG. 1 is an example dialog window in the Microsoft
`Word for Windows 2.0 product that contains several types of
`dialog fields. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows display screen 101
`displaying an underlying user document entitled "WFWDE-
`5 MO.DOC" being edited in document window 102. The
`Summary Info dialog window 103 is displayed in response
`to the user selecting the Summary Info command from the
`File menu on the document window 102. The Summary Info
`command allows users to enter document summary infor-
`10 mation pertaining to the underlying user document.
`The Summary Info dialog window 103 is shown contain(cid:173)
`ing several different fields that can be implemented using the
`dialog control types discussed above. For example, the File
`Name and Directory fields 104 can be implemented using
`15 display-only single-line "edit" controls. Also, the Title,
`Subject, Author, and Keywords fields 105 can be imple(cid:173)
`mented using a single-line edit control. The Comments field
`106 is an example of a multiple line edit field that can be
`implemented using a multi-line edit control. The "OK,"
`20 "Cancel,"O and "Statistics" buttons 107 can be implemented
`using button controls.
`FIG. 2 is an example dialog window in the Microsoft
`Word for Windows 2.0 product that contains dialog fields
`that can be implemented using other types of dialog controls.
`25 Specifically, the Page Setup dialog window 203 is displayed
`in response to the user invoking the Page Setup command
`from the Fonnat menu on the document window 202. The
`Page Setup dialog window 203 contains a radio button field
`204 for selecting which page attributes to modify; the Facing
`30 Pages field 205; which can be implemented using a check
`box control; and other fields, such as the ••Apply To" list
`field 206, which can be implemented by combining other
`controls or by implementing more specialized controls. The
`Page Setup dialog window 203 also contains the Sample
`35 field 207, which can be implemented by drawing a picture
`in the dialog window. This kind of picture is sometimes
`referred to as a picture item.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The limitations of prior systems are overcome by the
`present invention, which is an improved method and system
`for editing and formatting data in a dialog window. In a
`preferred embodiment, a rich text edit field is provided for
`inputting data, modifying the formatting characteristics of
`the input data, and for previewing the modified data and
`formatting characteristics as they will appear when
`accepted. This capability enables a user to preview and
`further modify changes before accepting them into an under-
`50 lying user document.
`In one embodiment, the rich text edit field is implemented
`by a rich text edit control provided by the underlying word
`processing application program. The rich text edit control
`utilizes the character inputting, displaying, and formatting
`routines of the underlying word processing application pro(cid:173)
`gram. In this embodiment, a word processing document is
`allocated and attached to the rich text edit control such that
`when the user inputs and edits data within the rich text edit
`field implemented by the rich text edit control, the rich
`formatting capabilities of the underlying word processing
`application program are available.
`In another embodllnent, the present invention provides a
`way to initially display formatted data in the rich text edit
`field with formatting characteristics inherited from the
`underlying user document. In another embodiment, the
`formatting characteristics of the initially displayed data are
`inherited from data incorporated from a document other than
`
`

`
`5,694,610
`
`3
`the user document. In yet another embodiment, the format(cid:173)
`ting characteristics of the initially displayed data are inher(cid:173)
`ited from data incorporated from another window.
`In another embodiment, data is entered into the rich text
`edit field by incorporating copied, moved, or linked data 5
`from another window.
`In another embodiment, a menu is used to indicate for(cid:173)
`matting modifications to the data displayed in the rich text
`edit field. In yet another embodiment, shortcut keys are used
`to indicate formatting modifications.
`In another embodiment, a dialog author can indicate
`which capabilities are enabled for a rich text . edit field,
`including which techniques are enabled for indicating for(cid:173)
`matting changes and whether the rich text edit field is 15
`displayed with scroll bars.
`
`10
`
`4
`FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a portion of the main loop
`of the underlying word processing application program.
`FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of an example window proce(cid:173)
`dure for a rich text edit control.
`DETAlLED DESCRIPITON OF THE
`INVENTION
`Embodiments of the present invention provide methods
`and systems for editing and formatting data in a dialog
`window. According to the present invention, a user inputs
`formatted data to an underlying application program through
`a rich text edit field in a dialog window. A rich text edit field
`is an edit field that allows data to be input and the fonnatting
`characteristics, such as the character and paragraph
`attributes, of the data displayed in the edit field to be
`modified. A user can enter data and modify the formatting
`characteristics of the entered data preferably using the same
`techniques and mechanisms provided to enter data and to
`modify formatting characteristics in underlying user docu-
`ments. Although the present invention is discussed with
`reference to an underlying word processing application
`program, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the
`present invention is useful in other contexts as well, such as
`with database entry forms.
`Embodiments of the present invention provide a rich text
`edit control (a dialog control) that implements rich text edit
`fields. The rich text edit control preferably enables the user
`to input data and to format that data in a "what you see is
`what you get" ("WYSIWYG") fashion. That is, the user is
`30 able to view the data and the fonnatting characteristics of the
`data the way the data will appear in the underlying user
`document when the dialog window is closed.
`Embodiments of the present invention allow the user to
`enter data directly into the rich text edit field using the
`35 keyboard. Alternatively, the user can select data from
`another window, such as a clipboard window, and copy,
`move, or link the selected data into the rich text edit field.
`When data is incorporated from another window, the for(cid:173)
`matting characteristics of the data are also inherited so that
`the incorporated data is displayed in the rich text edit field
`with the same formatting characteristics as the original
`selected data.
`Embodiments of the present invention also provide sev(cid:173)
`eral mechanisms for modifying the formatting characteris(cid:173)
`tics of the data displayed in the rich text edit field. For
`example, in one embodiment, the user can modify font and
`paragraph attributes, such as point size and paragraph
`alignment, by invoking "pop-up" menus displayed, for
`example, in response to a user request by means of an input
`device such as a mouse. (Pop-up menus are menus that pop
`up on the display as opposed to being available through a
`displayed menu bar.) Although embodiments of the present
`invention are preferably addressed to enabling modification
`of formatting characteristics for font and paragraph
`55 attributes, one skilled in the art will appreciate that these
`same techniques may be used to support modification of
`other fonnatting attributes, for example, border formatting.
`In addition to the techniques described above, the user can
`use the standard shortcut keys available from the underlying
`60 word processing application program for entering and for(cid:173)
`matting the data in the rich text edit field. Shortcut keys are
`key sequences defined by the underlying application pro(cid:173)
`gram that directly map to functions otherwise invoked by
`performing several user actions. For example, the key
`65 sequence "CTRL-B" is a shortcut key that requests the
`underlying application program to change the character
`formatting of any selected data to emboldened data.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWJNGS
`FIG. 1 is an example dialog window in the Microsoft
`Word for Windows 2.0 product that contains several types of 20
`dialog fields.
`FIG. 2 is an example dialog window in the Microsoft
`Word for Windows 2.0 product that contains dialog fields
`that can be implemented using other types of dialog controls.
`FIG. 3A is an example screen display of a dialog window 25
`containing a rich text edit field.
`FIG. 3B is an example of the resulting screen display of
`the rich text edit field of FIG. 3A after the user has input
`initial textual data.
`FIG. 3C is an example of the display screen when using
`a menu to modify the formatting characteristics of the data
`displayed in the rich text edit field of FIG. 3A.
`FIG. 3D is an example of a formatting dialog window
`displayed in response to invoking a menu command to
`change the font attributes of selected data in the rich text edit
`field of FIG. 3C.
`FIG. 3E is an example of the resulting screen display after
`modifying the font attributes of the selected data displayed
`in the rich text edit field of FIG. 3C.
`FIG. 4Ais an example dialog window with a rich text edit
`field that inherits formatting characteristics from an under(cid:173)
`lying user document.
`FIG. 4B is an example of the display screen when 45
`modifying the font attributes of selected text in a rich text
`edit field using a menu with restricted formatting capabili(cid:173)
`ties.
`FIG. 4C is an example of the resulting screen display of
`the rich text edit field of FIG. 4B after modifying the font 50
`attributes and data contents of the rich text edit field.
`FIG. 4D is an example screen display of the results in the
`underlying document after using a rich text edit field to edit
`and format data from the underlying document.
`FIG. S is a block diagram of a general purpose computer
`system for practicing preferred embodiments of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the steps perfonned by a
`dialog author to create a dialog resource file that contains a
`rich text edit control.
`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an example standard dialog
`procedure for a dialog window.
`FIG. 8 is a :fl.ow diagram of an example dialog specific
`initialization routine for initializing a rich text edit control.
`FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an example rich text edit
`control callback routine.
`
`40
`
`

`
`5,694,610
`
`10
`
`5
`Embodiments of the present invention also provide the
`ability to add a vertical scroll bar to the rich text edit field
`to enable the user to add more text than would be visible in
`the predefined display area reserved for the rich text edit
`field.
`FIGS. 3A-3E provide an example sequence of how a user
`utilizes a rich text edit field in a dialog window to enter data
`and to modify the formatting characteristics of that data.
`FIG. 3A is an example screen display of a dialog window
`containing a rich text edit field. As shown, the user is
`currently editing user document ''WFWDEM02.DOC" in a
`word processing application program document window
`3A02 on display screen 3A01. The Envelopes and Labels
`dialog window 3A03 has been invoked in response to
`selection of the Envelopes and Labels command from the 15
`Tools menu of the document window 3A02. Dialog window
`3A03 contains instructions and data for creating envelopes
`and labels corresponding to the underlying user document
`displayed in document window 3A02. The Envelopes and
`Labels dialog window 3A03 is shown as it is initially 20
`displayed containing the empty Address field 3A04, which
`is implemented by a rich text edit control.
`To enable the computer system to open a dialog window,
`the present invention provides a dialog resource file to
`specify the fields, including any rich text edit fields, that 25
`should be displayed on the dialog window when it is opened
`and the state information for the dialog controls that imple(cid:173)
`ment these fields. When the dialog window is opened, the
`dialog management code that implements the dialog window
`behavior uses the information in the dialog resource file to 30
`display the defined dialog fields on the dialog window and
`to set the initial state of the dialog controls that implement
`these fields. Thus, when a dialog window is opened for a
`dialog resource file that contains a rich text edit control
`definition, a corresponding rich text edit field is displayed 35
`with an initial state as defined by the dialog resource file and
`the initialization routines of the dialog management code.
`For example, the Address field 3A04 is initially displayed
`containing no data because the dialog resource file definition
`for this rich text edit field contains no initial data and the 40
`initialization code does not add any data.
`FIG. 3B is an example of the resulting screen display of
`the rich text edit field of FIG. 3A after the user has input
`initial textual data. In FIG. 3B, the Envelopes and Labels
`dialog window 3B03 displays the entered text in the rich text 45
`edit field 3B04. Note that the formatting characteristics of
`the text displayed in the rich text edit field 3B04 can be
`different from the formatting characteristics of the currently
`selected data in the underlying user document (not shown).
`This capability is supported by setting an initial set of 50
`characteristics in an initialization routine in the dialog
`management code for dialog window 3B03.
`FIG. 3C is an example of the display screen when using
`a menu to modify the formatting characteristics of the data
`displayed in the rich text edit field of FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3C, 55
`the text currently displayed in the rich text edit field 3C04 is
`shown after the user has invoked the paragraph item on the
`pop-up menu 3C05 to change the paragraph alignment to
`centered alignment. FIG. 3C also illustrates the :first steps in
`the sequence that is further illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 3E 60
`of the actions performed to change the font attributes of the
`data displayed in the rich text edit field 3C04. First, the user
`selects the data in the rich text edit field 3C04 that the user
`wishes to modify. Next, by clicking on the rich text edit field
`3C04 with a user input device such as a mouse, the user 65
`invokes the pop-up menu 3C05 and selects the font item
`from the menu 3C05.
`
`6
`FIG. 3D is an example of a formatting dialog window
`displayed in response to invoking a menu command to
`change the font attributes of selected data in the rich text edit
`field of FIG. 3C. FIG. 3D shows the Font dialog window