Brian C Macdonald

US Patent:

62437216, Jun 5, 2001

Filed:

Jan 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/792301

Inventors:

Nicholas P. Duane - Westborough MA
Brian W. MacDonald - Bellevue WA
Suryanarayanan Raman - Redmond WA
Scott A. Thurlow - Kirkland WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1730
G06F 1700

US Classification:

707505

Abstract:

A system for providing automatic capabilities in creating a computer form containing control items. Upon selecting a control item to place on a computer form, preferred coordinates to position the control item is automatically determined. Next, the size of the new control item is automatically selected based on properties of the new control item and the size and location of surrounding control items. The new control item, and any intersecting control items, are then automatically adjusted to accommodate the new control item at the preferred coordinates. The adjustments include: (1) setting the width and height of the new control item; (2) identifying the space available to above and to the right of the preferred coordinates; and if the width or height of the new control item exceeds the space available, (3) adjusting the other control items to obtain additional space for the new control item. Alignment properties for the new control item are also automatically determined and assigned. Thus, when other control items on the computer form either moved or re-sized, the control item is adjusted in accordance with the alignment properties.