Graphical user interface providing consistent behavior for the dragging and dropping of content objects

Abstract

A drag-and-drop operation in a graphical user interface is controlled dependence upon whether the destination for the operation is a content object or a service object. If the destination of a drag-and-drop operation is a content object, the resulting action is to move the dragged object from its original location to the destination. If the destination is a service object, the resulting action is to perform the associated service on the dragged object without affecting the perceived location of the data contained in the dragged object. If the user desires that an operation other than a move be made when dragging an object to a content object, a specified key on a keyboard is pressed, to indicate that the drag-and-drop operation should make a copy, rather than merely move the object. If the source of the dragged object does not permit the user to move the object, the user can be presented with an option to copy the object when the drag-and-drop operation is carried out. Alternatively, rather than requesting the user to indicate a choice each time such a situation occurs, the computer system can be set up to automatically make a copy if the source does not permit the object to be moved.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for manipulating objects in a graphical user interface for a computer, of the type in which representations of objects stored in a memory are displayed to a user on a display, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a first object whose representation is displayed on said display;    dragging the representation of the first object from a first location on the display to a second location associated with a second object;    determining whether said second object is either a service object which performs a service that provides a computational result on data or a container object;    performing a service with respect to said first object if said second object is a service object; and    moving the representation of the first object from said first location to a new location associated with said second object if said second object is a container object.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of displaying the representation of the first object at said first location after said service is performed, when the second object is a service object.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of detecting an indication for a modified operation, and performing an operation other than moving the representation of the first object.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said indication is the actuation of a predetermined key during said dragging step.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said other operation comprises the steps of making a copy of the first object and displaying a representation of the copy at said new location, and displaying the representation of the first object at said first location.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said other operation comprises the step of creating a link between said first and second objects.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including the steps of detecting whether said first location limits access to said first object, and if so determining whether the first object is to be copied.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said determining step includes the step of detecting whether a copy operation is stored as a default operation in the computer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said determining step includes the steps of displaying a message which permits a user to indicate a choice, and selectively copying the first object in dependence upon the choice indicated by the user.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the representation of the first object comprises an icon.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which performs the steps of: 
 detecting the dragging of a representation of a first object from a first location on a display to a second location associated with a second object;    determining whether said second object is a service object which performs a service that provides a computational result on data;    performing a service with respect to said first object if said second object is a service object; and    moving the representation of the first object from said first location to a new location associated with said second object if said second object is not a service object.    
     
     
         12 . A graphical user interface for a computer having a display device, comprising: 
 a user-controlled component for selecting and moving representations of objects displayed on said display device;    means for detecting that a representation of a first object displayed at a first location on said display device is moved to a location associated with a second object;    means for determining whether said second object is a service object which performs a service that provides a computation result on data;    means for causing said second object to perform said service on the data of said first object when said second object is determined to be a service object; and    means for moving the representation of the first object from said first location to said second location when said second object is not a service object.