Method and system for the direct manipulation of information, including non-default drag and drop operation

Abstract

A user is provided with an easy-to-use approach to directly manipulating text in a word processing environment or the like. Text may be dragged from one location and dropped in another location to move the text to a new location. More generally, the user is provided with the option of performing a conventional drag and drop operation or an enhanced or non-default drag and drop operation. Separate buttons on a mouse are utilized to differentiate between the two types of drag and drop operations. In the conventional drag and drop operation, default behavior is exhibited when an object is dropped on another object. In the enhanced drag and drop operation, a user is presented a list of options of operations that may be performed when the object is dropped on the other object.

1. In a computer system employing a graphical user interface and including a display and a user interface selection device, a method for moving text displayed in window, comprising the steps of:
 displaying text in a window;  
 displaying a cursor in the window, the cursor being responsive to signals from the user interface selection device;  
 receiving a first selection signal indicating that a portion of the displayed text has been selected;  
 receiving a first position signal indicating that the cursor is positioned at a first position coinciding with the selected text;  
 in response to the first position signal, altering the appearance of the cursor to indicate that the selected text may be moved; 
 receiving a second selection signal, the second selection signal being received while the cursor is in the first position;  
 in response to the second selection signal, altering the appearance of the cursor to indicate the selected text is in the process of being moved;  
 receiving a second position signal indicating that the cursor is positioned at a second position, the second positioned being different from the first position, the cursor being moved while the second selection signal is maintained;  
 receiving a third selection signal; and  
 in response to the third selection signal, moving the selected text to the second position.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selection signal comprises dragging the cursor across a portion of the displayed text. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second selection signal comprises a mouse button down signal and the third selection signal comprises a mouse button up signal. 
     
     
       4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
 displaying text in a window;  
 displaying a cursor in the window, the cursor being responsive to signals from the user interface selection device;  
 receiving a first selection signal indicating that a portion of the displayed text has been selected;  
 receiving a first position signal indicating that the cursor is positioned at a first position coinciding with the selected text;  
 in response to the first position signal, altering the appearance of the cursor to indicate that the selected text may be moved; 
 receiving a second selection signal, the second selection signal being received while the cursor is in the first position;  
 in response to the second selection signal, altering the appearance of the cursor to indicate the selected text is in the process of being moved;  
 receiving a second position signal indicating that the cursor is positioned at a second position, the second positioned being different from the first position, the cursor being moved while the second selection signal is maintained;  
 receiving a third selection signal; and  
 in response to the third selection signal, moving the selected text to the second position.  
 
     
     
       5. The computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the first selection signal comprises dragging the cursor across a portion of the displayed text. 
     
     
       6. The computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the second selection signal comprises a mouse button down signal and the third selection signal comprises a mouse button up signal. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
   in response to the first position signal, altering the appearance of the cursor to indicate that the selected text may be moved.     
     
     
       8. The computer- readable medium of    claim 4   , wherein the computer - executable instructions further perform the step of:      in response to the first position signal, altering the appearance of the cursor to indicate that the selected text may be moved.