Menu-less system and method for interactively manipulating and reformatting data entered in a tabular format in a data processing application
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed at a simplified system and method for manipulating data in a data processing application. The system and method allow the user to manipulate data in a table-like manner without resorting to other data entry screens or windows to define a table-like structure. Rather, the table-like structure is defined by interactively monitoring inputs received from a user. For example, if a user enters a tab following data on a same line, the present invention will manipulate that data as two columns of information. Thus, without performing additional tasks tangential to inputting data, the user is provided with table-like features, such as wrapping text, adjusting column width, and the like. In another embodiment, the table-like structure is determined by scanning contiguous lines for lines with identical horizontal alignment in relation to a first line.
1. A computer-implemented method for manipulating data in a word processing application, comprising:
detecting an input from an input device;
determining whether the input indicates the manipulation of data in a tabular manner, wherein determining whether the input indicates the manipulation of data in a tabular manner includes scanning at least one contiguous line in a word processing document to determine whether the at least one contiguous line is a horizontally aligned line, the horizontally aligned line being horizontally aligned with a line of data associated with the input, wherein scanning is performed until a non-aligned line is identified, the non-aligned line having a different horizontal alignment than the line of data; and
upon determining that the input indicates the manipulation of data in a tabular manner, formatting the data into a tabular structure without requiring pre-configuration of a tabular structure and displaying the tabular structure.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to a cursor hovering over a line of data in the word processing document that is being displayed.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein scanning is performed in an upward direction from the line of data until a non-aligned line is identified, the non-aligned line having a different horizontal alignment than the line of data, the horizontally aligned lines and the line of data represent the tabular structure.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein scanning is performed in a downward direction from the line of data until a non-aligned line is identified, the non-aligned line having a different horizontal alignment than the line of data, the horizontally aligned lines and the line of data represent the tabular structure.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to a cursor that is hovering over the line of data, and wherein the tabular function includes reformatting content within a column in the tabular structure, the column corresponding to a location within the line of data at which the cursor is hovering.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to a cursor that is hovering over the line of data, and wherein the tabular function includes adjusting a width of a column in the tabular structure, the column corresponding to a location with the line of data at which the cursor is hovering.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to depressing a tab key on a keyboard.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the input indicates the manipulation of data in a tabular manner includes determining whether the input follows data on a current line of data in the word processing document.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a table to represent the tabular structure.
10. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for manipulating data in a word processing application, the instructions comprising:
receiving an input;
determining whether the input is associated with a table, wherein determining whether the input is associated with the table includes scanning at least one contiguous line in a word processing document to determine whether the at least one contiguous line is a horizontally aligned line, the horizontally aligned line being horizontally aligned with a line of data associated with the input;
upon determining that the input is associated with a table, determining whether the input indicated the manipulation of existing data in a tabular manner;
updating a displayed table associated with data entered in the tabular manner when the input indicates manipulation of existing data in a tabular manner; and
performing tabular features using the table without requiring pre-configuration of the table.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein updating the table includes adding another column of information to the table and dynamically repositioning existing columns of information on a display in order to accommodate the other column of information on the display.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein dynamically repositioning includes dividing an available line length by a number equal to the existing columns plus the other column and positioning the existing columns and the other column at equal intervals along the line.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein dynamically repositioning further includes adjusting the equal intervals based on a content length, the content length being associated with an amount of text in the existing column and in the other column.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the data entered in the tabular manner includes a tabbed line.
15. A system for manipulating data, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory into which a plurality of instructions are loaded, the plurality of instructions performing a method comprising:
detecting an input from an input device;
determining whether the input indicates the manipulation of existing data in a tabular manner, wherein determining whether the input indicates the manipulation of existing data in a tabular manner includes scanning at least one contiguous line in a word processing document to determine whether the at least one contiguous line is a horizontally aligned line, the horizontally aligned line being horizontally aligned with a line of data associated with the input; and
upon determining that the input indicates the manipulation of existing data in a tabular manner, formatting the data into a tabular structure without requiring pre-configuration of a tabular structure and display the tabular structure.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to a cursor that is hovering over the line of data, and wherein the tabular function includes reformatting content within a column in the tabular structure, the column corresponding to a location within the line of data at which the cursor is hovering.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to a cursor that is hovering aver the line of data, and wherein the tabular function includes adjusting a width of a column in the tabular structure, the column corresponding to a location with the line of data at which the cursor is hovering.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input includes a signal in response to depressing a tab key on a keyboard.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the input indicates the manipulation of data in a tabular manner includes determining whether the input follows data on a current line of data in the document.
20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising creating a table to represent the tabular structure, the table including one or more of the same functions of an expressly defined table.