Display method, computer program product and computer system

1. A display method comprising:

displaying a labeled column chart on a graphical user interface, the column chart having a plurality of labels and at least a first column and a second column, each column having at least one column segment and each label being assigned to one of the column segments;

entering a first modification of one of the plurality of labels via the graphical user interface;

starting execution of labeling instructions that implement a labeling algorithm for generating a first modified labeled column chart in response to entry of the first modification, wherein the labeling instructions are adapted to perform labeling to satisfy constraints of:

a) a label that is placed on its assigned column segment does not intersect with another label,

b) a label that has a size and shape completely covering its assigned column segment is not placed on its assigned segment but next to its column or above its column,

c) a first and a second of the labels of a same one of the columns can only be staggered horizontally if none of the first and second labels is wider than half a column width of one of the columns,

d) a label can only be placed between the first and second columns if a space between the first and second columns is wider than that of the label,

e) if a first label that is assigned to a first column segment has been placed above its column no second label being assigned to a second column segment that is located above the first segment can be placed between the first and second columns;

connecting the first label that is placed above its column to its assigned segment by a line or connector symbol crossing a top portion of that column, the labeling instructions being adapted to perform the labeling such that the following constraints are satisfied with respect to labels being assigned to segments within the top portion:

(f) labels assigned to column segments within the top portion must not be staggered horizontally,

(g) a label being assigned to one of the segments of the top portion that is wider than its assigned segment is placed above its column regardless of its height; and

displaying the first modified labeled column chart on the graphical user interface.

2. The display method of claim 1 , wherein each of the labels is contained in a graphical object, the method further comprising opening one of the graphical objects via the graphical user interface, and entering the first modification of one of the labels into the open graphical object.

3. The display method of claim 2 , wherein the execution of the labeling instructions is started while the graphical object is still open.

4. The display method of claim 3 , further comprising entering a second modification of one of the labels into the open graphical object, terminating execution of the labeling instructions if generation of the modified labeled column chart in response to the entry of the first modification has not been completed when the second modification is entered, and restarting the execution of the labeling instructions for generating a second modified labeled column chart in response to the entry of the second modification, wherein the second modified column chart is displayed on the graphical user interface instead of the first modified labeled column chart.

5. The display method of claim 4 , wherein the execution of the labeling instructions is restarted in response to entry of each subsequent modification of one of the labels for generating a respective modified labeled column chart.

6. The display method of claim 1 , wherein the execution of the labeling instructions is performed within a time duration of below 500 milliseconds.

7. The display method of claim 1 , wherein the first modification is entered by a single user input action and the execution of the labeling instructions is started automatically in response to the single user input action.

8. The display method of claim 7 , wherein the single user input action is a keystroke.

9. A display method comprising:

displaying a labeled column chart on a graphical user interface, the column chart having a plurality of labels and at least a first column and a second column, each column having at least one column segment and each label being assigned to one of the column segments;

entering a first modification of one of the plurality of labels via the graphical user interface;

starting execution of labeling instructions that implement a labeling algorithm for generating a first modified labeled column chart in response to entry of the first modification, wherein the labeling instructions are adapted to perform labeling to satisfy constraints of:

a) a label that is placed on its assigned column segment does not intersect with another label,

b) a label that has a size and shape completely covering its assigned column segment is not placed on its assigned segment but next to its column or above its column,

c) a first and a second of the labels of a same one of the columns can only be staggered horizontally if none of the first and second labels is wider than half a column width of one of the columns,

d) a label can only be placed between the first and second columns if a space between the first and second columns is wider than that of the label,

the labeling instructions being further adapted to process the labels sequentially starting with a label being assigned to a lowest column segment of one of the at least first and second columns, wherein in a first processing phase the labeling instructions attempt to place a processed label on its assigned segment, in a second processing phase an attempt is made to place a processed label next to its column, and in a third processing phase a processed label is placed above its column if it cannot be placed on its assigned segment or next to its column; and

displaying the first modified labeled column chart on the graphical user interface.

10. The display method of claim 9 , wherein each of the labels is contained in a graphical object, the method further comprising opening one of the graphical objects via the graphical user interface, and entering the first modification of one of the labels into the open graphical object.

11. The display method of claim 10 , wherein the execution of the labeling instructions is started while the graphical object is still open.

12. The display method of claim 11 , further comprising entering a second modification of one of the labels into the open graphical object, terminating execution of the labeling instructions if generation of the modified labeled column chart in response to the entry of the first modification has not been completed when the second modification is entered, and restarting the execution of the labeling instructions for generating a second modified labeled column chart in response to the entry of the second modification, wherein the second modified column chart is displayed on the graphical user interface instead of the first modified labeled column chart.

13. The display method of claim 12 , wherein the execution of the labeling instructions is restarted in response to entry of each subsequent modification of one of the labels for generating a respective modified labeled column chart.

14. The display method of claim 9 , wherein the execution of the labeling instructions is performed within a time duration of below 500 milliseconds.

15. The display method of claim 9 , wherein the first modification is entered by a single user input action and the execution of the labeling instructions is started automatically in response to the single user input action.

16. The display method of claim 15 , wherein the single user input action is a keystroke.