System and methods for generating sparse tree for presenting and navigating through hierarchical files
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for generating a sparse tree view for presenting and assisting a user to conduct searches and navigate through a hierarchical file system more efficiently. A sparse tree assists a user to navigate through search or filtering results by hiding irrelevant information and indicating locations with the highest rate of “hits” using a form of heatmap or other indicator of the potential relevance of a tree node or leaf.
1. A method for generating a user interface display, comprising:
accessing a response generated to a user's file system query, the response in a hierarchical form comprising a set of nodes and a set of connections between one or more of the nodes;
removing nodes from the hierarchical form having no descendants of relevance to the response to the query;
for each node having a child node of relevance, collapsing all nodes below the highest-level ancestor node and the child node;
reconstructing the hierarchical form;
collapsing paths between a first and a second node having a common ancestor in the reconstructed hierarchical form;
constructing a sparse hierarchical form from the results of the node removal, node collapsing, and path collapsing steps; and
generating a display of the sparse hierarchical form and presenting the display to the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of an item in the sparse form from the user; and
in response to the selection, displaying a folder or file selected by the user.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing the user with access to the selected folder or file.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated display further comprises:
one or more nodes;
an indication that at least one of the nodes configured to be expanded;
a leaf accessible from at least one of the one or more nodes; and
a file or folder accessible from the leaf.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the indication further comprises an indication of the nodes that configured to be accessed by expanding the at least one node.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising an indication with each leaf of the relative number of files, folders, or documents containing a query result when multiple leaves contain a query result.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the indication with each leaf of the relative number of files, folders, or documents containing a query result comprises one of a metric, a measure, a number, a category, and a color indicating a relative number.
8. A system for generating a user interface display, comprising:
a non-transitory data storage element;
a set of computer-executable instructions stored in the data storage element; and
one or more electronic processors configured to execute a set of computer-executable instructions, wherein when executed, the instructions cause the one or more electronic processors to
access a response generated to a user's file system query, the response in a hierarchical form comprising a set of nodes and a set of connections between one or more of the nodes;
remove nodes from the hierarchical form having no descendants of relevance to the response to the query;
for each node having a child node of relevance, collapse all nodes below the highest-level ancestor node and the child node;
reconstruct the hierarchical form;
collapse paths between a first and a second node having a common ancestor in the reconstructed hierarchical form;
construct a sparse hierarchical form from the results of the node removal, node collapsing, and path collapsing steps; and
generate a display of the sparse hierarchical form and present the display to the user.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the set of computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more electronic processors to:
receive a selection of an item in the sparse form from the user; and
in response to the selection, display a folder or file selected by the user.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the generated display further comprises:
one or more nodes;
an indication that at least one of the nodes configured to be expanded;
a leaf accessible from at least one of the one or more nodes; and
a file or folder accessible from the leaf.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the indication further comprises an indication of the nodes that configured to be accessed by expanding the at least one node.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the generated display further comprises an indication with each leaf of the relative number of files, folders, or documents containing a query result when multiple leaves contain a query result.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the indication with each leaf of the relative number of files, folders, or documents containing a query result comprises one of a metric, a measure, a number, a category, and a color indicating a relative number.
14. A non-transitory data storage element including a set of computer-executable instructions that when executed by one or more programmed electronic processors, cause the processors to generate a user interface display by:
accessing a response generated to a user's file system query, the response in a hierarchical form comprising a set of nodes and a set of connections between one or more of the nodes;
removing nodes from the hierarchical form having no descendants of relevance to the response to the query;
for each node having a child node of relevance, collapsing all nodes below the highest-level ancestor node and the child node;
reconstructing the hierarchical form;
collapsing paths between a first and a second node having a common ancestor in the reconstructed hierarchical form;
constructing a sparse hierarchical form from the results of the node removal, node collapsing, and path collapsing steps; and
generating a display of the sparse hierarchical form and presenting the display to the user.
15. The set of computer-executable instructions of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processors to:
receive a selection of an item in the sparse form from the user; and
in response to the selection, display a folder or file selected by the user.
16. The set of computer-executable instructions of claim 14 , wherein the generated display further comprises:
one or more nodes;
an indication that at least one of the nodes configured to be expanded;
a leaf accessible from at least one of the one or more nodes; and
a file or folder accessible from the leaf.
17. The set of computer-executable instructions of claim 16 , wherein the indication further comprises an indication of the nodes that configured to be accessed by expanding the at least one node.
18. The set of computer-executable instructions of claim 16 , wherein the generated display further comprises an indication with each leaf of the relative number of files, folders, or documents containing a query result when multiple leaves contain a query result.
19. The set of computer-executable instructions of claim 18 , wherein the indication with each leaf of the relative number of files, folders, or documents containing a query result comprises one of a metric, a measure, a number, a category, and a color indicating a relative number.
20. The set of computer-executable instructions of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processors to provide the user with access to the selected folder or file.