User interface for adaptive document layout via manifold content
A user interface for a system and method for improving document layout on arbitrary devices of different resolutions and size using manifold representations of content. Manifold representations of content are: multiple versions of anything that might appear in a document, from text, to images, to even such things as stylistic conventions. The specific content is selected and formatted dynamically, on the fly, by a layout engine in order to best adapt to a given viewing situation.
1. A graphic user interface for authoring an electronic document viewed on a display device, comprising a user interface for authoring alternate versions of document content, comprising:
an edit view pane displaying a linear version of document content;
an alternate version view pane displaying multiple alternate versions of the document content for the linear version of document content displayed in the edit view pane, wherein at least one alternate content of the multiple alternate versions is selected to create a document which will fit within a given display space of a display device; and
hovering with an input device cursor over a portion of the document content in the edit view pane comprises bringing up a menu with editing choices comprising the following user options:
select version, which when activated, highlights selected content beneath the cursor in said alternate version view pane along with other unhighlighted alternate content of the alternate versions of document content;
pop selection, which when activated, displays the highest level of alternate content of an alternate version when nested versions of the alternate content exist;
create version, which when activated, creates an alternate version of alternate content; and
freeze version, which when activated, prevents a version of alternate content from being changed.
2. The graphic user interface of claim 1 wherein alternate versions of document content are indicated by an indicator associated with that portion of document content.
3. The graphic user interface of claim 2 wherein said indicator is a line beneath that portion of document content.
4. The graphic user interface of claim 3 wherein alternate versions of document content are nested, and wherein only the outermost level of alternate content is indicated with a line underneath.
5. The graphic user interface of claim 4 wherein overlapping versions of alternate content are not underlined twice and wherein:
only the outermost shell of alternate content is displayed with an underline for alternate content that is selected;
alternate content outside a selected version of alternate content is displayed with an underline; and
a user can display change a currently selected region of alternate content by selecting another region of alternate content that is displayed.
6. The graphic user interface of claim 1 wherein the user can change a first version of alternate content that is displayed in the edit view pane by selecting a second version of alternate content displayed in alternate version view pane, said second version of alternate content then replacing said first version in the edit view pane.
7. The graphic user interface of claim 1 wherein an indicator is drawn to the left margin of the beginning of each piece of alternate version content in the alternate version view pane to indicate a start of an alternate version of document content.
8. The graphic user interface of claim 1 wherein a user can add alternate versions of document content by copying document content or by entering the alternate version in the alternate version view pane.
9. The graphic user interface of claim 1 wherein an image version of alternate content is identified by an icon.
10. The graphic user interface of claim 9 wherein backspacing over said icon removes said image file.
11. The graphic user interface of claim 9 wherein a user can view an image file in a separate view pane by clicking on the menu with an input device to bring up a menu and choosing an option that allows image viewing.
12. The graphic user interface of claim 1 wherein hovering over a portion of alternate content with an input device cursor in the alternate version pane provides a menu of user options.
13. The graphic user interface of claim 12 wherein said menu comprises at least one of the following user options:
add version, to add a new version of alternate content;
delete version, to delete a version of alternate content; and
copy version, to copy a version of alternate content.
14. The graphic user interface of claim 1 further comprising text editing functionality of at least one of:
selecting font type;
selecting font size; and
selecting font style.