Smart copy/paste of graphical nodes

摘要

When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
presenting a data view of a diagram that includes a first text item and a second text item, the diagram including a set of relationship rules that describe an acceptable relationship type and a first relationship of the acceptable relationship type defined between the first text item and the second text item; receiving user input comprising at least a selection of the first text item and a command to copy a third text item, with at least a portion of the user input being directed at the first text item in the data view; in response to receiving the user input, automatically pasting the third text item into the data view, the automatically pasting comprising:
dissolving the first relationship between the first text item and the second text item;establishing a second relationship of the acceptable relationship type between the first text item and the third text item;establishing a third relationship of the acceptable relationship type between the third text item and the second text item; andinserting a graphical object corresponding to the third text item into a pictorial view that includes graphical objects corresponding to the first text item and the second text item, the pictorial view being distinct from and non-overlapping with respect to the data view.