Controlled interaction with heterogeneous data

摘要

A two-dimensional canvas contains objects of various types. The two-dimensional canvas is fixed in one dimension, but extensible in a second dimension. The canvas is displayed in miniaturized form at the same time at least a portion of the canvas is displayed in another view, such as an edit view. Selection or modification of an object in the miniaturized version of the canvas will also result in a modification or selection of the corresponding object in the other view.

主权项

1. A computing system comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one storage medium having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, implement a method for modifying a canvas that is usable for interfacing with one or more objects, the method comprising:
an act of providing a canvas that is configured to receive a plurality of objects, wherein the canvas has at least two dimensions and is extensible in at least one of the dimensions, such that if an object is to be placed in a direction in the extensible dimension beyond a boundary of the canvas, the boundary is extended in the direction so that the canvas includes the object;an act of displaying a miniaturized version of the canvas along with a miniaturized representation of an object that is contained within at least a portion of the canvas;displaying the object in the canvas simultaneously with the display of the miniaturized version of the canvas;an act of receiving modifying input within the miniaturized version of the canvas that is directed to the miniaturized representation of the object; andin response to the modifying input, modifying a display of the miniaturized version of the object in the miniaturized version of the canvas as well as modifying the object displayed in the canvas.