Using visual landmarks to organize diagrams

摘要

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for using visual landmarks to organize diagrams. Embodiments of the invention facilitate using visual landmarks to organize elements within a diagram. Elements of a diagram can be arranged in accordance with configurable defined properties of visual landmarks to provide some degree of layout structure within the diagram. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide a user experience that provides some structure but retains the flexibility of free form editing. Users can customize visual landmarks to cause the visual landmarks to exhibit desired behavior.

主权项

1. In a computer architecture, a method for using visual landmarks to organize a diagram, the method comprising:
an act of presenting one or more visual elements representing a diagram; an act of presenting a visual landmark along with the one or more visual elements within the diagram, the visual landmark configured with one or more properties that are to be applied to associated visual elements to position the associated visual elements relative to the visual landmark; an act of receiving input selecting a visual element of the one or more visual elements that are displayed with the visual landmark; an act of receiving further input indicating that the selected visual element, which is displayed at a first location, is to be associated with the visual landmark, the further input comprising input for moving the selected visual element to intersect with the visual landmark; an act of providing visual feedback indicating that selected visual element has been selected; an act of automatically positioning the selected visual element relative to the visual landmark in accordance with the one or more corresponding properties of the visual landmark to organize the selected visual element within the diagram in response to receiving the further input, the positioning causing the selected visual element to partially overlap with a limited portion of the visual landmark and so that only part of the selected visual element overlaps with the visual landmark; and an act of presenting the updated arrangement of the one or more visual elements to reflect an organization of the selected visual element within the diagram.