Patent ID: 7117451
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method in a data processing system for ordering elements included within a list, the method comprising: presenting the elements in a list format in a first order in a graphical user interface; receiving a first user input selecting a set of the elements from the list; responsive to detecting the first user input, monitoring for a second user input, indicating a movement of the set of elements within the list; and responsive to detecting the second user input, automatically reordering the elements in the list including: when the set of elements comprises a plurality of contiguous elements, automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements together as one unit as if said set were a single list element to create a modified list of elements in a second order, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously; and when the set of elements comprises a plurality of noncontiguous elements, automatically reordering the elements in the list by moving, within the list, the set of elements as one unit, said set of elements appearing to a user as having been moved simultaneously, wherein each element in the set of elements has a relative order and spacing to another element in the set of elements, and wherein the relative order and spacing are preserved.