Abstract:
A system, apparatus and method of appending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop are provided. The system, apparatus and method include displaying a first window having an option that allows a group of files to be appended to files on the clipboard and asserting the option to append the files. The first window is ordinarily displayed after at least one file has been copied onto the clipboard and a second file is selected to be copied. In the case where at least one file has not already been copied onto the clipboard, a second window is displayed. The second window has an option that allows only one file or group of files to be copied onto the clipboard. The first window further contains an option that allows a file or a group of files to replace file or files already copied on the clipboard.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to the following U.S. patent application which is incorporated by reference. 
         [0002]    Ser. No. 10/159,509, filed May 30, 2002, entitled, DATA PROCESSOR CONTROLLED DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH DRAG AND DROP MOVEMENT OF DISPLACED ITEMS FROM SOURCE TO DESTINATION SCREEN POSITIONS AND INTERACTIVE MODIFICATION OF DRAGGED ITEMS DURING THE MOVEMENT. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to desktops. More particularly, the invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method of appending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0006]    Most desktops allow a user to remove or copy a file or a group of files from a directory or folder. To remove the file or group of files from the folder is generally referred to as “cut” or “delete” whereas to copy the file or group of files is referred to as “copy”. To transfer the copied file or group of files to another folder is referred to as “paste”. 
         [0007]    When the file or group of files is copied, it is ordinarily transferred to a temporary buffer called a clipboard. This allows the user to later paste the file or group of files in other folders. Note that copying files will henceforth be referred to as copying the files onto the clipboard or plainly “copy”. 
         [0008]    In the past, when two file copy operations were made in succession, the selected file or group of files from the first copy operation was replaced with the selected file or group of files from the second copy operation. Thus, if a user desired to add a file or a group of files to a file or files that had been copied onto the clipboard, the user had to select all the files (including the ones already on the clipboard) in order to copy them on the clipboard. Clearly, depending on the location of the files, this could be a rather time-consuming endeavor. 
         [0009]    Consequently, there is a need for an apparatus, system and method of appending a group of files to files on a clipboard. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method of appending a group of files to files on a clipboard of a desktop. The system, apparatus and method include displaying a first window having an option that allows a group of files to be appended to files on the clipboard and asserting the option to append the files. The first window is ordinarily displayed after at least one file has been copied onto the clipboard and a second file is selected to be copied. In the case where at least one file has not already been copied onto the clipboard, a second window is displayed. The second window has an option that allows only one file or group of files to be copied onto the clipboard. The first window further contains an option that allows a file or a group of files to replace file or files already copied on the clipboard. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a distributed data processing system according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary block diagram of a server apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary block diagram of a client apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a pop-up window having an option that allows a user to copy files onto a clipboard. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts another pop-up window having an option that allows a user to append files to files on a clipboard. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a pop-up window that allows a user to paste files in a folder. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is flow diagram of a process used by the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    With reference now to the figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  is a network of computers in which the present invention may be implemented. Network data processing system  100  contains a network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. 
         [0020]    In the depicted example, server  104  is connected to network  102  along with storage unit  106 . In addition, clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  are connected to network  102 . These clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server  104  provides data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients  108 ,  110  and  112 . Clients  108 ,  110  and  112  are clients to server  104 . Network data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. In the depicted example, network data processing system  100  is the Internet with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  FIG. 1  is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the present invention. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a data processing system that may be implemented as a server, such as server  104  in  FIG. 1 , is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors  202  and  204  connected to system bus  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted. 
         [0022]    Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to I/O bus  212  provides an interface to PCI local bus  216 . A number of modems may be connected to PCI local bus  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to network computers  108 ,  110  and  112  in  FIG. 1  may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards. 
         [0023]    Additional PCI bus bridges  222  and  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI local buses  226  and  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly. 
         [0024]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in  FIG. 2  may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. 
         [0025]    The data processing system depicted in  FIG. 2  may be, for example, an IBM e-Server pSeries system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system or LINUX operating system. 
         [0026]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram illustrating a data processing system is depicted in which the present invention may be implemented. Data processing system  300  is an example of a client computer. Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  308 . PCI bridge  308  also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . Small computer system interface (SCSI) host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , and CD-ROM drive  330 . Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. 
         [0027]    An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in  FIG. 3 . The operating system may be a commercially available operating system, such as Windows XP, which is available from Microsoft Corporation. An object oriented programming system such as Java may run in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  326 , and may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 . 
         [0028]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in  FIG. 3  may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in  FIG. 3 . Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system. 
         [0029]    As another example, data processing system  300  may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system  300  comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system  300  may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. 
         [0030]    The depicted example in  FIG. 3  and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  300  may also be a notebook computer or hand held computer in addition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system  300  also may be a kiosk or a Web appliance. 
         [0031]    The present invention provides an apparatus, system and method of appending a file or a group of files to files on a clipboard. The invention may be local to client systems  108 ,  110  and  112  of  FIG. 1  or to the server  104  or to both the server  104  and clients  108 ,  110  and  112  and may reside on any data storage medium (i.e., floppy disk, compact disk, hard disk, ROM, RAM, etc.) used by a computer system. 
         [0032]    The present invention will be explained using Microsoft® Windows XP. When a user puts the mouse pointer on a file or select a plurality of files and depresses the right button of the mouse a window pops open indicating a plurality of options available to the user.  FIG. 4  depicts the plurality of options that may be made available to the user. (Note that in the figure only the items that are pertinent to the invention are given a reference numeral.) If the user selects cut  405 , the file or files will be deleted from the folder within which it is located. If the user selects copy, the file or files will be copied onto the clipboard. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts a pop-up window that may be used by the present invention. When a file or a group of files has previously been copied onto the clipboard and the user positions the mouse pointer on any file or selects another group of files and depresses the right button of the mouse,  FIG. 5  will pop open. As before, only the items that are of importance to the invention are given a reference numeral. Cut  505  and copy  510  perform the same function as cut  405  and copy  410 . Specifically, if cut  510  is chosen, the selected file or group of files will replace the file previously copied on the clipboard. However, when copy append  515  is chosen, the selected file or group of files will be appended to the previous file or files on the clipboard. When the user desires, the files may be pasted in a folder. 
         [0034]    Note that any number of files or group of files may be appended to each other on the clipboard so long as the user continues to choose copy append  515  instead of copy  510 . In any case, to paste the files, the user needs to right click on the mouse while the mouse pointer is not on a file. When this occurs,  FIG. 6  will pop open. By left clicking on paste  605 , the files will be pasted into an open folder. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of a process that may be used by the invention. The process starts when a user decides to copy a file or a group of files on the clipboard (step  700 ). Then, a check is made to determine whether at least one file has already been copied onto the clipboard. If so,  FIG. 5  will pop open given the user the option to either choose copy  510  or copy append  515 . If copy append is chosen, the selected file or files will be appended to the files or files already on the clipboard and the process will return to step  705  (steps  705 ,  710 ,  715  and  720 ). If copy  510  is chosen, then the selected file or files will replace all files already copied onto the clipboard and the process will return to step  705  (steps  705 ,  710 ,  715 ,  725  and  730 ). 
         [0036]    If at least one file has not already been copied onto the clipboard, then  FIG. 4  will pop open. At that point, the user may copy the selected file onto the clipboard as customary and the process will return to step  705  (steps  705 ,  735 ,  725  and  730 ). 
         [0037]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.