Patent Abstract:
A facility for generating a graphic image is described. The facility receives from a user a body of text whose creation is not subject to any rules or prototypes. The facility discerns from the body of text a textual organization. The facility then generates a graphic image conveying the discerned textual organization.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The described technology is directed to the field of software applications, and, more particularly, to the field of features for business productivity software applications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Business meetings are often goal-directed, in that they are called for a specific purpose, and an agenda for conducting a meeting is typically defined that satisfies the meeting&#39;s purpose. Historically, it has been common for a planner or presenter to distribute paper copies of the agenda, in some cases together with copies of other supporting materials relating to the agenda. 
         [0003]    More recently, software applications for preparing presentation documents have become generally available. Such applications make it easy for a typical computer user to construct a multiple-page visual presentation that can be projected and advanced throughout the meeting for viewing by all participants. Such presentations can include information that might have otherwise been provided in a written agenda or accompanying supporting documents, or that might not have been provided at all, such as relevant photographs or video clips. Such presentations can also be used for a variety of other visual subject matter not relating to agendas or meetings. 
         [0004]    In general, most presentations generated using such applications are textual outlines of the agenda, which often contain such constructs as lists and outlines. Although it is technically possible to use such applications to generate presentations that present information using more eye-catching business graphics, in practice this capability is seldom used. Failure to use this capability may be explained by the fact that designing such business graphics typically requires both a strong graphical eye and a sense of the different graphical designs which may be used, or by the fact that executing such business graphics typically requires significant drawing talent, time, and patience. 
         [0005]    A few software applications enable a user to insert an empty pregenerated business graphic, which the user can edit to add textual content, or add, delete, or rearrange elements of the graphic. Using this functionality, however, can require significant effort on the part of the user, who must manually map text to each element or subelement of the graphic, type this text in the appropriate place, and modify the structure of the graphic to match the structure desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A software facility for automatically converting text to business graphics is described. The facility enables a user to select a body of text in a presentation or other document and invoke a “convert to graphic” command that may be invoked in a variety of ways. In response, the facility displays a gallery of different graphic designs that can be used to convert the selected text into a graphic. When the user chooses a graphic design from the gallery, the facility automatically discerns a structure or organization of the selected body of text, and maps this structure onto a graphic template provided for the graphic design to create a graphic corresponding to the selected text. The facility then replaces the selected text with the created graphic. The user may alter the created graphic in a variety of ways, including selecting a new graphic design for the created graphic, or editing the text on which the created graphic is based. 
         [0007]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a suitable computing system environment or operating environment in which the facility may be implemented. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a user interface diagram showing in an initial display presented by the facility when used in connection with a presentation application. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3 . is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility reflecting textual information entered by the user for inclusion in the presentation. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility reflecting the user&#39;s selection of a convert to graphic button in the user interface. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility when the user selects a graphic design indication from the graphic design gallery displayed by the facility. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility when the user selects the more conversion options control. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user invokes a context menu by right-clicking in the client area. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user selects a graphic design indication from a graphic design gallery displayed by the facility when the user selects a convert to graphic entry from a context menu. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user selects the show whole category control. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility showing the result of changing the generated graphic to a newly-selected graphic design. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user edits the textual hierarchy on which the graphic generated by the facility is based. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user further edits the textual hierarchy to change the level of a text line in the hierarchy. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a flow diagram showing steps typically performed by the facility in order to generate and alter a graphic based upon arbitrary text in a document, such as a presentation document. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    A software facility for automatically converting text to business graphics (“the facility”) is described. In some embodiments, the facility enables a user to select a body of text in a presentation or other document and invoke a “convert to graphic” command that may be invoked in a variety of ways. The selected text may be defined either explicitly or implicitly based upon user input. In response, in some embodiments, the facility displays a gallery of different graphic designs that can be used to convert the selected text into a graphic. When the user chooses a graphic design from the gallery, the facility automatically discerns a structure or organization of the selected body of text, and maps this structure onto a graphic template provided for the graphic design to create a graphic corresponding to the selected text. The facility then replaces the selected text with the created graphic. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the facility continues to display the body of text on which the created graphic is based, such as in a special floating window. The user can edit the displayed body of text, and have the edits reflected in updated versions of the created graphic that are displayed in place of the created graphic. For example, the user may perform edits to the displayed body of text that have the effect of adding a graphical element to the graphic, removing a graphical element from the graphic, promoting or demoting the level of a graphical element of the graphic, or altering the text shown in a graphical element of the graphic. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the facility enables the user to choose a new graphic design for an existing graphic. In response, the facility transforms the existing graphic from its prior graphic design to the new graphic design. 
         [0024]    By performing in some or all of the ways described above, the facility enables a user without special skills to easily create and revise professional-quality business graphics in a presentation or other document. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a suitable computing system environment  110  or operating environment in which the facility may be implemented. The computing system environment  110  is only one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the facility. Neither should the computing system environment  110  be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or a combination of components illustrated in the exemplary operating environment  110 . 
         [0026]    The facility is operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the facility include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, handheld or laptop devices, tablet devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. 
         [0027]    The facility may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and so forth that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The facility may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in local and/or remote computer storage media including memory storage devices. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for implementing the facility includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer  111 . Components of the computer  111  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  120 , a system memory  130 , and a system bus  121  that couples various system components including the system memory  130  to the processing unit  120 . The system bus  121  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as a Mezzanine bus. 
         [0029]    The computer  111  typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer  111  and include both volatile and nonvolatile media and removable and nonremovable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media and communications media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile and removable and nonremovable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer  111 . Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communications media include wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media, such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
         [0030]    The system memory  130  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  131  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . A basic input/output system (BIOS)  133 , containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer  111 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  131 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by the processing unit  120 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates an operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . 
         [0031]    The computer  111  may also include other removable/nonremovable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hard disk drive  141  that reads from or writes to nonremovable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  151  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  152 , and an optical disk drive  155  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  156 , such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. Other removable/nonremovable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  141  is typically connected to the system bus  121  through a nonremovable memory interface, such as an interface  140 , and the magnetic disk drive  151  and optical disk drive  155  are typically connected to the system bus  121  by a removable memory interface, such as an interface  150 . 
         [0032]    The drives and their associated computer storage media, discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , provide storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for the computer  111 . In  FIG. 1 , for example, the hard disk drive  141  is illustrated as storing an operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from the operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . The operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147  are given different numbers herein to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  111  through input devices such as a tablet or electronic digitizer  164 , a microphone  163 , a keyboard  162 , and a pointing device  161 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices not shown in  FIG. 1  may include a joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  120  through a user input interface  160  that is coupled to the system bus  121 , but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  191  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  121  via an interface, such as a video interface  190 . The monitor  191  may also be integrated with a touch-screen panel or the like. Note that the monitor  191  and/or touch-screen panel can be physically coupled to a housing in which the computer  111  is incorporated, such as in a tablet-type personal computer. In addition, computing devices such as the computer  111  may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  195  and a printer  196 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  194  or the like. 
         [0033]    The computer  111  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  180 . The remote computer  180  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  111 , although only a memory storage device  181  has been illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 1  include a local area network (LAN)  171  and a wide area network (WAN)  173 , but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprisewide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet. For example, in the present facility, the computer  111  may comprise the source machine from which data is being migrated, and the remote computer  180  may comprise the destination machine. Note, however, that source and destination machines need not be connected by a network or any other means, but instead, data may be migrated via any media capable of being written by the source platform and read by the destination platform or platforms. 
         [0034]    When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  111  is connected to the LAN  171  through a network interface or adapter  170 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  111  typically includes a modem  172  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  173 , such as the Internet. The modem  172 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  121  via the user input interface  160  or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  111 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device  181 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates remote application programs  185  as residing on the memory storage device  181 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. 
         [0035]    While various functionalities and data are shown in  FIG. 1  as residing on particular computer systems that are arranged in a particular way, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such functionalities and data may be distributed in various other ways across computer systems in different arrangements. While computer systems configured as described above are typically used to support the operation of the facility, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the facility may be implemented using devices of various types and configurations, and having various components. 
         [0036]    In order to more fully describe the facility, its operation in connection with a specific example is discussed below in connection with  FIGS. 2-12 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a user interface diagram showing in an initial display presented by the facility when used in connection with a presentation application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the facility may be used in connection with applications of virtually any type that permit a user to enter or load text. The display  200  includes an application window for the presentation application. The application window includes a client area  210 , into which the user may type text that is to be included in the presentation. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility reflecting textual information entered by the user for inclusion in the presentation. It can be seen that client area  310  contains text, including a title text line  311 , as well as body text lines  312 - 319 . It can further be seen that the body text has been formed both in an order-in that it is clear which text line comes first, second, etc.-and a hierarchy-in that it can be seen that, for example, text lines  313  and  314  are children of text line  312 . The user can determine the order of the text lines either based upon the order in which they are entered, or by moving an insertion point to the location in the order where the user wants the next-entered text to appear. The user can specify the hierarchy as follows: if the user wants the next text line to be at the same level of the hierarchy as the present text line, the user merely presses the enter key when at the end of the present text line. If the user wants the next text line to be at a lower level than the present text line, the user presses the enter key, then the tab key at the end of the present text line. If the user wants the next text line to be at a higher level of the hierarchy than the present text line, the user presses the enter key, followed by the back-tab key when at the end of the present text line. The user may also change a text line&#39;s level in the hierarchy by selecting the line, then selecting either indent button  321  or outdent button  322 . The user may also use a variety of other text editing techniques, such as inserting spaces in front of a text line in order to demote the text line in the hierarchy, or deleting spaces before a text line in order to promote the text line in the hierarchy. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility reflecting the user&#39;s selection of a convert to graphic button in the user interface. Here, the user has placed a text insertion point  499  inside a text container  430  containing text lines  312 - 319  shown in  FIG. 3 . When the user selects convert to graphic button  431  in the ribbon area of the application&#39;s user interface, the facility displays a gallery  440  of graphic designs into which the text can be converted. In some embodiments, the graphic designs shown in the gallery are limited to a proper subset expected—such as by their designers—to produce the best results from automatic conversion. In some embodiments, the graphic designs shown in the gallery are ordered in a way that reflects a rank among the shown graphic designs of the extent to which they are expected—such as by their designers—to produce good results in the convert to graphic operation. Here, the gallery includes indicators  441 - 447 , each corresponding to a different graphic design and showing an example of the design&#39;s appearance. It can be seen that the user has hovered over graphic design indication  441 , causing the facility to display a tool tip containing its name. At this point, the user may either select a graphic design indication from the gallery, or may select control  448  for presenting additional graphic designs that can be used in the conversion. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility when the user selects a graphic design indication from the graphic design gallery displayed by the facility. In particular, where the user selects graphic design indication  441  after placing insertion point  499  in  FIG. 4 , the facility replaces the selected text with a graphic  550  generated from the text contained in text container  430  using the graphic design corresponding to selected graphic design indication  441 . In particular, the graphic has four major elements  551 - 554 , each corresponding to a different one of the four lines of text  312 ,  315 ,  317 , and  319  at the highest level of the hierarchy. Text from the lower level of the hierarchy is shown in the element corresponding to its parent. For example, lines  313  and  314  appear in element  551 . This mapping from levels of the hierarchy to elements and subelements of the graphic design are configurable aspects of the graphic design. The mappings are also extensible, in that, after the facility is shipped to customers, a graphic design containing a new mapping may be added. The facility further displays a floating window  560 , containing a copy of the textual hierarchy made up of text lines  560 - 568 , which the user may edit in order to modify the generated graphic. 
         [0041]    Where, in  FIG. 4 , the user selects the more conversion options control  448 , the facility displays indications of a larger selection of available graphic designs.  FIG. 6  is a user interface diagram showing a display presented by the facility when the user selects the more conversion options control. This display includes an extended graphic design gallery  670  which may include graphic designs other than those in the subset determined to be most likely to produce good conversion results. The extended gallery is divided into two panes: a category pane  671  and a graphic design indication pane  676 . When the user selects one of the category indications  672 - 675  displayed in the category pane, the facility displays in the graphic design indication pane indications of a large number of graphic designs belonging to the category. For example, when the user selects indication  672  for the process category, the facility displays a number of indications of process graphic designs, including graphic design indication  677 . The user may select one of these graphic design indications, then select an OK control  678  to select the corresponding graphic design. The user may select a cancel control  679  to dismiss the extended gallery. 
         [0042]    Rather than using a button as shown in  FIG. 4  to issue a convert to graphic command, in some embodiments, the user can use a context menu to issue a convert to graphic command.  FIG. 7  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user invokes a context menu by right-clicking in the client area. The context menu  730  includes a variety of controls, including a variety of formatting buttons and menu entries, including a menu entry  731  for the convert to graphic command. When the user selects menu item  731 , the facility displays graphic design gallery  740 , containing indications of various graphic designs available for the conversion process including indication  741 . The gallery further includes a more conversion options control  748  that the user may select in order to display an extended gallery containing indications for a larger number of available graphic designs. 
         [0043]    If the user selects indication  741 , then the facility proceeds to generate a graphic based on the text hierarchy using the graphic design corresponding to graphic design indication  741 .  FIG. 8  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user selects a graphic design indication from a graphic design gallery displayed by the facility when the user selects a convert to graphic entry from a context menu. The presentation document  810  similar to the one shown in  FIG. 5 , including a substituted graphic  850  similar to substituted graphic  550 . In addition, the facility displays a variety of controls relating to the conversion operation. A layout portion of the ribbon  880  includes a limited gallery of graphic design indications, such as indications  841 - 843 . The user may select one of these to change the graphic design used for the graphic produced by the conversion operation, or may use scroll controls  882 - 883  to scroll through the indications of the available graphic designs displayed in positions  841 - 843 . The user may also select a show all control  881  to display a complete gallery of graphic design indications as shown in  FIG. 6 , or select a show whole category control  884  to display a gallery of graphic design indications from the same graphic design category as currently-selected graphic design  841 . The ribbon area also includes a construction section  885  containing controls for modifying the graphic, and a quick style section  886  for applying various coloring, shading, and effects styles to the generated graphic. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user selects the show whole category control. The display includes a larger gallery  940  of graphic design indications, including graphic design indication  949 . The user can select any of these graphic design indications to change the graphic generated by the conversion operation to the new graphic design. 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility showing the result of changing the generated graphic to a newly-selected graphic design. The display is similar to that shown in  FIG. 5 , in that the document area  1010  contains a graphic and a floating window  1060  contains the text from which the graphic was generated. The graphic  1050 , however, is generated in accordance with the graphic design having indication  949  shown in  FIG. 9  selected by the user. Like the graphic shown in  FIG. 5 , it has a major element  1051 - 1054  for each of the highest-level text lines in the hierarchy, as well as the lower-level text lines shown in connection with the major element for the highest-level text line to which they correspond. 
         [0046]    In addition to using the controls discussed above in connection with  FIG. 8  to alter the graphic generated by the facility, in some embodiments, the user may also edit the textual hierarchy on which the graphic is based.  FIG. 11  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user edits the textual hierarchy on which the graphic generated by the facility is based. It can be seen that, in response to the user typing new text line  1170  in textual hierarchy  1160 , the user has added a new major element  1155  to the graphic, which contains text  1120  corresponding to new line  1170 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 12  is a user interface diagram showing a display typically presented by the facility when the user further edits the textual hierarchy to change the level of a text line in the hierarchy. By comparing  FIG. 12  to  FIG. 11 , it can be seen that the user has changed the level of text line  1170  from the highest level to the lower level, making text line  1270  a child of text line  1269 . In response, the facility has removed major element  1155  from the graphic  1150  and added the contents of line  1270  as text  1220  subordinate to major element  1254 . 
         [0048]    From the foregoing it can be seen that the user can take advantage of the facility to automatically generate graphics based upon hierarchical text, choosing a graphic design for the generated graphic and later changing the graphic design to re-generate the generated graphic; as well as change the hierarchical text in order to change the generated graphic. 
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a flow diagram showing steps typically performed by the facility in order to generate and alter a graphic based upon arbitrary text in a document, such as a presentation document. In step  1301 , the facility receives user input selecting text in a document and selecting a convert to graphic command. For example, the user input may do this as shown in  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 7 . In some embodiments, the received user input selects text by highlighting a particular section of text, or particular text container objects (such as shapes) or portions thereof. In some embodiments, the received user input selects text by positioning a text insertion point at a particular location within the text, or by scrolling a window in which the text is displayed to a particular location in the text. In various embodiments, the facility permits the user to issue a convert to graphic command using a variety of other user interface techniques, such as selecting an item from a pull-down menu or typing a hotkey or a control-key sequence. In some embodiments, the facility automatically invokes the convert to graphic command in response to indirect indications that the user may be trying to create a graphic. 
         [0050]    In step  1302 , the facility displays a gallery, or “menu” of graphic designs that are available to use to generate the graphic, such as gallery  440  shown in  FIG. 4 , gallery  670  shown in  FIG. 6 , gallery  740  shown in  FIG. 7 , the gallery shown in the layout section  880  of  FIG. 8 , or gallery  940  shown in  FIG. 9 . In some embodiments, step  1302  is omitted, and the user selects a graphic design as part of selecting the convert to graphic command, or the facility automatically selects a graphic design. 
         [0051]    In step  1303 , the facility receives user input selecting a graphic design from the menu displayed in step  1302 . In step  1304 , the facility identifies text to convert into a textual hierarchy, and ultimately into a graphic, based upon the text selected by the user input received in step  1301 . In various embodiments, the facility uses a variety of techniques to identify text in step  1304 . In some embodiments, the facility identifies exactly the text that was selected by the user. Where the user selects text by designating a single location in the text, such as a text insertion point or a scroll position, the facility typically selects a body of text around that position, such as all of the text in a line, paragraph or other grouping of lines, page, or other text container containing the designated location in the text. 
         [0052]    In step  1305 , the facility transforms the text identified in step  1302  into the form of a textual hierarchy. 
         [0053]    In step  1306 , the facility transforms the textual hierarchy constructed in step  1305  into a graphic in accordance with the selected graphic design. In particular, the facility maps from each element at each level of the textual hierarchy to a corresponding element at a corresponding level in a template provided for the selected graphic design. In some embodiments, the facility performs step  1306  by converting the textual hierarchy constructed in step  1305  to a clipboard format, such as the HTML clipboard format, recognizable by a graphical layout engine. Next, the facility removes the identified text from the presentation—and, in cases where all of the text in one or more containers was selected, removes those containers—and adds a new graphic to the presentation at the same position and size as the removed text and/or text containers. The facility passes the HTML clipboard format hierarchy to the graphical layout engine, which creates elements of the graphic based upon the structure of the HTML clipboard format hierarchy, and populates those elements with the text contained in the HTML clipboard format hierarchy. In some embodiments, the facility performs aspects of step  1306  in accordance with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,271 filed on Sep. 30, 2004; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/957,103, filed on Sep. 30, 2004; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/281,076, filed on Nov. 17, 2005, each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
         [0054]    In step  1307 , the facility replaces the identified text in the document with the graphic generated in step  1306 . In step  1308 , the facility displays the textual hierarchy generated in step  1305  separately from the document such as in a floating window like floating window  560  shown in  FIG. 5 . In step  1309 , the facility receives user input revising the textual hierarchy displayed in step  1308 . In step  1310 , the facility displays in the document a version of the graphic generated in step  1306  that has been revised in accordance with the revisions to the textual hierarchy received in step  1309  if appropriate. After step  1310 , the facility continues in step  1309  to receive additional user input revising the textual hierarchy. Though not shown in  FIG. 13 , as discussed above, the user may also alter the generated graphic in a variety of other ways that do not involve revising the textual hierarchy on which it is based. 
         [0055]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps shown in  FIG. 13  may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order of the steps may be rearranged; substeps may be performed in parallel; shown steps may be omitted, or other steps may be included; etc. 
         [0056]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above-described facility may be straightforwardly adapted or extended in various ways. For example, the facility may generate graphics of a wide variety of types, based upon text in a variety of forms, having a variety of different types of formatting. Additionally, the facility may be used in conjunction with a variety of different application types; that is, applications for preparing a variety of different types of documents. Further, the facility may be used by programmatic users rather than human users; for example, the facility may be embodied in a subroutine or a web service called by another program that provides any needed input. While the foregoing description makes reference to particular embodiments, the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims that follow and the elements recited therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6