Patent ID: 7302649

Claim:
An operation method for processing data files, comprising: (a) displaying for each of one or more data flies a reduced-size image/file icon pair, wherein the reduced-size image/file icon pair for each of the one or more data files is displayed on a first area of a display area wherein the reduced-size image is for use in identifying the contents of the data file and the corresponding concurrently displayed file icon is spaced from, and has a smaller area than, the reduced-size image and wherein the display position of the file icon relative to the display position of the reduced-size image is predetermined to be the same for each of the reduced-size image/file icon pairs and wherein the reduced-size image/file icon pair for each of the one or more data files is displayed so that the reduced-sized image and the corresponding file icon do not overlap; (b) displaying one or more function icons on a second area of the display screen which is different than the first area of the display screen; and (c) performing at least either one of the operations of i) selecting a function to be applied to one of the data files and ii) changing a display position of one of the reduced-size images by a drag-and-drop operation on the corresponding file icon, wherein the reduced-sized image for each reduced-size image/file icon pair is displayed so that each file icon is between its corresponding reduced-size image and the second area of the display screen, and wherein in step (c), the reduced-size image is fixed at a current position while a drag operation on the file icon is being performed at a predetermined speed or higher; and, when the drag speed is reduced below the predetermined speed, a frame having the size of the reduced size image is displayed.