Patent ID: 7366500

Claim:
A method for utilizing a shorthand term dictionary service, comprising: initiating a shorthand dictionary service from within a document creation application; entering a shorthand term to be defined directly from within the document creation application; wherein the document creation application includes a first window that includes a writing area and a second window that includes a search box and a list box that are displayed in response to the shorthand dictionary service being initiated and after the first window is displayed; displaying a list of available dictionary services within the second window; receiving a selection from the displayed list of available dictionary services that indicates a dictionary service to search for the shorthand term; determining when the shorthand term is entered in the search box of the second window; and when the shorthand term is entered within the search box of the second window performing actions, including: accessing the dictionary service; attempting to obtain a definition of the shorthand term; displaying the definition of the shorthand term within the list box of the second window without replacing the shorthand term entered in the search box; and inserting the definition into the writing area of the first window at a current cursor position within the writing area of the document creation application; and determining when the shorthand term is entered within the writing area of the first window; wherein determining when the shorthand term is entered within the writing area of the first window includes receiving a selection indicating to define the shorthand term; and when the shorthand term is entered within the writing area of the first window, performing actions, including: accessing the dictionary service; attempting to obtain a definition of the shorthand term; displaying the definition of the shorthand term within the list box of the second window; receiving a selection of the definition of the shorthand term within the list box of the second window; in response to the selection of the definition of the shorthand term, providing a first option to insert the selected definition into the first window at a current cursor position within the writing area and providing a second option to copy the selected definition; determining when the first option is selected and when the first option is selected inserting the definition into the writing area of the first window at the cursor position without replacing the displayed definition within the list box of the second window.