A METHOD FOR RENDERING A VISUAL OVERVIEW OF HIDDEN DATA

摘要

Method for graphically rendering a preview of a complete set of data to a user, in parallel with a normal view of at least a portion of said data, within the area of a scroll-bar. The data field of the complete set of data is divided into N (N=1, 2, ...) slices. The length of the free area of the scroll-bar is divided into N corresponding segments. The length of each segment is determined according to one or more particular attributes of its corresponding slice. The length of the lift of the scroll-bar is determined to represent the data portion being displayed in a normal view. The graphical representation of each segment is modified by assigning a particular visual characteristic to each segment, which represents the one or more particular attributes. A preview of the remaining portion of the data is generated by displaying each of the N modified segments in the scroll-bar. If desired, the user can vary the content of the normal view by changing the relative position of the lift within the scroll-bar. The length of each segment may be proportional to the ratio between the length of its corresponding slice, and the total length of the complete set of data.