Screen splitting for Web browsers

Abstract

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for splitting a screen in a Web browser window. User input is received requesting splitting of the screen in the Web browser window. A position for a split in the screen is identified. The screen is split at the position to form a set of screens in the Web browser window. An instance of a document is displayed in each screen within the set of screens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing systems in which aspects of the present invention may be implemented;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which aspects of the present invention may be implemented;

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a browser program in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a JavaScript™ implementation of screen or table splitting in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a browser implementation of splitting a screen or table in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary splitting of a table within a browser screen in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a Web screen split in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a table split within a separate screen in a Web browser window in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 depicts a flowchart of a browser screen or a table within a browser splitting operation using a JavaScript™ implementation in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for splitting a screen in a Web browser window, the computer implemented method comprising: receiving a user input requesting splitting of the screen in the Web browser window;identifying a position for a split in the screen;splitting the screen at the position to form a set of screens in the Web browser window;displaying an instance of a document in each screen within the set of screens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a user input requesting splitting of a table in the screen in the Web browser window;identifying a position for a table split;splitting the table at the position to form a set of tables within separate screens in the Web browser window; anddisplaying an instance of the table in the set of tables in each of the separate screens, wherein each instance of the table is manipulated independently of another instance of the table.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising: determining the dimensions of the table; anddisplaying the two distinct tables within the same dimensions of the table.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising: identifying table objects within a document object model for the table; andmodifying the table objects to form the set of tables.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the split is one of a vertical split or a horizontal split.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein each screen within the set of screens includes an individual scroll bars.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein each table within the set of tables includes an individual scroll bar.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein a size of the set of tables is dynamically determined based on a size of the Web browser window.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a user input requesting a second splitting of one screen within the set of screens in the Web browser window;identifying a position for a second split in the screen within the set of screens;splitting the screen within the set of screens at the position to form a set of subscreens in the Web browser window;displaying another instance of the document in each subscreen within the set of subscreens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

10. A data processing system comprising: a bus system;a communications system connected to the bus system;a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; anda processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a user input requesting splitting of the screen in the Web browser window; identify a position for a split in the screen; split the screen at the position to form a set of screens in the Web browser window; display an instance of a document in each screen within the set of screens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a user input requesting splitting of a table in the screen in the Web browser window; identify a position for a table split; split the table at the position to form a set of tables within separate screens in the Web browser window; and display an instance of the table in the set of tables in each of the separate screens, wherein each instance of the table is manipulated independently of another instance of the table.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to determine the dimensions of the table; and display the two distinct tables within the same dimensions of the table.

13. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to identify table objects within a document object model for the table; and modifying the table objects to form the set of tables.

14. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a user input requesting a second splitting of one screen within the set of screens in the Web browser window; identify a position for a second split in the screen within the set of screens; split the screen within the set of screens at the position to form a set of subscreens in the Web browser window; display another instance of the document in each subscreen within the set of subscreens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

15. A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for splitting a screen in a Web browser window, the computer program product including:computer usable program code for receiving a user input requesting splitting of the screen in the Web browser window;computer usable program code for identifying a position for a split in the screen;computer usable program code for splitting the screen at the position to form a set of screens in the Web browser window;computer usable program code for displaying an instance of a document in each screen within the set of screens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising: computer usable program code for receiving a user input requesting splitting of a table in the screen in the Web browser window;computer usable program code for identifying a position for a table split;computer usable program code for splitting the table at the position to form a set of tables within separate screens in the Web browser window; andcomputer usable program code for displaying an instance of the table in the set of tables in each of the separate screens, wherein each instance of the table is manipulated independently of another instance of the table.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising: computer usable program code for determining the dimensions of the table; andcomputer usable program code for displaying the two distinct tables within the same dimensions of the table.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising: computer usable program code for identifying table objects within a document object model for the table; andcomputer usable program code for modifying the table objects to form the set of tables.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein a size of the set of tables is dynamically determined based on a size of the Web browser window.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising: computer usable program code for receiving a user input requesting a second splitting of one screen within the set of screens in the Web browser window;computer usable program code for identifying a position for a second split in the screen within the set of screens;computer usable program code for splitting the screen within the set of screens at the position to form a set of subscreens in the Web browser window;computer usable program code for displaying another instance of the document in each subscreen within the set of subscreens, wherein each instance of the document is manipulated independently of another instance of the document.