Display interface method and apparatus, and a computer-readable storage storing a program, for controlling a computer to perform displaying a plurality of objects and performing an operation for duplicating or moving at least one of the objects

Abstract

A display interface method and apparatus that utilize a zoom interface are provided, in which the screen changes continuously and moving or duplicating operation of an object can be performed easily. The display interface method comprises the steps of memorizing a pointer that points an object selected by an input device in a memory, displaying a small image representing the object pointed by the pointer as a display of the foreground layer on the screen, and maintaining the display of the small image representing the object without changing even if a display of other layer is zoomed. A user uses a zooming operation so that the target position is displayed on the screen, and then inputs the “paste” command, for example. Thus, a copy of the object is generated and is pasted at the designated position in the target folder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display interface method copying an object from a first folder to a second folder, comprising: 
 zooming the object in the first folder, so as to be seen on a display screen;    selecting the zoomed object for copying;    storing a pointer to the selected object in a memory; and    displaying a representation of the selected object, as a small image on a foreground layer of the display screen.    
     
     
         2 . The display interface method according to  claim 1 , wherein the copying of the object is performed by using a zoom interface.  
     
     
         3 . The display interface method of  claim 1 , wherein the object in the first folder is an image file, and the representation is a thumbnail image, or the object in the first folder is a text file, and the representation is an icon.  
     
     
         4 . The display interface method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the representation of the selected object comprises extracting an object from a clipboard.  
     
     
         5 . The display interface method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 selecting the second folder for pasting; and    generating a copy of the object, pointed to by the stored pointer, in the second folder.    
     
     
         6 . The display interface method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 selecting the second folder for link generation; and    generating an icon representing linking information, to the object in the first folder, as a new object in the second folder.