Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method of formatting for display within a designated list window of a touchscreen, the list including a plurality of list members with a touchable element and text associated therewith. The method includes the following steps: setting a minimum required distance between the touchable elements of adjacent list members; setting an area for each touchable element of the list members, wherein the area has a vertical component and a horizontal component; positioning a first list member within the list window; and, spacing each subsequent list member vertically and horizontally from an immediately preceding list member such that the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements is maintained. The vertical spacing between adjacent touchable elements may be set, with the horizontal spacing between touchable elements being determined from the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements, the interline spacing, and the vertical component of the touchable elements. Alternatively, the horizontal spacing between adjacent touchable elements can be set, with the vertical spacing between adjacent touchable elements being determined from the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements and the horizontal spacing. The touchable elements may be spaced in a repeating pattern, where the number of horizontal levels in the pattern can be selected by the user, determined as a function of the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements and the vertical spacing between adjacent touchable elements, or determined as a function of the physical size of the list window, the field width required for the associated text, and the indentation distance. The touchable element spacing within the list window is maximized by evaluating the number of lines of text to be displayed and the interline spacing, where adjacent touchable elements are offset horizontally when all list members cannot be displayed and spaced vertically by at least the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements.

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First Claim