Method and system for inserting a data object into a computer-generated document using a text instruction

• US 20010007109A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 07/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lange, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/530
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/111 Mathematical or scientific formatting; Subscripts; Superscripts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

For inserting a data object as for example a mathematical formula or special characters like Greek characters into a text document, instruction symbols representing the data object are inputted in the form of text characters into the text document. A text portion containing instruction symbols is selected, and the instruction symbols contained in the selected text portion are converted into a data object represented by the instruction symbols. The invention allows rapid input of data objects into the text document, in particular simple mathematical formulae or single special characters without entering a formula editor or the like.

Claims

1. A method of inserting a data object into a computer-generated document comprising:

converting a selected text portion of said computer-generated document containing at least one text instruction symbol into a data object; and

returning said data object for insertion in said computer-generated document.

2. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

inserting said at least one text instruction symbol in the form of text characters into the computer-generated document.

3. The method of

claim 2

further comprising:

selecting said text portion of said computer-generated document containing said at least one text instruction symbol.

4. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data object comprises a mathematical formula.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data object comprises at least one Greek character.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein text characters in the selected text portion, which do not form a text instruction symbol, remain unchanged during the converting operation.

7. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

inserting the returned data object into the computer-generated document at a position of the selected text portion.

8. The method of

claim 7

wherein content surrounding the data object has a format, and said method further comprises formatting the returned data object using said format.

9. The method of

claim 1

further comprising storing the data object with the computer-generated document.

10. The method of

claim 1

wherein the data object is reconvertible into the text portion representing the data object.

11. The method of

claim 1

wherein said method is downloaded.

12. The method of

claim 1

wherein said method is stored on a first computer system and said computer-generated document is stored on a second computer system.

13. A computer program product for inserting a data object into a computer-generated document, the computer program product comprising program code for:

converting a selected text portion of said computer-generated document containing at least one text instruction symbol into a data object; and

returning said data object for insertion in said computer-generated document.

14. The computer program product of

claim 13

further comprising program code for:

inserting said at least one text instruction symbol in the form of text characters into the computer-generated document.

15. The computer program product of

claim 14

further comprising computer code for:

selecting said text portion of said computer-generated document containing said at least one text instruction symbol.

16. The computer program product of

claim 13

wherein the data object comprises a mathematical formula.

17. The computer program product of

claim 13

wherein the data object comprises at least one Greek character.

18. The computer program product of

claim 13

wherein text characters in the selected text portion, which do not form a text instruction symbol, remain unchanged during the converting operation.

19. The computer program product of

claim 13

further comprising computer code for:

inserting the returned data object into the computer-generated document at a position of the selected text portion.

20. The computer program product of

claim 19

wherein content surrounding the data object has a format, and said computer program product further comprises formatting the returned data object using said format.

21. The computer program product of

claim 13

further comprising storing the data object with the computer-generated document.

22. The computer program product of

claim 13

wherein the data object is reconvertible into the text portion representing the data object.

23. A computer-generated document including a data object generated by a conversion of instruction symbols input in the form of text characters, wherein the data object is reconvertible into the instruction symbols.

24. The document of

claim 23

wherein the data object comprises a mathematical formula or a special character.

25. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to said processor, storing a method, where upon execution of said method on said processor, said method comprises;

converting a selected text portion of said computer-generated document containing at least one text instruction symbol into a data object; and

returning said data object for insertion in said computer-generated document.

26. The computer system of

claim 25

wherein said memory is coupled to said processor by a network.