System for converting from one document type to a plurality of document types allowing accurate reversal therefrom using tables containing indications regarding non-transformable elements

• US 5,251,314 A
• Filed: 06/07/1990
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Marvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/534,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/600, 364/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for efficiently managing the transformation of a document from a first document type to a second document type within a data processing system. It is often necessary for a document within a data processing system to be transformed into a second document type which is recognizable by a second entity upon a transfer of that document. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a transform information object is created for each object within a data processing system. An indication of each document type which has been created as a result of a transformation of that document and an identification of the application which can perform the transformation are then stored within the transform information object along with an indication of selected entities within the document which were not transformable by the application. Subsequent attempts at a transformation of the document may then be efficiently performed by a reference to the transform information object and the utilization of the information stored therein. In one embodiment of the present invention the transform application name, address location within the data processing system and capability description are stored within the transform information object.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method in a data processing system for efficiently managing the transformation of a document from a first document type to one of a plurality of second document types by a plurality of applications which may not be able to transform all entities in said document, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

creating and storing within said data processing system a transform information object in association with said document;

storing within said transform information object within said data processing system;

a plurality of document type indications, each of said document type indications relating to a different one of said plurality of second document types, wherein each of said document type indications has been created as a result of a transformation of said document;

a plurality of application identifications, each of said application identifications indicating a different one of said plurality of applications which performed an associated transformation, said application identifications comprising an address location for an associated application; and

, a plurality of entity indications, each of said entity indications indicating said entities within said document which were not transformable by said application such that a reversal of any transformation listed within said transform information object may be accurately accomplished within said data processing system by a reference to said transform information object; and

selectively reversing a transformation of said document from one of said second document types to said first document type by referencing said transform information object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of storing a plurality of application identifications within said transform information object further comprises the step of storing a description of the capability of an application for transformation of documents with an associated application identification within said transform information object.

3. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of storing a cost associated with each transformation of said document within said transform information object.

4. A data processing system for efficiently managing the transformation of a document from a first document type to one of a plurality of second document types by a plurality of applications which may not be able to transform all entities in said document, said data processing system comprising:

means for creating and storing within said data processing system a transform information object in association with said document;

means for storing within said transform information object within said data processing system;

a plurality of document type indications, each of said document type indications relating to a different one of said plurality of second document types, wherein each of said document type indications has been created as a result of a transformation of said document;

a plurality of application identifications, each of said application identifications indicating a different one of said plurality of applications which performed an associated transformation, said application identifications comprising an address location for an associated application; and

, a plurality of entity indications, each of said entity indications indicating said entities within said document which were not transformable by said application such that a reversal of any transformation listed within said transform information object may be accurately accomplished within said data processing system by a reference to said transform information object; and

means for selectively reversing a transformation of said document from one of said second document types to said first document type by referencing said transform information object.

5. The data processing system according to claim 4, further including means for storing a description of a capability of an application for transformation of documents within said transform information object.

6. The data processing system according to claim 4, further including means for storing a cost associated with each transformation of said document within said transformation information object.