Synchronous and asynchronous copying of a document into a folder in a target library

• US 5,333,312 A
• Filed: 05/18/1992
• Issued: 07/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Diana Shu-Fan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lintz, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US07/887,567
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 364/419.19
• US Class Current: 707/611
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

A system for copying document/objects in shared libraries via a copy command is disclosed. The COPY command provides four different options for copying and replacing documents located in shared libraries. The simple copy option allows a document to be created in a target library using an existing document in a source library. The option optionally permits a document from a source library to be copied to a folder document in the target library. The replace option provides for the replacement of the IDP and document contents of a document in a target library with the IDP and document contents of a source document. The check-out option provides for the placement of a document in a target library while locking the document in the source library to prevent changes. The check-in option provides for the return of a previously checked out document to a library.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of copying a new document with a folder by a user in a target library using an existing document in a source library in a data processing system wherein said copying includes a synchronous operation and an asynchronous operation, said computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

specifying in a first operand of a single copy command in said data processing system by said user said existing document in said source library as said new document to be copied into said folder in said target library;

specifying in a second operand a unique name for said new document different from said existing document in said single copy command by said user to be placed in said folder in said target library;

selectively specifying a delay option operand in said single copy command by said user;

selectively specifying access authority operand in said single copy command by said user; and

in response to said execution of said single copy command using said unique name of said new document in said second operand in said single copy command, if said delay option operand is specified, automatically executing said synchronous operation of copying said existing document from said source library into said folder in said target library and separately executing said asynchronous operation of copying;

otherwise, automatically executing in a single operation said synchronous operation and asynchronous operation of copying, wherein said new document registering other users access authority when said user access authority operand is specified in said single copy command.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of identifying a reference document by said user in said single copy command for said source library containing at least one authorization to copy said new document within said folder.

3. An apparatus, in a data processing system, for copying a new document within a folder by a user in a target library using an existing document in a source library in a data processing system wherein said copying includes a synchronous operation and an asynchronous operation, said apparatus comprising:

means for specifying in a first operand of a single copy command in said data processing system by said user said existing document in said source library as said new document to be copied into said folder in said target library;

means for specifying in a second operand a unique name for said new document different from said existing document in said single copy command by said user to be placed in said folder in said target library;

means for selectively specifying a delay option operand in said single copy command by said user;

means for selectively specifying access authority operand in said single copy command by said user; and

means, in response to said execution of said single copy command using said unique name of said new document in said second operand in said single copy command, if said delay option operand is specified, for automatically executing said synchronous operation of copying said existing document from said source library into said folder in said target library and for separately executing said asynchronous operation of copying;

otherwise, for automatically executing in a single operation said synchronous operation and asynchronous operation of copying, wherein said new document registering other users access authority when said user access authority operand is specified in said single copy command.

4. In a data processing system having a plurality of work stations coupled to a host processor, storage means having a plurality of source and target libraries therein coupled to said host processor and capable of being simultaneously accessed by a plurality of users through said plurality of work stations, comprising:

means for specifying in a first operand of a single copy command in said data processing system by an user an existing document in one of said plurality of source libraries as a new document to be copied into a folder in one of said plurality of target libraries;

means for specifying in a second operand a unique name for said new document different from said existing document in said single copy command by said user to be placed in said folder in said one of said plurality of target libraries;

means for selectively specifying a delay option operand in said single copy command by said user;

means for selectively specifying access authority operand in said single copy command by said user; and

means, in response to said execution of said single copy command using said unique name of said new document in said second operand in said single copy command, if said delay option operand is specified, for automatically executing a synchronous operation of copying said existing document from said one of said plurality of source libraries into said folder in said one of said plurality of target libraries and for separately executing an asynchronous operation of copying;

otherwise, for automatically executing in a single operation said synchronous operation and asynchronous operation of copying, wherein said new document registering other users access authority when said user access authority operand is specified in said single copy command.

5. A data processing system comprising:

a storage device;

means for specifying in a first operand of a single copy command in said data processing system by an user an existing document containing a combination of related documents in a source library within said storage device as a new document to be copied into a folder in a target library within said storage device;

means for specifying in a second operand a unique name for said new document different from said existing document in said single copy command by said user to be placed in said folder in said target library;

means for selectively specifying a delay option operand in said single copy command by said user;

means for selectively specifying access authority operand in said single copy command by said user; and

means, in response to said execution of said single copy command using said unique name of said new document in said second operand in said single copy command, if said delay option operand is specified, for automatically executing a synchronous operation of copying said existing document from said source library into said folder in said target library and for separately executing an asynchronous operation of copying;

otherwise, for automatically executing in a single operation said synchronous operation and asynchronous operation of copying, wherein said new document registering other users access authority when said user access authority operand is specified in said single copy command.