Mechanism for translating between word processing documents and XML documents

• US 6,725,426 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BroadVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BroadVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Pavlov, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US09/528,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 715/523, 715/513, 707/3, 707/102
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A translation mechanism translates between a word processing document and an XML file. The translation facility may translate the word processing document into the XML file and, conversely, may translate the XML file into the word processing document. The mechanism may be partially integrated into a word processing package so that the translation from word processing document to XML file may be performed via the user interface provided by the word processing package. The translation mechanism is extensible and flexible so as to be able to translate different varieties of document types. The translation is performed automatically by a computer system or other electronic device and eliminates the need for the user to be familiar with the syntax of XML.

Claims

1. In an electronic device, a method, comprising the steps of:

providing a word processing document;

providing a software tool for the conversion of a word processing document into an Extensible Markup, Language (XML) document, said software tool using a set of grammar rules associated with a document type, a set of style rules to apply to said document during said conversion, and a set of translation rules to use in said conversion;

converting the word processing document into an intermediate format; and

converting the document in the intermediate format into an (XML) document using said software tool, said software tool applying said associated grammar rules, said set of style rules and said set of translation rules during said conversion.

2. The method claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a computer system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of grammar rules is one of an XML schema and an XML Document Type Definition (DTD).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the said intermediate format is rich text format (.rtf).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a file specifies the translation rules and wherein the tool uses the file in performing the converting.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the translation rules used by said software tool during said converting are defined for one of an associated XML DTD and one of an XML schema.

7. A storage medium for use with an electronic device, said storage medium holding executable steps for performing a method, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a word processing document;

providing a software tool for the conversion of a word processing document into an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, said software tool using a set of grammar rules associated with a document type, a set of style rules to apply to said document during said conversion, and a set of translation rules to use in said conversion;

converting a said word processing document into an intermediate format; and

converting the document in the intermediate format into an (XML) document using said software tool, said software tool applying said associated grammar rules, said set of style rules and said set of translation rules during said conversion.

8. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein the of grammar rules is one of an XML schema and an XML Document Type Definition (DTD).

9. The storage medium of claim 7 wherein a file specifies the translation rules and wherein the tool uses the file in performing the converting.

10. The storage medium of claim 9 wherein the translation rules used by said software tool during said converting are defined for one of an associated XML DTD and one of an XML schema.

11. In an electronic device, a tool for converting between a word processing document and an extensible markup language (XML) document, comprising:

a first conversion facility for converting between the word processing document and an intermediate format document that is in an intermediate format; and

a second conversion facility for converting between the intermediate format document and the XML document.

12. The tool of claim 11 wherein the first conversion facility converts the word processing document into the intermediate format document.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the second conversion facility converts the intermediate format document into the XML document.

14. The tool of claim 11 wherein the second conversion facility converts the intermediate format document into the XML document.

15. The tool of claim 11 wherein the second conversion facility converts to the XML document into the intermediate format document.

16. The tool of claim 15 wherein the first conversion facility converts the intermediate format document into the word processing document.

17. The tool of claim 11 wherein the first conversion facility converts the intermediate format document into the word processing document.