Method and apparatus for creating stylesheets in a data processing system

• US 6,799,299 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tidwell, Leonard Douglas II, Li, Yongcheng, Wesley, Ajamu A., Tan, Yih-Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, RACHNA SINGH
• Application Number:
  US09/404,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 715/513, 715/530, 715/523, 707/203
• US Class Current: 715/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/154 Tree transformation for tree-structured or markup documents, e.g. XSLT, XSL-FO or stylesheets

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a data processing system for converting documents. Source elements and corresponding target elements are identified. An initial target document derived from a source document is presented using the source elements and corresponding target elements. User input is received modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document. Differences between the initial target document and the final target document are identified. A stylesheet is created to convert source documents into target documents using the identified source elements and corresponding target elements and the identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for creating a stylesheet, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

receiving input identifying a conversion of source elements into target elements;

displaying a presentation of an initial target document from a source document in a graphical user interface using the conversion of source elements and target elements;

receiving user input altering the presentation of the initial target document to form a target document;

responsive to the input, generating a first stylesheet to convert the source document into an intermediate source document;

responsive to generating the first stylesheet, creating the intermediate source document;

comparing the intermediate source document with the target document to identify changes in the presentation to form identified changes; and

generating a second stylesheet based on the identified changes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

applying the first stylesheet and the second stylesheet to another source document to create another target document.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

combining the first stylesheet and the second stylesheet to form a master stylesheet, wherein the master stylesheet is used to convert another source document into another target document.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is user input in a graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first stylesheet is used to translate the source document into the intermediate source document containing intermediate tags.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial target document is presented using a visual editor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first stylesheet and the second stylesheet are extensible stylesheet language stylesheets.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate source document is an extensible markup language document.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial target document and final target document are hypertext markup language documents.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial target document and final target document are portable document format documents.

11. A method in a data processing system for converting documents, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

identifying source elements and corresponding target elements;

presenting an initial target document derived from a source document using the source elements and corresponding target elements;

receiving user input modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document;

identifying differences between the initial target document and the final target document; and

creating a stylesheet to convert source documents into target documents using the identified source elements and corresponding target elements and the identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the initial target document is presented and the user input are received using a visual editor for the initial target document.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the stylesheet is a extensible stylesheet language stylesheet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the target documents are hypertext markup language documents.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the target documents are portable document format documents.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the source documents are extensible markup language documents.

17. A data processing system for creating a stylesheet, the data processing system comprising:

first receiving means for receiving input identifying a conversion of source elements into target elements;

displaying means for displaying a presentation of an initial target document from a source document in a graphical user interface using the conversion of source elements and target elements;

second receiving means for receiving user input altering the presentation of the initial target document to form a target document;

first generating means, responsive to the input, for generating a first stylesheet to convert the source document into an intermediate source document;

creating means, responsive to generating the first stylesheet, for creating the intermediate source document;

comparing means for comparing the intermediate source document with the target document to identify changes in the presentation to form identified changes; and

second generating means for generating a second stylesheet based on the identified changes.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 further comprising:

applying means for applying the first stylesheet and the second stylesheet to another source document to create another target document.

19. The data processing system of claim 17 further comprising:

combining means for combining the first stylesheet and the second stylesheet to form a master stylesheet, wherein the master stylesheet is used to convert another source document into another target document.

20. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the input is user input in a graphical user interface.

21. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the first stylesheet is used to translate the source document into the intermediate source document containing intermediate tags.

22. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the initial target document is presented using a visual editor.

23. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the first stylesheet and the second stylesheet are extensible stylesheet language stylesheets.

24. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the intermediate source document is an extensible markup language document.

25. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the initial target document and final target document are hypertext markup language documents.

26. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the initial target document and final target document are portable document format documents.

27. A data processing system for converting documents, the data processing system comprising:

first identifying means for identifying source elements and corresponding target elements;

presenting means for presenting an initial target document derived front a source document using the source elements and corresponding target elements;

receiving means for receiving user input modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document;

second identifying means for identifying differences between the initial target document and the final target document; and

creating means for creating a stylesheet to convert source documents into target documents using the identified source elements and corresponding target elements and the identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.

28. The data processing system of claim 27, wherein the initial target document is presented and the user input are received using a visual editor for the initial target document.

29. The data processing system of claim 27, wherein the stylesheet is a extensible stylesheet language stylesheet.

30. The data processing system of claim 27, wherein the target documents are hypertext markup language documents.

31. The data processing system of claim 27, wherein the target documents are portable document format documents.

32. The data processing system of claim 27, wherein the source documents are extensible markup language documents.

33. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for creating a stylesheet, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving input identifying a conversion of source elements into target elements;

second instructions for displaying a presentation of an initial target document from a source document in a graphical user interface using the conversion of source elements and target elements;

third instructions for receiving user input altering the presentation of the initial target document to form a target document;

fourth instructions, responsive to the input, for generating a first stylesheet to convert the source document into an intermediate source document;

fifth instructions, responsive to generating the first stylesheet, for creating the intermediate source document;

sixth instructions for comparing the intermediate source document with the target document to identify changes in the presentation to form identified changes; and

seventh instructions for generating a second stylesheet based on the identified changes.

34. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for converting documents, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for identifying source elements and corresponding target elements;

second instructions for presenting an initial target document derived from a source document using the source elements and corresponding target elements;

third instructions for receiving user input modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document;

fourth instructions for identifying differences between the initial target document and the final target document; and

fifth instructions for creating a stylesheet to convert source documents into target documents using identified source elements and corresponding target elements and identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.