Edit command delegation program for editing electronic files

• US 7,107,275 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Olson, Marc A., Quinn, Andrew K., Kennedy, William, Virmani, Mandira, McAteer, Sean E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US10/225,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 2, 707100-104, 707/8, 709328-329, 719328-329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

An edit command delegation (ECD) utility that provides a user with the ability to edit an electronic file in a creator application program while the electronic file is open in a separate viewing application program operable only for viewing the electronic file. In response to a user input to edit the electronic file, the ECD utility opens the electronic file and reads an application identification tag contained within the content of the electronic file. The application identification tag identifies a creator application program, which was used to create the electronic file and is operable for editing the content data of the electronic file. Once the ECD utility reads the application identification tag, the ECD launches the creator application program. The ECD utility then causes the creator application program to open the electronic file. Once the electronic file is open, the content data is displayed in a window controlled by the creator application program to allow the user to edit the content data.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure, comprising:

an electronic file associated with a viewing application program, the electronic file having content data that is viewable but not editable by the viewing application program and is editable by an editor application program that is different from the viewing application;

an identification tag embedded in the content data, the identification tag indicating the editor application program, wherein the identification tag associates the editor application program with the electronic file; and

an edit command delegation utility that is installed in the data structure by;

determining whether a first location in a computer system contains an entry associated with a default application program, the default application program being associated with the electronic file;

in response to determining that the first location in a computer system contains an entry associated with the default application program;

copying the entry to a second computer system location, deleting the entry from the first location in the system disassociating the default application program with the electronic file, and inserting an entry in the first location in the computer system associated with the edit command delegation utility; and

in response to determining that the first location in a computer system does not contain an entry, inserting an entry in the first location in the computer system associated with the edit command delegation utility;

wherein the edit command delegation utility is arranged to;

receive an edit command to edit the content data,

open the electronic file,

determine the editor application program from the identification tag,

launch the editor application program,

display the content data in the editor application program, and

receive user commands to edit the content data through commands associated with the editor application program.

2. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for modifying content data in an electronic file, comprising:

associating the electronic file with a viewing application program;

placing an identification tag into the content data of the electronic file;

associating the identification tag with an editor application program different from the viewing application program, wherein the electronic file is editable by the editor application program;

installing an edit command delegation utility operative for launching the editor application program, in a computer system, wherein the step of installing the edit command delegation utility comprises the steps of;

determining whether a first location in a computer system contains an entry associated with a default application program, the default application

in response to determining that the first location in a computer system contains an entry associated with the default application program, copying the entry to a second computer system location, deleting the entry from the first location in the system and disassociating the default application program with the electronic file, and inserting an entry in the first location in the computer system associated with the edit command delegation utility, and

in response to determining that the first location in a computer system does not contain an entry, inserting an entry in the first location in the computer system associated with the edit command delegation utility;

receiving an edit command to edit the content data;

reading an identification tag within the electronic file indicating the editor application program that is operable for editing the content data;

launching the editor application program;

opening the electronic file in the editor application program;

displaying the content data in a window controlled by the editor application program; and

receiving user commands to edit content through commands associated with the editor application program.

3. A computer-readable medium encode with a data structure, comprising:

an electronic file associated with a viewing application program, wherein the electronic file includes content data is viewable by the viewing application program, and further wherein the viewing application program is not operable for editing the content data, the electronic file comprising a first file format, the first file format being defined by a hypertext markup language (HTML) and a uniform resource locator (URL);

an identification tag place in the content data o the electronic file, wherein the identification tag associates the electronic file with an editor application program different from the viewing application program, and wherein the electronic file is editable by the editor application program; and

an edit command delegation utility that is arranged to;

receive an edit command to edit the content data,

read the identification tag within the electronic file,

launch the editor application program,

open the electronic file in the editor application program by;

changing the first file format to a second file format,

reading a directory path within the electronic file indicating the location in a computer system where the electronic file is stored for the URL,

determining whether a creator application program is configured to open the electronic file using the URL by checking a URL locator entry associated with the editor application program,

if the URL locator entry is set to a first value, passing the URL associated with the electronic file to the editor application program, and

if the URL locator entry is set to a second value, passing the directory path to the editor application program,

display the content data in a window controlled by the editor application program, and

receive user commands to edit the content through commands associated with the editor application program.

4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for editing content data in an electronic file, wherein the electronic file comprises a first file format, the first file format being defined by a hypertext markup language (HTML) and a uniform resource locator (URL), comprising:

associating the electronic file with a viewing application program, wherein the electronic file includes content data is viewable by the viewing application program;

placing an identification tag into the content data of the electronic file;

associating the identification tag with an editor application program different from the viewing application program, wherein the electronic file is editable by the editor application program;

receiving an edit command to edit the content data;

reading the identification tag within the electronic file;

launching the editor application program;

opening the electronic file in the editor application program, wherein opening the electronic file comprises;

changing the first file format to a second file format,

reading a directory path within the electronic file indicating the location in a computer system where the electronic file is stored for the URL,

determining whether a creator application program is configured to open the electronic file using the URL by checking a URL locator entry associated with the editor application program,

if the URL locator entry is set to a first value, passing the URL associated with the electronic file to the editor application program, and

if the URL locator entry is set to a second value, passing the directory path to the editor application program;

displaying the content data in a window controlled by the editor application program; and

receiving user commands to edit the content through commands associated with the editor application program.