Form template data source change

• US 7,281,018 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mollicone, Laurent, Catorcini, Alessandro, Begun, Andrew Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): AHN, SANGWOO
• Application Number:
  US10/854,961
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/117 Tagging; Marking up details of markup languages G06F40/143; Designating a block; Setting of attributes style sheets, e.g. eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation [XSLT], G06F40/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/194 Calculation of difference between files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A first data source has a plurality of nodes each corresponding to a respective piece of a form template. Each piece of the form template has one of more dependencies to the correspond node of the first data source. Dependencies can be bindings or validation of data. A second data source has a plurality of nodes. Differences are found between the first and second data sources by comparing each node in the first data source with a corresponding node in the second data source. The differences can be as to type, cardinality, name, or a movement, removal or addition of a node. The differences are used to update the dependencies of each piece of the form template to each node of the first data source. Each of the first and second data sources can be a document expressed in a markup language or in a web service definition language.

Claims

1. For a first data source having a plurality of nodes each corresponding to a respective piece of a form template, wherein each said piece of the form template has one or more dependencies to the corresponding node of the first data source, and wherein a second data source has a plurality of nodes, a method comprising:

finding differences between the first and second data sources; and

using the differences to;

update the dependencies of each said piece of the form template to each said nodes of the first data; and

output another version of the form template having the updated dependencies; and

wherein each said dependency of each said piece of the form template to the corresponding node of the first data source is selected from the group consisting of a binding, a validation of data, and a combination thereof;

wherein the differences between the first and second data sources are determined by comparing each said node in the first data source with a corresponding said node in the second data source; and

each said comparison finds a difference selected from the group consisting of;

types of the respective nodes are different;

cardinalities of the respective nodes are different;

qualified names of the respective nodes are different;

the node of the first data source is being moved;

the node of the first data source is being removed and the node of the second data source is being added; and

the node of the second data source is being added.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

each of the first and second data sources are inferred from a respective markup-language schema; and

portions of the each of the first and second data sources are logically coupled with fragments of the respective markup-language schema.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second data sources are selected from the group consisting of:

a markup language document;

an XML document;

a schema definition file;

a schema definition file for an XML document;

a web service definition language (WSDL) for a web service;

a table for a server application; and

a table for a database application.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is the cardinality, validating the node of the first data source in accordance with a validation of the node of the second data source.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is the type, updating one or more bindings of the node of the first data source to use a qualified name of the node of the second data source in place of a qualified name of the node of the first data source.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is that the node of the first data source is being moved:

updating one or more bindings of the node of the first data source, and any children nodes thereof, to use a location of the node of the second data source; and

validating the one or more bindings for the node of the first data source, and any child node thereof, in accordance with a validation of the node of the second data source.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is that the node of the first data source is being removed and the node of the second data source is being added:

removing one or more bindings of the node of the first data source, and any child node thereof; and

updating the one or more bindings for the node of the first data source, and any child node thereof, in accordance with one or more bindings of the node of the second data source.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is that the node of the second data source is being added:

updating one or more bindings for the node of the second data source, and any child node thereof, for a dependency of a respective said piece of the form template to the node of the second data source.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each said binding is selected from the group consisting of:

an XPath query that binds the first data source to editable components in an XML Stylesheet Language Transform (XSLT) file;

an XML code that defines an initial or default state of the first data source, or pieces thereof; and

an XPath query that defines actions including calculations, data validation, and editability which are performable on the first data source.

10. A computer readable medium having machine readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 1.

11. A computer readable medium comprising a machine readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method that uses a first data source having first nodes and being represented by a first schema, and the uses a second data source having second nodes and being represented by a second schema, wherein:

each of the first and second schema defines validation of data;

the first schema defines;

data entry fields in a form template each respectively corresponding to one or more of the first nodes of the first data source; and

a biding between each said data entry field in the form template and each said first node; and

the method comprises;

comparing, for respective said first and second nodes, the first and second schema to find a difference there between; and

using the difference to update the binding between each said data entry field in the form template and each said first node; and

wherein the difference is selected from the group consisting of;

type of the first node is changed by the second node;

cardinality of the first node is changed by the second node;

qualified name of the first node is changed by the second node;

the first node is being moved;

the first node is being removed and the second node is being added; and

the second node is being added.

12. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein each of the first and second data sources are selected from the group consisting of:

a markup language document;

an XML document;

a schema definition file;

a schema definition file for an XML document;

a web service definition language (WSDL) for a web service;

a table for a server application; and

a table for a database application.

13. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein when the difference is the cardinality, validating the first node in accordance with a validation of the second node.

14. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein when the difference is type, updating one or more bindings of the first node to use a qualified name of the second node in place of a qualified name of the first node.

15. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein when the difference is that the first node is being moved:

updating one or more bindings of the first node, and any child node thereof, to use a location of the second node; and

validating the one or more bindings for the first node, and any child node thereof, in accordance with a validation of the second node.

16. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein when the difference is that the first node is being removed and the second node is being added:

removing one or more bindings of the first node, and any child node thereof; and

updating the bindings for the first node, and any child node thereof, in accordance with a binding of the second node.

17. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein when the difference is that the second node is being added:

updating one or more bindings for the second node, and any child node thereof, with respect to one or more corresponding said data entry fields in the form template.

18. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein each said binding is selected from the group consisting of:

an XPath query using editable components in an XML Stylesheet Language Transform (XSLT) file;

an XML code that defines an initial or default state of the first data source, or pieces thereof; and

an XPath query that defines calculations, data validation, and editability.

19. A computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method that uses first and second structured markup language documents, each having a syntax described by a schema and having a plurality of markup language nodes that are arranged in a hierarchical structure of parents nodes having children nodes such that the hierarchical position of each said markup language node in the hierarchical structure is expressed as a corresponding fragment of the markup language, wherein a form template has a plurality of data entry fields, each corresponding to and having dependencies to one or more of the markup language nodes of the first structured markup language document, and wherein the method comprises:

finding differences between the respective schema of the first and second structured markup language documents; and

using the differences to update the dependencies of each said data entry field of the form template to the corresponding said one or more nodes of the first structured markup language document; and

wherein;

the differences between the respective schema of the first and second structured markup language documents are determined by comparing each said node in the first structured markup language document with a corresponding said node in the second structure markup language document; and

at least one comparison finds a difference selected from the group consisting of;

types of the respective nodes are different;

cardinalities of the respective nodes are different;

qualified names of the respective nodes are different;

the node of the first structured markup language document is being moved;

the node of the first structured markup language document is being removed and the node of the second structured markup language document is being added; and

the node of the second structured markup language document is being added.

20. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 19, wherein each of the first and second structured markup language documents are inferred from their respective schema.

21. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 19, wherein:

each of the first and second structured markup language documents is written in XML;

the form template is written in XHTML; and

each said data entry field on the form template is an editing control that is an XSLT component.

22. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 19, wherein each of the first and second structured markup language documents are selected from the group consisting of:

a web service definition language (WSDL) for a web service;

a table for a server application; and

a table for a database application.

23. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 19, wherein each said dependency of each said data entry field of the form template to the corresponding said one or more nodes of the first structured markup language document is selected from the group consisting of a binding, a validation of data, and a combination thereof.

24. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is the cardinality, validating the node of the first structured markup language document in accordance with a validation of the node of the second structured markup language document.

25. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is the type, updating one or more bindings of the node of the first structured markup language document to use a qualified name of the node of the second structured markup language document in place of a qualified name of the node of the first structured markup language document.

26. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is that the node of the first structured markup language document is being moved:

updating one or more bindings of the node of the first structured markup language document, and any child node thereof, to use a location of the node of the second structured markup language document; and

validating the one or more bindings for the node of the first structured markup language document, and any child node thereof, in accordance with a validation of the node of the second structured markup language document.

27. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is that the node of the first structured markup language document is being removed and the node of the second structured markup language document is being added:

removing one or more bindings of the node of the first structured markup language document, and any child node thereof; and

updating the one or more bindings for the node of the first structured markup language document, and any child nodes thereof, in accordance with one or more bindings of the node of the second structured markup language document.

28. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23, wherein when the comparison finds that the difference is that the node of the second structured markup language document is being added:

updating one or more bindings for the node of the second structured markup language document, and any child nodes thereof, for a dependency of a respective said data entry field of the form template to the node of the second structured markup language document.

29. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23, wherein each said binding is selected from the group consisting of:

an XPath query that binds the first structured markup language document to editable components in an XML Stylesheet Language Transform (XSLT) file;

an XML code that defines an initial or default state of the first structured markup language document, or pieces thereof; and

an XPath query that defines actions which are performable on the first structured markup language document, including calculations, data validation, and editability.

30. An apparatus comprising:

storage for a form template having data entry fields and for first and second data sources respectively having first and second nodes and being respectively represented by first and second schema, wherein;

the first and second schema defined validation of data for the first and second nodes;

the first schema defines;

the data entry fields in the form template, each of which respectively corresponds to one or more first nodes of the first data source; and

a binding between each said data entry field in the form template and each said first node; and

one or more processors, coupled to the storage, to perform the acts of;

comparing, for respective said first and second nodes, the first and second schema to find a difference there between; and

using the difference to update the binding between each said data entry field in the form template and each said first node; and

wherein the difference is selected from the group consisting of;

type of the first node is changed by the second node;

cardinality of the first node is changed by the second node;

qualified name of the first node is changed by the second node;

the first node is being moved;

the first node is being removed and the second node is being added; and

the second node is being added.

31. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein each of the first and second data sources are selected from the group consisting of:

a markup language document;

an XML document;

a schema definition file;

a schema definition file for an XML document;

a web service definition language (WSDL) for a web service;

a table for a server application; and

a table for a database application.

32. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein when the difference is the cardinality, validating the first node in accordance with a validation of the second node.

33. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein when the difference is the type, updating one or more bindings of the first node to use a qualified name of the second node in place of a qualified name of the first node.

34. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein when the difference is that the first node is being moved:

updating one or more bindings of the first node, and any child node thereof, to use a location of the second node; and

validating the one or more bindings for the first node, and any child node thereof, in accordance with a validation of the second node.

35. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein when the difference is that the first node is being removed and the second node is being added:

removing one or more bindings of the first node, and any child node thereof; and

updating the one or more bindings for the first node, and any child node thereof, in accordance with one or more bindings of the second node.

36. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein when the difference is that the second node being is added:

updating one or more bindings for the second node, and any child node thereof, with respect to one or more corresponding said data entry fields in the form template.

37. The apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein each said binding is selected from the group consisting of:

an Xpath query using editable components in an XML Stylesheet Language Transform (XSLT) file;

an XML code that defines an initial or default state of the first data source, or pieces thereof; and

an Xpath query that defines calculations, data validation, and editability.