Method and system for linking data ranges of a computer-generated document with associated extensible markup language elements
First Claim
1. A method for managing markup structure and associated data in a computer-generated document, comprising:
- applying Extensible Markup Language (XML) elements to a document;
generating an XML structure file for containing the XML elements applied to the document;
generating an associated data file for storing data entered into the document;
establishing a link from a plurality of the XML elements contained in the XML structure file with a corresponding data range contained in the associated data file, wherein the link is established by a mapping between a data binding tag in the document that is associated with a desired portion of the document, wherein the data binding tag has an XPath as a value;
upon launching the document, merging data contained in the data file with linked XML elements contained in the XML structure file for displaying the data contained in the data file in the document according to the XML elements applied to the document;
displaying the document on a display device;
receiving edits to a given data item displayed in the document, wherein the edits are received from a third-party data editing application which is separate from an application utilized for creating and editing the data file, wherein the third-party data application has access to only a certain number of a plurality of associated data ranges in the data file for making the edits, wherein the third-party data application does not have access to associated data ranges in the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file which do not comprise the certain number, and wherein the third-party data application does not have access to the XML elements applied to the documents which are contained in the XML structure file;
passing the edits to the given data item to the data file for automatically persisting in one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, wherein automatically persisting comprises initiating a live update to the one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, the live update comprising automatically changing the data in the one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, the changed data comprising data associated with a section of the data file; and
sending data associated with the edited associated data range across a data link to the associated data range to replace the data in the one of the plurality of associated data ranges to a state prior to the edits being received for the given data item displayed in the document.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for separating the data of a structured document from markup structure applied to the document and for linking the separately maintained data with associated markup structure applied to the document. The data stream in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) represented document is moved outside of the document structure into a data file that is linked to the document structure. The data file and the XML-represented document structure are maintained in association with a single file (e.g., document), but in separate object models. Links are established between XML elements applied to the document and data ranges of the data file. Each of the XML structure file and the data file may be accessed and edited separately without affecting the structure or data of the other file until the two files are merged for presenting the associated document.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for managing markup structure and associated data in a computer-generated document, comprising:
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applying Extensible Markup Language (XML) elements to a document; generating an XML structure file for containing the XML elements applied to the document; generating an associated data file for storing data entered into the document; establishing a link from a plurality of the XML elements contained in the XML structure file with a corresponding data range contained in the associated data file, wherein the link is established by a mapping between a data binding tag in the document that is associated with a desired portion of the document, wherein the data binding tag has an XPath as a value; upon launching the document, merging data contained in the data file with linked XML elements contained in the XML structure file for displaying the data contained in the data file in the document according to the XML elements applied to the document; displaying the document on a display device; receiving edits to a given data item displayed in the document, wherein the edits are received from a third-party data editing application which is separate from an application utilized for creating and editing the data file, wherein the third-party data application has access to only a certain number of a plurality of associated data ranges in the data file for making the edits, wherein the third-party data application does not have access to associated data ranges in the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file which do not comprise the certain number, and wherein the third-party data application does not have access to the XML elements applied to the documents which are contained in the XML structure file; passing the edits to the given data item to the data file for automatically persisting in one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, wherein automatically persisting comprises initiating a live update to the one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, the live update comprising automatically changing the data in the one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, the changed data comprising data associated with a section of the data file; and sending data associated with the edited associated data range across a data link to the associated data range to replace the data in the one of the plurality of associated data ranges to a state prior to the edits being received for the given data item displayed in the document. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for managing markup structure and associated data in a computer-generated document, comprising:
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receiving an application of Extensible Markup Language (XML) elements to a document; receiving an input of data into the document; generating an XML structure file for containing the XML elements applied to the document; generating a data file for storing data entered into the document; separating the XML structure file and the data file into two separate files contained in an electronic container file; establishing a link from a plurality of the XML elements contained in the XML structure file to a corresponding data range in the data file, wherein at least one of the XML elements is a non-linked element with respect to the stored data in the data file, the at least one non-linked element being applied for presentation and layout of the document; upon launching the document, merging data contained in the data file with linked XML elements contained in the XML structure file for displaying the data contained in the data file in the document according to a document structure dictated by the XML elements applied to the document; displaying the document on a display device; receiving edits to a given data item displayed in the document, wherein the edits are received from a third-party data editing application which is separate from an application utilized for creating and editing the data file, wherein the third-party data application has access to only a certain number of a plurality of associated data ranges in the data file for making the edits, wherein the third-party data application does not have access to associated data ranges in the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file which do not comprise the certain number, and wherein the third-party data application does not have access to the XML elements applied to the documents which are contained in the XML structure file; storing the edits to the given data item in a temporary data file until the data file is saved; and passing data to the temporary data file for restoring an affected data range in the temporary data file to a data state prior to the edits being received for the given data item displayed in the document. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for managing markup structure and associated data in a computer-generated document, comprising:
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applying Extensible Markup Language (XML) elements to a document; generating an XML structure file for containing the XML elements applied to the document; generating an associated data file for storing data entered into the document; establishing a link from a plurality of the XML elements contained in the XML structure file with a corresponding data range contained in the associated data file, wherein the link is established by a mapping between a data binding tag in the document that is associated with a desired portion of the document, wherein the data binding tag has an XPath as a value; and upon launching the document, merging data contained in the data file with linked XML elements contained in the XML structure file for displaying the data contained in the data file in the document according to the XML elements applied to the document; receiving edits to a given data item displayed in the document, wherein the edits are received from a third-party data editing application which is separate from an application utilized for creating and editing the data file, wherein the third-party data application has access to only a certain number of a plurality of associated data ranges in the data file for making the edits, wherein the third-party data application does not have access to associated data ranges in the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file which do not comprise the certain number, and wherein the third-party data application does not have access to the XML elements applied to the documents which are contained in the XML structure file; passing the edits to the given data item to the data file for automatically persisting in one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, wherein automatically persisting comprises initiating a live update to the one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, the live update comprising automatically changing the data in the one of the plurality of associated data ranges in the data file, the changed data comprising data associated with a section of the data file; and sending data associated with the edited associated data range across a data link to the associated data range to replace the data in the one of the plurality of associated data ranges to a state prior to the edits being received for the given data item displayed in the document. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification