Single command editing of multiple files

• US 6,044,387 A
• Filed: 09/10/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kolodner, Stuart B., Angiulo, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US08/926,747
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/5, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104, 707/513, 707/515, 707/530, 707/531, 707/532, 707/533, 707/536, 704/8, 704/9, 400/63, 345/335, 345/340, 382/283
• US Class Current: 715/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• 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 spell check or a find and replace editing operation is implemented on a plurality of documents on a web and is initiated from a single dialog box. The user is provided the option of selecting either all documents on the web site or alternatively, specifying each of the plurality of documents on which the editing operation is applied. A summary review or list of documents is created by opening successive files on the web site and identifying those for which the selected editing operation is applicable. Once the summary review list of files is completed, the user has the option of reviewing one or more of the files on the list to control how the editing operation is completed. For example, in a spell check editing operation, a file reviewed by the user is opened to the first apparently misspelled word and the user is given the option of changing the word, ignoring it, or moving to the next apparently misspelled word, if any. This review process can selectively be deferred for one or more of the files in the list until a later time.

Claims

1. A method for effecting an automatic editing operation on a plurality of web page files at one time using a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a user to specify the editing operation that is to be automatically effected on the plurality of files by the computer;

(b) without requiring intervention by the user, automatically opening each of the plurality of files, if not already open, in order to identify each file for which the editing operation is applicable; and

(c) implementing the editing operation on each file for which the editing operation is applicable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the editing operation comprises one of the steps of:

(a) spell checking text included in the plurality of files to identify words that may be misspelled; and

(b) finding characters specified by the user and replacing said characters with replacement characters entered by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a list of files from the plurality of files, said list indicating the files for which the editing operation is applicable.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of presenting the list of the files for which the editing operation is applicable to the user, and indicating an extent to which the editing operation is applicable to the files indicated in the list.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of enabling the user to selectively either effect the editing operation of a file indicated in the list of files when presented with the list, or alternatively, defer the editing operation of the file until a later time determined by the user.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of enabling the user to review the list and after effecting the editing operation of a file indicated in the list, selectively effecting the editing operation of a successive file indicated in the list.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of enabling the user to selectively close a current file that has been reviewed by the user to effect the editing operation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the user to select files included in the plurality of files.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein only files that have been saved or are open are includable in the plurality of files.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein if the editing operation comprises the finding and replacing of characters, further comprising the step of enabling the user to select options related to the editing operation, said options including:

(a) finding only characters in each of the plurality of files that match a whole word specified by the user; and

(b) finding only characters in the plurality of files that match a case of the characters specified by the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of files comprise web page documents for a web site.

12. A method for effecting one of a spell check, and a find and replace operation on a plurality of documents for a web site by a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a user to selectively choose whether the spell check or the find and replace operation is to be effected on the plurality of documents, said user thereby selecting an editing operation to be performed on the plurality of documents;

(b) opening each of the plurality of documents, if not already open, to determine if the editing operation selected by the user is applicable to said document;

(c) producing a list of documents to which the editing operation is applicable;

(d) enabling the user to review the list of documents; and

(e) enabling the user to selectively effect the editing operation on any document indicated on the list.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling the user to selectively defer the editing operation on any document until a later time.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of enabling the user to specify a person and a time to implement the editing operation of the document for which the editing operation is deferred.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of enabling the user to selectively implement the editing operation on a successive document on the list.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein only documents that are saved or are open are includable in the plurality of files.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling the user to selectively choose documents from the web site for inclusion in the plurality of documents.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of selectively producing the list of files as a background task;

and, deferring the editing operation until a later time.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein while effecting the spell check of a document, the user is enabled to determine whether an apparently misspelled word is changed or left unchanged.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the list includes a count indicating an extent of the editing operations identified in each document to which the editing operation is applicable.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of files are stored on a server at a web site that is accessed over a network by the user using a client computer.

22. A system for effecting an automatic editing operation on a plurality of files at one time, comprising:

(a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;

(b) a storage medium in which the plurality of files are stored;

(c) a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory and to the storage medium, said processor executing the machine instructions stored in the memory and in response thereto, performing a plurality of functions, including;

(i) enabling a user to specify the editing operation that is to be automatically effected on the plurality of files by the processor;

(ii) without requiring intervention by the user, automatically opening each file of the plurality of files on the storage medium in order to identify each file for which the editing operation is applicable; and

(iii) implementing the editing operation on each file for which the editing operation is applicable.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the editing operation effected by the processor in response to the machine instructions comprises one of:

(a) spell checking text included in the plurality of files to identify words that may be misspelled; and

(b) finding characters specified by the user in the plurality of files and replacing said characters with replacement characters entered by the user.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor, when executing the machine instructions, identifies files from those included in the plurality of files for which the editing operation is applicable and indicates the files that are identified in a list of files.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor, when executing the machine instructions, presents the list of the files for which the editing operation is applicable to the user and indicates an extent to which the editing operation is applicable to the files indicated in the list.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor, when executing the machine instructions, enables the user to selectively either effect the editing operation when presented with the list of the files, or alternatively, defer the editing operation until a later time determined by the user.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor, when executing the machine instructions, enables the user to select files comprising the plurality of files.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of files comprise web page documents for a web site.

29. An article of manufacturer adapted to used with a computer for effecting an automatic editing operation on a plurality of web page files at one time, comprising:

(a) a memory medium;

(b) a plurality of machine instructions stored on the memory medium, said machine instructions, when executed on the computer, causing the computer to;

(i) enable a user to specify the editing operation that is to be automatically effected on the plurality of files;

(ii) without requiring intervention by the user, automatically open each file of the plurality of files, if not already open, in order to identify each file for which the editing operation is applicable; and

(iii) implement the editing operation on each file for which the editing operation is applicable.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the editing operation implemented by the machine instructions comprises one of:

(a) spell checking text included in the plurality of files to identify words that may be misspelled; and

(b) finding characters specified by the user in the plurality of files and replacing said characters with replacement characters entered by the user.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the machine instructions cause the computer to create a list of files by identifying any file from the plurality of files for which the editing operation is applicable and adding the file to said list of files.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein the machine instructions cause the list of the files for which the editing operation is applicable to be presented to the user, said list indicating an extent to which the editing operation is applicable to the files in the list.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the machine instructions cause the computer to enable the user to either selectively effect the editing operation when presented with the list of the files, or alternatively, defer the editing operation until a later time determined by the user.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the machine instructions cause the computer to enable the user to select files included in the plurality of files.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the plurality of files comprise web page documents for a web site.