Method and system for linking data ranges of a computer-generated document with associated extensible markup language elements

• US 7,620,889 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Brian, Villaron, Shawn Alan, Little, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US11/018,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 715/513, 715/517, 715/522, 715/539, 715/234, 715/243, 715/248, 715/271, 715/272
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an electronic file container for containing the XML structure file and the data file.

3. The method of claim 2, whereby upon selection of the electronic file container, providing access to each of the XML structure file and the data file.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

allowing access to the XML structure file independent of the data file for editing the XML elements applied to the document ; and

allowing access to the data file independent of the XML structure file for editing data contained in the data file.

5. A method for managing markup structure and associated data in a computer-generated document, comprising:

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.

6. The method of claim 5, whereby upon selection of the electronic file container, providing access to each of the XML structure file and the data file.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

allowing access to the XML structure file independent of the data file for editing the XML elements applied to the document; and

allowing access to the data file independent of the XML structure file for editing data contained in the data file.

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:

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.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising providing an electronic file container for containing the XML structure file and the data file.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, whereby upon selection of the electronic file container, providing access to each of the XML structure file and the data file.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising allowing access to the data file independent of the XML structure file for editing data contained in the data file.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, whereby establishing a link from a given XML element contained in the XML structure file to a corresponding data range contained in the data file includes establishing an XPath from each XML element contained in the XML structure file that is linked to a corresponding data range contained in the data file.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, whereby one or more XML elements contained in the XML structure file are not linked to associated data ranges contained in the data file, the one or more non-linked XML elements being applied for presentation and layout of the document.