U.S. patent application number 11/233002 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for document editing system and method of preparing a tag information management table.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA. Invention is credited to Tetsuji Fukaya, Yoshio Kataoka, Nobuhiro Ono.
Application Number | 20060095836 11/233002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15538363 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060095836 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ono; Nobuhiro ; et
al. |
May 4, 2006 |
Document editing system and method of preparing a tag information
management table
Abstract
A document editing system is described and is to solve a problem
of a background technology, that is, a problem of incapability of
distinguishing, a plurality of document areas which are nested or
which partially overlap and are specified through use of tags of
the same type. Document area management means and tag management
means assign nonoverlapping, unique IDs to arbitrary document
areas, wherewith a tag information management table for managing
document areas is retained in the document editing system.
Inventors: |
Ono; Nobuhiro; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Fukaya; Tetsuji; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
Kataoka; Yoshio; (Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
15538363 |
Appl. No.: |
11/233002 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09580454 |
May 30, 2000 |
6964013 |
|
|
11233002 |
Sep 23, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 40/134 20200101;
Y10S 707/99943 20130101; G06F 40/143 20200101; G06F 40/166
20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/513 ;
715/530; 715/501.1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/21 20060101
G06F017/21; G06F 17/24 20060101 G06F017/24; G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 1999 |
JP |
11-152338 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A retrieval method of a document in a computer, comprising:
storing in the document a start tag that identifies a start of an
arbitrary area in the document and an end tag that identifies an
end of the arbitrary area in the document, wherein a unique
identifier is attached to the stat tag and the unique identifier is
attached to the end tag, said unique identifier being uniquely
associated with the arbitrary area in the document identified by
the start tag and the end tag, each start and end tag includes an
attachment symbol, and said unique identifier is attached to each
start tag and each end tag by the attachment symbol; and retrieving
the arbitrary area in the document identified by the start tag
attached with the unique identifier and the end tag attached with
the unique identifier.
11. The retrieval method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving
further comprises: identifying a type of tag to be retrieved; and
retrieving the arbitrary area identified by the type of tag.
12. The retrieval method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving
further comprises retrieving the arbitrary area in the document
including a first area in the document after a cursor location.
13. The retrieval method of claim 10, further comprising:
retrieving a next area in the document positioned in the document
after the arbitrary area.
14. The retrieval method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving
further comprises displaying a title of the arbitrary area.
15. The retrieval method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving
further comprises displaying a content of the arbitrary area.
16. The retrieval method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving
further comprise displaying a content of the arbitrary area using a
reversed indication.
17. The retrieval method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving
further comprising displaying a warning message when the arbitrary
area is not located at a position in the document after a cursor
location.
18. The retrieval method of claim 10, further comprising:
identifying a desired tag type; and displaying a warning message
when a next area in the document having the desired tag type is not
positioned in the document after the arbitrary area.
19. The retrieval method of claim 10, further comprising displaying
a retrieval dialog including an information about the arbitrary
area and a desired characteristic of the arbitrary area.
20. The retrieval method of claim 19, wherein the displaying
further comprises: selecting an item in a menu list; and displaying
the retrieval dialog based on the selected item.
21. The retrieval method of claim 19, wherein the displaying
further comprises: activating a combination of keys on a keyboard;
and displaying the retrieval dialog based on the activated
combination of keys.
22. The retrieval method of claim 19, further comprising: closing
the retrieval dialog and maintaining a display of a content of the
arbitrary area after closing the retrieval dialog.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit
of priority under 35 USC .sctn.120 from U.S. application Ser. No.
09/580,454, filed May 30, 2000, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a document editing system
and a method of preparing a tag information management table for
use in editing a document.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the case of a commonly known markup language, such as
HTML or XML, when an arbitrary, non-empty document area within a
target document is, specified, markup indicating a start position
is inserted at the start position of the document area, and markup
indicating an end position is inserted at the end position of the
document area. In the following description, a symbol which acts to
insert at an arbitrary position within a document is called a
"tag." A document area located between a start tag for specifying
the start position of a document area desired to be specified and
an end tag for specifying an end position is identified as a
specified document area by a processor capable of understanding the
markup language used for describing the document. The start tag and
the end tag are of the same type and are paired up with each
other.
[0006] In a case where a document area specified by a paired start
and end tag is nested into another document area specified by a
paired start and end tag of the same type or where one document
area partially overlaps another document area, a processor areas
specified within an arbitrary area of the document and managing the
document areas along with attributes assigned thereto;
[0007] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area; and
[0008] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated.
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention enables specifying of a
plurality of document areas which are nested or which partially
overlap, through use of tags of the same type. Therefore, there is
embodied an environment where document areas can be uniquely
distinguished from one another, thereby significantly improving the
degree of freedom in appending attributes to the document and
enabling the user to flexibly edit a document.
[0010] Further, the present invention provides a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0011] document area management means for discriminating a
plurality of types of document areas or a plurality of document
areas specified within an arbitrary area of the document and
managing the document areas along with attributes assigned
thereto;
[0012] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area;
[0013] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated;
[0014] link management means for performing a management operation
so as to link one or a plurality of documents to the specified
document area and passing information about the link to the
document area management means; and
[0015] linked document output means for outputting the document
linked by the link management means, by reference to information
about the document area managed by the document area management
means.
[0016] Further, the present invention provides a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0017] document area management means for accurately discriminating
a plurality of document areas specified within the entirety of the
document or arbitrary portions thereof and managing the document
areas along with attributes assigned thereto;
[0018] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area;
[0019] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated;
[0020] display format management means for managing an arbitrary
display format assigned to the document area managed by the
document management means; and
[0021] document output means for outputting the document managed by
the document area management means, in an arbitrary expression
format provided in the display format management means.
[0022] The present invention also provides a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0023] document area management means for accurately discriminating
a plurality of document areas specified within the entirety of the
document or arbitrary portions thereof and managing the document
areas along with attributes assigned thereto;
[0024] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area;
[0025] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated;
[0026] processing interface management means for performing a
management operation so as to relate an arbitrary process to the
specified document area such that a trigger for executing the
process is set for the specified document, as well as to pass
information about the link to the document area management means;
and
[0027] a processing library for storing, such as a library, the
arbitrary processes linked to the specified document area by the
processing interface management means.
[0028] The present invention provides a method of preparing a tag
information management table for editing a document, the method
comprising:
[0029] a character string selection determination step of
determining whether or not an arbitrary character string within a
document is selected;
[0030] a tag information acquisition step of, in a case where in
the character string selection determination step it is determined
that the character string is selected, acquiring information about
the kind of tags assigned to a document area and information about
the position of a start tag and that of an end tag;
[0031] an ID assignment step of assigning nonoverlapping tag IDs to
the respective tag information pieces acquired in the tag
information acquisition step; and
[0032] a tag information management table storage step of storing
into a tag information management table for use in editing a
document, a link between the tag IDs assigned to the tags in the
tag ID assignment step and the tag information pieces acquired in
the tag information acquisition step.
[0033] Thus, there is provided a tag information management table
for enabling unique discrimination of a plurality of document areas
which partially overlap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the
configuration of a document editing system according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is an illustration showing an example in which
document areas which are nested and overlap, according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an example in which
document areas which partially overlap, according to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 4 is an illustration showing an example access to a tag
information management table of document area management means 1
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 5 is an illustration showing an example tag information
management table according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation
performed by tag management means 2 according to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 7 is an illustration depicting assigning of a tag to a
document area according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 8 is a processing flow chart according to which a
composite document file according to the first embodiment is
output;
[0042] FIG. 9 is a processing flow chart according to which a tag
information management table according to the first embodiment is
prepared;
[0043] FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations depicting an example
operation for editing a composite document according to the first
embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 11 is a processing flowchart depicting the processing
of document editing means 3 according to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 12 is an illustration depicting an example display
screen about an operation for relating another document to the
composite document according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0046] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of an operation for
displaying the document linked to the composite document according
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0047] FIGS. 14A and 14B are illustrations depicting an example
screen display for displaying information about the document linked
to the composite document according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
[0048] FIG. 15 is an illustration depicting an example screen
display for displaying the composite document according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a specified display format;
[0049] FIG. 16 is an illustration depicting an example screen
display for setting a document area in the composite document
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0050] FIGS. 17A and 17B are illustrations depicting an example
screen display for displaying the composite document according to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a specified display format;
[0051] FIG. 18 is an illustration depicting an example screen
display for embedding a trigger for executing a specified
processing operation into the document area of the composite
document according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0052] FIG. 19 is an illustration depicting an example screen
display for performing the process specified for the document area
of the composite document according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
[0053] FIG. 20 is an illustration depicting a link between a
commonly known composite document and a table;
[0054] FIG. 21 is an illustration depicting a problem arising in
handling the commonly known composite document;
[0055] FIG. 22 is an illustration depicting an example link between
a composite document and a table according to the present
invention; and
[0056] FIG. 23 is an illustration showing the static structure of a
composite document according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0057] A document editing system according to an embodiment of the
present invention will now be described in detail by reference to
the accompanying drawings. An important term used in the following
description is defined as follows:
[0058] A "composite document" is a document which, in its entirety
or in arbitrary positions, can be linked to another document (1);
for which an arbitrary display format is set (2); and for which a
trigger is set for relating arbitrary processing to the document or
for executing arbitrary processing (3).
[0059] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a composite document
whose internal areas are assigned attributes. As shown in FIG. 20,
arbitrary document areas within the document (i.e., a document area
A, a document area B, and a document area C) are assigned
respective attributes (attribute A, attribute B, and attribute C).
Information about the attributes assigned to the corresponding
document areas is statically retained, thereby enabling reference
to the attributes assigned to the respective document areas. In the
example shown in FIG. 20, the information about attributes is
expressed as a table for retaining links between the document areas
and their assigned attributes.
[0060] Even in the case of a commonly known markup language, such
as HTML, attributes can be assigned to a document area by means of
attaching a tag to the document area. However, for a reason to be
described later, it cannot necessarily be said that the degree of
freedom in assigning attributes to the commonly known markup
language is high. In a case where an overlap exists between
arbitrary document areas within a document assigned attributes of
the same type, the boundary between the document areas becomes
indefinite. FIG. 21 shows a static structure, in which document
areas assigned attributes of the same type are expressed through
use of tags. As is obvious from FIG. 21, if the document areas are
expressed through use of tags of the same type, the document areas
cannot be definitely specified. For example, an end tag to be
paired up with the start tag of the document area C can be also
taken as the end tag of the document area B.
[0061] To solve such a problem, unique numbers (IDs) which prevent
an overlap among the document areas within the document shown in
FIG. 20 are assigned to the document areas. As a result, the table
shown in FIG. 20 is rewritten as shown in FIG. 22. Addition of
unique, nonoverlapping numbers (IDs) results in an increase in the
amount of data pertaining to the table holding the information
about the links between document areas and their assigned
attributes. In FIG. 22, the attributes shown in FIG. 20 are divided
into the types of attributes linked to document area and attribute
values thereof In this example, numerals 1, 2, and 3 are used as
unique numbers (IDs) for specifying tag pairs. Any type of
identifiers may be used, so long as the identifiers are
nonoverlapping and unique.
[0062] The table is additionally provided with unique,
nonoverlapping numbers (IDs) and holds the information about the
links between the document areas and their assigned attributes.
FIG. 23 shows a static structure--expressed through use of tags. In
contrast with the static structure shown in FIG. 21, the static
structure shown in FIG. 23 enables unique identification of a tag
pair defining each document area, through use of unique,
nonoverlapping numbers (IDs) assigned to--a respective start tag
and a respective end tag.
[0063] The document editing system of the present invention
supports a composite document and editing thereof, by means of
enabling identification of arbitrary document areas within a
document assigned tags. The document editing system has one or more
fields or windows for expressing a composite document, and texts
having the characteristic of the composite document are displayed
in the fields or windows. The following descriptions are based on a
case where, by way of an example, a composite document comprising
source codes, such as a C language document, is taken as a
document.
[0064] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration
of the document editing system of the present invention.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 1, the document editing system comprises
document area management means 1; tag management means 2; document
editing means 3; link management means 4; a linked document storage
device 5; linked document output means 6; display format management
means 7; document output means 8; processing interface management
means 9; and a processing library 10.
[0066] In the document editing system,
[0067] (1) the document area management means 1, the tag management
means 2, the document editing means 3, the link management means 4,
the linked document storage device 5, and the linked document
output means 6 are involved in relating a document with another
document;
[0068] (2) the document area management means 1, the tag management
means 2, the document editing means 3, the display format
management means 7, and the document output means 8 are involved in
selecting an arbitrary display format; and
[0069] (3) the document area management means 1, the tag management
means 2, the document editing means 3, the processing interface
management means 9, and the processing library 10 are involved in
setting a trigger for relating arbitrary processing to a document
area. Thus, the document editing system supports a composite
document.
[0070] The document area management means 1 stores tag information
for supporting the composite document which has been defined
previously, and manages document areas within a composite document
by means of managing accesses to the information, such as writing
or reference.
[0071] The tag management means 2 manages the user of the document
editing system in assigning tags to arbitrary document areas. In a
case where a tag is added or assigned to a document area, a tag
attribute value for uniquely specifying a start tag and an end tag,
a tag attribute value representing the title of a document area,
and tag attribute values of the document area are added to the tag
information. If necessary, extended tag attributes may be added to
the tag information. The information about the document assigned
the tag is passed to the document area management means 1. In a
case where a tag is deleted, the start and end tags to be deleted
are specified on the basis of the tag attribute values allocated to
the start and end tags, and the tag information about the document
area whose tags have been deleted is passed to the document area
management means 1, thereby releasing the corresponding document
area.
[0072] By means of the document area management means 1 and the tag
management means 2, nonoverlapping, unique numbers (IDs) are
assigned to arbitrary document areas, as mentioned previously. A
table for managing the document areas is retained in the document
editing system. As a result, the document editing system can assign
tags to arbitrary document areas within a composite document for
allocating attributes to corresponding document areas.
[0073] The document area management means 1 can specify, as a
document area to be managed, a document area A in which another
document B is nested, as shown in FIG. 2, or document areas A and B
partially overlapping each other. Such a function of the document
area management means 1 differs from a function for indicating
hypertext as typified by a commonly known HTML browser.
[0074] In an overlapping document area between the document area A
and the document area B shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, information about
the start and end tags of the document area A and information about
the start and end tags of the document area B are embedded in the
overlapping document area. Further, by means of combination of
patterns of overlapping between document areas such as those shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3, the document area management means 1 allows any
type of combination of patterns of overlapping among a plurality of
document areas.
[0075] In a case where the user of the document editing system
subjects a composite document to text editing, the document editing
means 3 manages a change in the document area specified by the
tags, which are embedded in the document managed by the document
area management means 1, and passes the resultant updated tag
information to the document area management means 1. In a case
where a document area assigned a tag is deleted in the course, of
editing of the document, the document editing means 3 specifies the
start and end tags assigned to the document area to be deleted, by
means of the tag management means 2 and on the basis of the
attributes values assigned to the respective tags. The resultant
updated tag information is passed to the document area management
means 1, thus releasing the corresponding document region.
[0076] The link management means 4 manages the document linked with
the tagged document areas managed by the document area management
means 1.
[0077] The linked document is stored in the linked document storage
device 5, and the link management means 4 manages a pointer to the
linked document. In response to a request for displaying a linked
document, the link management means 4 refers to the linked document
and passes information about the linked document to the linked
document output means 6. In many cases, the linked document storage
device 5 is embodied by a mass-storage device provided in a
personal computer or a workstation or BY a mass-storage device
connected to a network.
[0078] The display format management means 7 manages the display
format of a composite document in accordance with the attributes of
the tagged document areas, the attributes being specified by the
tags. The display format management means 7 determines the display
format specified by the user of the document editing system. On the
basis of the attributes of the tagged document areas managed by the
document area management means 1, the display format management
means 7 changes the format of display of the composite document and
passes to the document output means 8 information about the thus
changed display format.
[0079] In order to assign to an arbitrary area within a document an
attribute for performing a predefined process, the processing
interface management means 9 relates a predefined process to the
document area specified by the user of the document editing system.
If necessary, the processing interface management means 9 receives
an input of an initial value and sets and manages a trigger for
performing a predefined process, according to the type of the
predefined process. The predefined process is stored, as a file
described in a script, in the processing library 10. In many cases,
the processing library 10 is embodied by a mass-storage device
provided in a personal computer or by a workstation or a
mass-storage device connected to a network.
[0080] The operation of the document editing system of the present
invention will now be described.
[0081] First, the operation of the document area management means 1
of the document editing system will be described by reference to
corresponding drawings.
[0082] As mentioned previously, the principal role of the document
area management means 1 is to internally hold a table for managing
document areas. As shown in FIG. 4, by means of a tag, by means of
access, as will be described later, the document area management
means 1 manages another means in adding, changing, or deleting
information about the document area which is stored in the table
and assigned an attribute.
[0083] Here, the table for managing document areas is called tag
information management table and will be described by reference to
the drawing. As shown in FIG. 5, the tag information management
table is provided with a declaration indicating the kind of tag. As
attribute values of the tag, there are held a tag ID number (tag
id), the title of a document area which is to be assigned the tag
(title), an index indicating the start position of the document
area which is to be assigned the tag (start index), an index
indicating the end position of the document area which is to be
assigned the tag (end index), and other attribute values for
extension purposes. The expression "kind of tag" used herein
designates the kind of tag, such as an anchor tag "<A>" or a
font tag "<FONT>," used in HTML, which is a typical markup
language. In the document editing system, the tag ID number is
synonymous with a nonoverlapping, unique attribute value which has
already been described as a value to be--added to a respective
start tag and a respective end tag so as to enable unique
identification of the start tag and the corresponding end tag, to
thereby embody a composite document. Although the example shown in
FIG. 5 illustrates a single kind of tag "r," in actuality there is
prepared a table providing a summary of a plurality of kinds of
tags used in a composite document or there are prepared a plurality
of tables corresponding to the respective kinds of tags.
[0084] The table, which manages the tag information to be prepared
by the document area management means 1, is prepared at all times
so that the table can be used at the time of browsing, editing, or
reservation of a document. The document editing system handles a
document simultaneously with registration of table elements. In
association with editing of a document, table elements are changed
dynamically. Further, in association with completion of handling of
a document, the elements registered in the table are discarded.
[0085] The operation of the tag management means 2 of the document
editing system will be described by reference to corresponding
drawings. The tag management means 2 plays a dominant role in the
document editing system of the present invention; specifically, the
tag management means 2 generates and adds to a document area a
nonoverlapping, unique tag attribute required for assigning the
feature of a composite document to a plain text.
[0086] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the
tag management means 2 of the document editing system.
[0087] In order to set a document area, a document area to be
tagged must be selected from the document displayed by the document
editing system. Setting a document area not in existence as an area
to be tagged is nonsense and therefore invalid. The tag management
means 2 determines whether or not a character string is selected
from the composite document (step 600). If it is determined that a
character string has not yet been selected, a tagging operation is
ended. In contrast, if it is determined that a character string has
been selected, the tag management means 2 acquires information
about a start index and an end index pertaining to the thus
selected character string; i.e., a document area (step 601).
[0088] The tag management means 2 acquires information about the
kind of tag specified by the user and receives an extended
attribute value if the attribute value is required by the type of
tag (step 602), thus preparing a nonoverlapping, unique tag ID
number (step 603). The tag management means 2 sends to the user an
inquiry about the title of a document area to be specified. In a
case where the user enters the title, a character string
representing the title is acquired as a document information title
(step 604). In contrast, in a case where the user does not enter a
title, the tag management means 2 acquires a default character
string defined by the specified tags (step 605). Finally, the
information pieces (the king of a tag, the tag ID number, the start
index of the document area, the end index of the document area, and
the extended attribute value) which have been acquired by the tag
management means 2 thus far are passed, as a collective information
piece, to the document area management means 1. The document area
management means 1 registers, as table elements, the thus received
tag information into the tag information management table, which is
shown in FIG. 5 and has already been described (step 606). As a
result of preparation of such a tag information management able
within the document editing system, the document editing system
enables handling of a document characterized as a composite
document.
[0089] An output of composite document file is used in storing a
plain text as a document file (i.e., a composite document file)
having a static structure of a composite document, by mean of
sequentially inserting tags into the plain text according to the
information stored in the tag information management table
internally stored in the document editing system.
[0090] FIG. 7 is an illustration showing allocation of tags while
the elements provided in the first row of the tag information
management table shown in FIG. 5 are taken as examples. In the
example, text information is employed as an extended tag attribute
value. In the case of a simple tag not having an extended tag
attribute value, a tag attribute value for extension purpose is not
written into the tag information management table. In the case of a
tag having another extended tag attribute value, an extended tag
attribute value corresponding to the kind of tag is written into
the tag information management table. Further, in the case of a tag
having a plurality of extended tag attribute values, the extended
tag attribute values are consecutively written into the tag
information management table while being separated from one another
through use of delimiters.
[0091] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of an operation in
which the document editing system outputs a composite document file
in accordance with the tag information management table.
[0092] A determination is made as to whether or not tag information
is stored in the tag information management able (step 801). If no
tag information is stored, a plain text file is output (step 802).
In contrast, if tag information is stored, a tagged document area
is present as a composite document. Tags corresponding to the kinds
of tags held as elements in the tag information management table,
such as those provided in the example shown in FIG. 7, are assigned
to the plain text information at the position of a start index and
at the position of an end index of the tagged document area stored
in the tag information management table (step 803).
[0093] In the case of tags being assigned to a file to be output,
attribute values of the tags must be written. In the case of a
start tag, a nonoverlapping, unique ID number is added to the right
side of a symbol indicating the kind of tag while a delimiter, such
as a space, is interposed between the symbol and the ID number. The
ID number is followed by the title of the tagged document area, and
an attribute value for extension purpose while the symbol and the
ID number are spaced apart from each other through use of a
delimiter, such as a space. In the case of an end tag, a symbol
indicating an end tag, such as "/" is assigned to the left side of
the symbol indicating the kind of tag. The symbol indicating the
kind of tag is followed by the same tag ID number as that appended
to the right side of the start tag, while the symbol and the ID
number are spaced apart from each other through use of a delimiter,
such as a space. Appending the tag attribute to the end tag is the
feature of the present invention which is not employed in the
commonly known markup language.
[0094] Insertion of a tag is repeated in correspondent with the
number of document area information pieces stored in the tag
information management table, to thereby prepare a composite
document file. The thus prepared composite document file is output
(step 804).
[0095] By reference to the drawings, there will now be described
the flow of an operation in which the document editing system
analyzes tag information on the basis of the document file (i.e., a
composite document file) which already has the static structure of
a composite document and registers elements in the tag information
management table.
[0096] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in
which the document editing system analyzes the tags assigned to the
composite document file and registers elements to the tag
information management table.
[0097] The flow of operation required for analyzing the tags
assigned to the composite document file, to thereby prepare a tag
information management table, is as follows.
[0098] The composite document file is scanned from the beginning of
the document to the end thereof so as to find a "tag" or "EOF (End
of File)," and a buffer is inserted at any location in the
character sequence (step 901). If EOF is found (step 902), it is
determined that no tags are present in the document and that
retrieval of the entire document has been completed, and processing
is terminated.
[0099] In a case where a tag is found, a determination is made as
to whether or not the thus found tag is a start tag (step 903). If
the tag corresponds to a start tag, the kind of tag is determined
(step 204). Following the determination, a nonoverlapping, unique
tag ID number, the title of a document area, and an extended tag
attribute are acquired, and a start index of the document area is
acquired on the basis of the position at which the tag is inserted
(step 905). One element of the tag information management table of
the document area management means 1 is prepared (step 906), and
information pieces are registered (step 907). At this time, the end
index of the document area still remains unregistered.
Subsequently, processing jumps to step 901.
[0100] In a case where the found tag is an end tag, the start tag
to be paired up with the end tag has already been retrieved and
registered as an element in the tag information management table.
By reference to the kind of tag and the tag ID number assigned to
the tag, there is retrieved an element as which the information
acquired by the start tag to be paired up with the end tag is
registered in the tag information management table. The location at
which the end tag is inserted is registered in a blank in which the
end index of the document region has not yet been registered (step
908). The entries for all the elements are now filled.
[0101] As a result of the foregoing operations being repeated until
EOF is found, acquisition of plain text information from which tags
are removed and registration, into the tag information management
table, of elements for embodying a composite document are
completed. The thus acquired text information is displayed by the
document editing system, as in the case of a commonly known
editor.
[0102] There will now be described the editing of a composite
document performed by the document editing system.
[0103] The information about the tag information management table
having elements registered therein is automatically changed by the
tag management means 2 and the document editing means 3 in
association with text editing of the composite document displayed
by the document editing system. It has already been stated that, as
a result of tags being assigned to an arbitrary document area, the
tag management means 2 additionally registers elements in the tag
information management table. Further,-the tag management means 2
changes the document areas of the composite document which have
already been assigned tags or deletes tagging information about the
tagged document area. FIGS. 10A and 10B show an example operation
in which the document editing system edits the tagged document
areas of the composite document.
[0104] The document editing system has a menu for enabling editing
of a tagged document area or the function of receiving an input
entered by the user by means of key-operation of a so-called
shortcut key. In an example shown in FIG. 10A, there is selected a
"retrieval of a tagged area" which is a sub-menu item of an
"edition" menu provided in a menu bar located at an upper position
of the document editing system, thereby indicating a dialog-box
"retrieval of a document area in the vicinity of a cursor." The
dialog box "retrieval of a document area in the vicinity of a
cursor" has a field in which the user can specify the kind of tag
to be retrieved. After having specified the kind of tag, the user
retrieves a tagged document area existing in the vicinity of a
cursor which is currently located within the composite document, by
means of pressing a "next retrieval" button. If a document area
matching the retrieval conditions is not found, a warning message
"No document area matching the retrieval conditions is found" is
indicated. In contrast, if the document area matching the retrieval
conditions is found, the title of the tagged document area is
indicated in a field "Title of a retrieved document area." Further,
when the "Next retrieval" button is pressed, the title of the next
candidate tagged document area is indicated. In the composite
document display field of the document editing system, the thus
retrieved and tagged document area is highlighted by means of, for
example, reverse indication. The dialog "retrieval of a document
area in the vicinity of a cursor" is terminated by means of
pressing a "Close" button, whereby a highlighted area is left
within the composite document.
[0105] FIG. 10B shows a change in the retrieved, highlighted, and
tagged document area. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the
highlighted, tagged document area is set at the start and end
positions of the document area through use of a pointer, such as a
mouse. The tagged document area can be freely changed within the
composite document by means of moving the pointer. The tag
management means 2 processes updating of the tag information
resulting from these operations, by means of accessing and writing
the updated tag information into the tag information management
table of the document area management means 1. If the tagged
document area is changed such that the document area has become
zero after operation of a pointer, it is determined that the tagged
document area has disappeared. In such a case, the tag management
means 2 accesses the tag information management table of the
document area management means 1, to thereby release corresponding
tag information and delete the tagged document area.
[0106] The operation of the document editing means 3 of the
document editing system will now be described by reference to
corresponding drawings. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of
operation of the document editing means 3 of the document editing
system. The document editing means 3 accesses the document area
management means 1 each time a change arises in the text
information about the composite document, to thereby perform a
writing operation for sequentially updating the tag information
management table. The change in the text information signifies the
editing of a text performed by the document editing system and is
synonymous with operations performed by an ordinary editor, such as
insertion and deletion of characters or a cut-and-paste
operation.
[0107] In the document editing system, a text being displayed is
usually in an editable state, and updating of a text and updating
of the tag information management table of the document area
management means 1 must be performed in parallel with each other.
For these reasons the processing shown in FIG. 11 is repeatedly
performed during the course of editing of a text.
[0108] Acquisition of information about the position of a cursor
within a composite document (step 1100) is taken as a point of
origin of text editing at which the document editing means 3
initiates processing. A determination is made as to whether or not
a character string has been selected (step 1101). If it is
determined that a character string has been selected, information
about the thus selected character string is acquired (step 1102). A
determination is then made as to whether the editing corresponds to
addition or deletion of characters (step 1103). In the case of
addition of characters, the document editing means 3 performs
addition of a character string corresponding to the entry of a
character string, through pasting or addition of a character string
corresponding to characters entered by way of a character input
device (step 1104). Subsequently, the selected character string is
deleted (step 1105). A determination is made as to whether or not
the tagged document area disappears, by means of retrieving tagging
information from the tag information management table of the
document area management means 1 (step 1106). If tagging
information is retrieved, a target element corresponding to the
tagging information is deleted from the tag information management
table (step 1107). The amount of changes arising in the character
indices is computed on the basis of a difference between the
character indices before changing of a text and the character
indices after changing of the text, as well as on the basis of the
information about the position of the cursor (step 1108). Finally,
the document editing means 3 accesses the tag information
management table of the document area management means 1, to
thereby retrieve elements to be updated and update a tag attribute
value corresponding to the thus calculated amount of changes in the
character indices (i.e., the index of a start tag and the index of
an end tag) (step 1112).
[0109] If it is determined that a character string has not been
selected (step 1101), a determination is made as to whether the
edition corresponds to addition or deletion of a character string
(step 1109). If the editing corresponds to deletion of characters
(step 1110), processing jumps to a determination as to whether or
not the tagged document has disappeared (step 1106). In contrast,
if the editing corresponds to addition of a character string, the
document editing means 3 performs addition of a character string
through pasting or addition of a character string corresponding to
characters entered by way of a character input device, such as a
keyboard (step 1111). Processing then jumps to calculation of the
amount of changes arising in the index of a start tag and the index
of an end tag (step 1108). subsequently, in step 1112 there is
performed processing which is the same as that performed in the
case where a character string has been selected in step 1101.
[0110] Operation of the link management means 4, that of the linked
document storage device 5, and that of the document output means 6
in the document editing system will now be described by reference
to corresponding drawings.
[0111] The document editing system has a menu for relating another
document to the entirety or arbitrary portions of a composite
document or the function of receiving an input entered by the user
by means of key-operation of a so-called shortcut key.
[0112] FIG. 12 shows an example operation for relating another
document to a composite document. In this example, after selection
of a document area desired to be linked to the composite document,
there is selected a "Link setting" which is a sub-menu of an
"Editing" menu of the menu bar, to thereby enter a title to be
linked in a displayed "addition of an item" dialogue box. Entry of
a path to another file to be linked to the composite document or
specification of a file through use of a "reference" button is
performed, whereupon processing is passed to the tag management
means 2. Accordingly, the tag information used for relating another
file to the composite document is registered in the tag information
management table of the document area management means 1.
[0113] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation in
which the document linked to the composite document is displayed by
the link management means 4, the linked document storage device 5,
and the linked document output means 6 of the document editing
system.
[0114] In the document editing system, the linked document storage
device 5 holds a plurality of documents linked to the composite
document, and the link management means 4 manages whether to
display the documents linked to the composite document. Further,
the linked document output means 6 displays information about the
documents linked to the composite document. In order to implement
these operations, the tag for relating other documents to the
composite document is additionally assigned paths to the documents
to be linked, as an extended tag attribute, such as
[0115] `href="C :/Link_Doc/Link.file.doc"`.
[0116] The link management means 4 determines whether or not all
the other documents linked to the composite document are displayed
(step 1300). In a case where the user designates all the documents
linked to the composite document as not being displayed, the
position of a pointer, such as a mouse cursor, is monitored at all
times (step 1301). In comparison with the information about a
document area linked to another document, which information has
been acquired from the tag information management table of the
document area management means 1 beforehand through access (step
1302), if the pointer is located in a document area linked to other
documents, the link management means 4 accesses the tag information
management table of the document area management means 1, thus
acquiring paths to all the documents linked to the current position
of the pointer (step 1303) and retrieving linked files from the
linked document storage device 5 (step 1304). If no corresponding
file is found, an error occurs. In contrast, if corresponding files
are found, information about the files is passed to the linked
document output means 6. The linked document output means 6
displays, as a single information piece and in a list, (1) buttons
which can be opened by application software defining the link of
the linked files stored in the linked document storage device 5 (in
fact, the buttons are called shortcut icons); (2) the titles of
linked documents; (3) the number of files linked to the composite
document; (4) the actual file names; and (5) tag ID numbers (step
1305).
[0117] If in step 1300 the user designates all the documents linked
to the composite documents being displayed, monitoring of the
position of the pointer in the composite document is not performed,
and the link management means 4 accesses the tag information
management table of the document area management means 1, thus
acquiring information about paths to all the documents linked to
the composite document (step 1306). Subsequently, in the same
manner as mentioned previously, the linked document output means 6
displays, in a list, information about all the documents linked to
the displayed composite document, the information being stored in
the linked document storage device 5. Alternatively, all the
documents linked to the displayed composite document may be linked
to an arbitrary document area.
[0118] FIG. 14A shows an example screen display, indicating
information about documents linked to a document area in the
document editing system in a case where a pointer is located within
the document area.
[0119] In the drawing, a text is displayed in a list provided on
the left side of the screen display, and information about the
documents linked to the position of the pointer within the text is
displayed in a list provided on the right side of the screen
display. In view of the characteristic of a composite document,
there may be a case where the pointer is located at any position
within a plurality of document areas linked to other documents. In
such a case, documents linked to the respective document area are
displayed in a right-side list field section.
[0120] A "Link Name" column in the right-side list display section
shows titles of documents linked to shortcut icons. A "Count"
column shows the number of documents linked to the composite
document, and a "File Name" column shows actual names of the files
stored in the linked document storage device 5. A "Tag ID" column
shows tag ID numbers stored in the tag information management table
of the document area management means 1. Display or non-display of
the right side list field section-in which the information about
linked documents is to be displayed can be freely switched by the
user.
[0121] FIG. 14B shows an example screen display, indicating
information about all the documents linked to a composite document
in the document editing system, in a case where in step 1300 shown
in FIG. 13 the user has specified all the documents linked to the
composite document as being displayed. Since all the documents
linked to the composite document are displayed, a linked document
area of the composite document can be reversely indexed by means of
opening a sub-menu, as shown in FIG. 14B, and selecting menu
"reverse indication of a linked document area." In a case where a
plurality of document areas of the composite document are linked to
other documents, a sub-menu "reverse indication of the next
document area" is selected, to thereby enable sequential reverse
indication of linked document areas. In this case, since a linked
document entitled "Mount Explanation 2" assumes a count value of 3,
it is determined that the document is linked to three document
areas within the composite document. These three document areas are
sequentially selected and displayed by means of selecting the
sub-menu "Reverse indication of the next document area."
[0122] The operation of the display format management means 7 and
that of the document output means 8 of the document editing system
will now be described by reference to corresponding drawings. The
document editing system can output a composite document in a
prepared display format, in accordance with the tagging information
assigned to the composite document. The display format management
means 7 and the document output means 8 operate differently
according to a display format.
[0123] FIG. 15 shows an example display, showing a case where the
user can select and use a display format for displaying an editable
text filed in the form of a pop-up menu, when a predetermined
period of time has lapsed since a point, such as a mouse cursor,
has entered an arbitrary document area within a composite document
displayed by the document editing system or when the document area
is clicked or double-clicked by the mouse cursor. Setting of the
requirements for displaying a pop-up menu can be changed.
[0124] The user can switch between activation of the display format
and deactivation of the display format by means of checking a
sub-menu u"Pop-up Display" of the menu "Display" provided in the
menu bar. In order to implement the display format, a tag for
assigning to the composite document the function of displaying a
text field in the form of a pop-up menu is additionally provided
with `pum=" and the memo edited by the user is stored here as n
text information: n r` as an extended tag attribute for retaining a
memo edited by the user as text information.
[0125] In the display format shown in FIG. 15, after having
received the designation of display format from the user, the
display format management means 7 operates in substantially the
same manner as the previously-described link management means 4.
More specifically, the display format management means 7 monitors
the position of a pointer, such as a mouse cursor, within the
composite document. Further, in comparison with the information
about the document area having the memo function of displaying a
text field in the form of a pop-up menu, the information having
been acquired through access to the tag information management
table of the document area management means 1 in advance, if it is
determined that the pointer is located at the document area having
the memo function, the display format management means 7 accesses
the tag information management table of the document area
management means 1, to thereby display all text fields to be
displayed, in the form of a pop-up menu at the current position of
the pointer. The information stored in the respective text field as
an extended tag attribute is output.
[0126] The document editing system has a menu for setting a
document area having the function of displaying an editable text
field in the form of a pop-up menu, or the function of receiving an
input entered by the user by means of key operation of a so-called
shortcut key.
[0127] FIG. 16 shows an example operation for setting, in composite
document, a document area having the function of displaying an
editable text field in the form of a pop-up menu. In this example,
after selection of a document area for which a text field is
desired to be set, there is selected "Setting of a pop-up memo"
which is a sub-menu of an "Editing" menu of the menu bar, to
thereby enter a title of memo information in a displayed "Addition
of a pop-up memo" dialogue. As a result, an editable text field is
displayed. The user enters a. text into the displayed text field,
whereby the document area and the entered text information are
passed to the tag management means 2. The tag management means 2
registers tag information into the tag information management
table.
[0128] FIGS. 17A and 17B show example displays, in which the user
changes the format of display of a composite document by
selectively switching a display format capable of displaying in a
summarized form a document area sandwiched between braces, the
braces constituting an arbitrary pair, within a text (a source
code) displayed by the document editing system. FIG. 17A shows an
example in which the user selects summarized indication of a text,
and FIG. 17B shows an example in which a document area, which has
already been displayed in a summarized form, is expanded and
re-displayed. Here, braces constituting a pair designate a paired
"{"and"}," which is consistent as an element of program within the
source code.
[0129] The document editing system has a menu for setting a
document area to be displayed in a summarized form, or the function
of receiving an input entered by the user by means of key operation
of a so-called shortcut key.
[0130] The operation of the display format management means 7
employed in the example shown in FIG. 17A is commenced by the user
of the document editing system invoking or selecting a sub-menu
"Summarized display" of the "Display" menu provided in the menu
bar. In one method, the user selects beforehand the document area
defined by braces "{"and"}," which are consistent as elements of
the program within the source code. In another method, the user
specifies a document area sandwiched between a paired "{"and"},"
which are consistent as elements of the program within the source
code, by means of pointing the "{" with the cursor pointer, thus
enabling unique discrimination of the document area. According to
either of the methods, the document area--which is sandwiched
between the braces being paired up with each other and which the
user desires to indicate in a summarized form--is discriminated,
and the thus discriminated document area is highlighted by means
of, for example, reverse indication. As represented by the example
shown in FIG. 17A, the display format management means 7 can
receive additional information with regard to the document area
which is desired to be displayed in a summarized form and is
sandwiched between the brace pair, by means of a dialogue box for
receiving an input entered by the user.
[0131] After having received the display format specified by the
user and accompanying information, the display format management
means 7 passes the thus received display format and information to
the tag management means 2 and the document output means 8.
[0132] The tag management means 2 accesses the document area
management means 1, to thereby prepare one element of the tag
information management table pertaining to a tag for summarized
display purpose. The tag ID number and the title of the display
area to be displayed in a summarized form are stored as tag
attributes, and a character string located within the document area
that has been highlighted thus far is stored as an extended tag
attribute. At this time, the document area management means 1
stores, as elements, information about the start index and end
index of the specified document area, into the tag information
management table prepared by the tag management means 2.
[0133] In the case of a display format for summarizing a document
area, the display format specified by the user can, be expressed by
means of replacing the document area to be displayed in a
summarized form with a character string of a title provided in a
summarized display area. Accordingly, the document output means 8
sends a request to the document editing means 8 for replacing a
document area to be displayed in a summarized form with a character
string of a title provided in a summarized display area.
[0134] The operation of the display format management means 7
employed in the example shown in FIG. 17B is commenced by means of
the user of the document editing system invoking or selecting a
sub-menu "Expansion" of the menu "display" provided in the menu
bar. In one method, the user selects beforehand the document area
which has been displayed in a summarized manner. In another method,
the user specifies the document area which has been displayed in a
summarized manner, by means of pointing the "{" with the cursor
pointer, thus enabling unique discrimination of the displayed
document area. According to either of the methods, the document
area-which the user desires to indicate in a summarized form is
discriminated. The tag information management table of the document
area management means 1 is accessed, to thereby acquire a character
string of the document area which has been saved as an extended tag
attribute and is displayed in a summarized manner. The thus
acquired character string is passed to and processed by the
document output means 8. In the case of expansion of the summarized
document area, the summarized document area can be expanded by
means of merely replacing, with a character string saved for
summarized display purpose, a summarized display title character
string provided within the document area which is displayed in a
summarized form. The document output means 8 sends a request to the
document editing means 3 for replacing, with a character string
saved for summarized display purpose, a summarized display title
character string provided within the document area which is
displayed in a summarized form, thus expanding the document area
which has been displayed in a summarized manner.
[0135] The operation of the processing interface management means 9
and that of the processing library 10 of the document editing
system will now be described by reference to corresponding
drawings. FIG. 18 shows an example display screen in which, from
among predefined process items which are registered in the
processing library 10 and provided by way of the processing
interface management means 9, the user of the document-editing
system selects a desired processing operation with respect to an
arbitrary document area within a composite document, to thereby
impart to the document area an attribute as a trigger for executing
the thus selected processing operation.
[0136] The document editing system has a menu for setting a
document area desired to be linked to any one of the predefined
process items registered in the processing library 10, or the
function of receiving an input entered by the user by means of key
operation of a so-called shortcut key.
[0137] After the user has selected an arbitrary document area
within a composite document desired to be linked to any one of the
predefined process items registered in the processing library 10,
the processing interface management means 9 provided in the example
shown in FIG. 18 selects a sub-menu "Selection of a process item"
of the "Process" menu provided in the menu bar and displays a
"Selection of a process item" dialogue box. The predefined process
items registered in the processing library 10 correspond to files
written in a script language or executable files. In some cases,
the predefined process items may be accompanied by data files.
Predefined process items can be freely changed, or registered in or
deleted from the processing library 10.
[0138] The "Selection of a process item" dialogue box has the
function of selecting the predefined process items registered in
the processing library 10. By means of the function of the
processing library 10, the user can select a desired predefined
process and embed, in the selected document area within the
composite document, a trigger for executing the thus selected
predefined process. In this way, the attribute for executing the
process linked to the specified document area is appended to the
document area. At this time, the processing interface management
means 9 sends a request to the tag management means 2 for
registering a trigger required for relating a predefined process to
the selected document area within the composite document and
executing the thus linked predefined process. When the tag
management means 2 registers tag information into the tag
information management table of the document area management means
1, the tag information is additionally provided with extended tag
attributes for relating the specified predefined process with the
document area; for example, a tag attribute for defining a path to
the specified predefined process, such as
`href="C:/Link_Scrip/Test01.cgi"` and a tag attribute for selecting
a corresponding execution trigger assigned to the specified
predefined process, such as `trig="1"`. A trigger required for
executing a predefined process is dependent on the predefined
process item registered in the processing library 10.
[0139] FIG. 19 depicts an example screen display of the document
editing system, showing execution of a linked predefined process in
response to an event which acts as a trigger set for the document
area assigned an attribute for executing the linked predefined
process.
[0140] In the example shown in FIG. 19, an attributes for executing
a predefined process "Loading of test data 1" specified by the user
is appended to the specified document area. An event which acts as
a trigger for executing a predefined process arises by means of
selecting a menu "Loading of test data 1" indicated in the sub-menu
"Execution of selected process" of a pull-down menu with regard to
the specified document area.
[0141] The processing interface management means 9 accesses the tag
information management table of the document area management means
1, to thereby acquire information about the document area assigned
an attribute for executing a predefined process linked to the
document area and monitor an event which acts as a trigger to be
activated by the user. In a case where the operation performed by
the user triggers a predefined process, a corresponding predefined
process is called from the processing library 10 and is executed.
The result of execution of the predefined process is returned.
Depending on the nature of a predefined process, entry of a value
or data file may be required before execution of a predefined
process, or a plurality of execution results or a plurality of
types of execution results may arise.
[0142] The operations of the constituent elements of the document
editing system of the present invention; namely, the operation of
the document management means 1, that of the tag management means
2, that of the document editing means 3, that of the link
management means 4, that of the linked document storage device 5,
that of the linked document output means 6, that of the display
format management means 7, that of the document output means 8,
that of the processing interface management means 9, and that of
the processing library 10 have been described thus far in
connection with the respective previously-described characteristics
of the composite document, specifically:
[0143] (1) a composite document which, in its entirety or in
arbitrary positions, can be linked to another document;
[0144] (2) a composite document for which an arbitrary display
format is set; and
[0145] (3) a composite document for which a trigger is set for
relating arbitrary processing to the document or for executing
arbitrary processing.
[0146] Functions which can be embodied by combination of these
features will now be described by reference to examples <Example
Function Embodied by combination of Characteristics (1) and
(2)>
[0147] There can be embodied a function of relating a document area
specified by the user to another document and displaying the thus
linked another document in the same manner as does a memo for
effecting a pop-up menu provided in the example shown in FIG.
15.
[0148] Such a function can be embodied by means a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0149] document area management means for discriminating a
plurality of types of document areas or a plurality of document
areas specified within an arbitrary area of the document and
managing the document areas along with attributes assigned
thereto;
[0150] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag; which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area;
[0151] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated;
[0152] link management means for performing a management operation
so as to relate one or a plurality of documents to the specified
document area and passing information about the link to the
document area management means;
[0153] linked document output means for outputting the document
linked by the link management means, by reference to information
about the document area managed by the document area management
means;
[0154] display format management means for managing an arbitrary
display format assigned to the document area managed by the
document area management means; and
[0155] document output means for outputting the document area
managed by the document area management means, in an arbitrary
expression formation provided in the display format management
means.
[0156] Functions which can be embodied by combination of these
features will now be described by reference to examples.
<Example Function Embodied by combination of Characteristics (1)
and (3)>
[0157] There can be embodied a function of appending to the
document area specified by the user an attribute for executing a
certain predefined process and outputting and reserving an
execution result as a file, as in the case of the example shown in
FIG. 18, as well as of relating the thus output file to the
specified document area as a log file.
[0158] Such a function can be embodied by means a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0159] document area management means for accurately discriminating
a plurality of types of document areas or a plurality of document
areas specified within an arbitrary area of the document and
managing the document areas along with attributes assigned
thereto;
[0160] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area;
[0161] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated;
[0162] link management means for performing a management operation
so as to relate another document to the specified document area and
passing information about the link to the document area management
means;
[0163] linked document output means for outputting the document
linked by the link management means, by reference to information
about the document area managed by the document area management
means;
[0164] processing interface management means for performing a
management operation so as to relate an arbitrary process to the
specified document area such that a trigger for executing the
process is set for the specified document, as well as to pass
information about the link to the document area management means;
and
[0165] a processing library for storing, such as a library, the
arbitrary processes linked to the specified document area by the
processing interface management means.
Example Function Embodied by combination of Characteristics (2) and
(3)
[0166] There can be embodied a function of appending to a document
area specified by the user an attribute for setting a display
format for protecting and encrypting the specified document area,
for setting a password for the document area, and for enabling
decryption of the thus protected and encrypted document area
through use of only a correct password.
[0167] Such a function can be embodied by means a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0168] document area management means for accurately discriminating
a plurality of document areas specified within the entirety of the
document or arbitrary portions thereof and managing the document
areas along with attributes assigned thereto;
[0169] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a 30 start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area; document
editing means for editing a character sequence provided in the
document while information about the specified document area within
the document is retained or updated; display format management
means for managing an arbitrary display format assigned to the
document area managed by the document management means;
[0170] document output means for outputting the document managed by
the document area management means, in an arbitrary expression
format provided in the display format management means,
[0171] processing interface management means for performing a
management operation so as to relate an arbitrary process to the
specified document area such that a trigger for executing the
process is set for the specified document, as well as to pass
information about the link to the document area management means;
and
[0172] a processing library for storing, such as a library, the
arbitrary processes linked to the specified document area by the
processing interface management means.
Example Function Embodied by combination of Characteristics (1),
(2), and (3)
[0173] There can be embodied a function of:
[0174] appending to a document area specified by the user an
attribute for shaping the document area according to a certain
format, reserving, in the form of one or a plurality of files,
source code relating to the document area before and after shaping
and log data pertaining to the shaping operation, and
[0175] outputting the file;
[0176] relating the thus output one file or the plurality of files
to the specified document area as a file(s) for managing a format;
and
[0177] displaying the specified document area while the source code
before shaping with the source code after shaping.
[0178] Such a function can be embodied by means a document editing
system for editing a document in a computer, the system
comprising:
[0179] document area management means for accurately discriminating
a plurality of document areas specified within the entirety of the
document or arbitrary portions thereof and managing the document
areas along with attributes assigned thereto;
[0180] tag management means for managing generation and deletion of
a tag pair, that is, a start tag and an end tag, which uniquely
correspond to each other and specify a document area;
[0181] document editing means for editing a character sequence
provided in the document while information about the specified
document area within the document is retained or updated;
[0182] link management means for performing a management operation
so as to relate another document to the specified document area and
passing information about the link to the document area management
means;
[0183] linked document output means for outputting the document
linked by the link management means, by reference to information
about the document area managed by the document area management
means;
[0184] display format management means for managing an arbitrary
display format assigned to the document area managed by the
document management means;
[0185] document output means for outputting the document managed by
the document area management means, in an arbitrary express in
format provided in the display format management means;
[0186] processing interface management means for performing a
management operation so as to relate an arbitrary process to the
specified document area such that a trigger for executing the,
process is set for the specified document, as well as to pass
information about the link to the document area management means;
and
[0187] a processing library for storing, such as a library, the
arbitrary processes linked to the specified document area by the
processing interface management means.
[0188] As mentioned above, many functions can be embodied by
combination of the previously-defined characteristics of the
composite document. As a matter of course, other various functions
may be embodied by combination of Characteristics (1), (2), and (3)
of the composite document while the expressions of the
characteristics are modified.
[0189] Although the previous embodiment has described a case where
a source code is used as an example composite document, an ordinary
document written in, for example, a natural language, other than
the source code can be changed into a composite document, by
adoption of the method of the present invention. As has been
described above, the document editing system of the present
invention enables an increase in the degree of freedom in
specifying a document area to be assigned an attribute when an
arbitrary attribute is assigned to a document. Consequently,
relating another document to a document, selection of an arbitrary
display format, embedding an arbitrary process in the document, and
combination thereof can be flexibly handled.
[0190] Further, the method of the present invention for preparing a
tag information management table enables specifying of a plurality
of document areas which are nested or which partially overlap,
through use of tags of the same type, thereby providing a tag
information management table capable of uniquely discriminating the
document areas one from another.
* * * * *