Abstract: A method of fitting content elements of a composition to a media layout is disclosed. Each content element has an associated content type, and the media layout has a content rendering space for presenting information contained in the content elements. For each content type, a content scale factor is initialized and extent values are computed. If the content elements do not fit within the media layout, then non-fit factors are determined, the scale factors and extent values are recomputed and these steps are repeated until the content fits. Another method computes a layout of a composition in a recursive fashion using a design tree. Design children components of a current component in the design tree are identified, and new media components between the current component and the identified design children components are created. A media division for each media component indicates a portion of the layout for each media component. Another method computes a layout of a composition for a chosen medium.

Abstract: A method of fitting content elements of a composition to a media layout is disclosed. Each content element has an associated content type, and the media layout has a content rendering space for presenting information contained in the content elements. For each content type, a content scale factor is initialized and extent values are computed. If the content elements do not fit within the media layout, then non-fit factors are determined, the scale factors and extent values are recomputed and these steps are repeated until the content fits. Another method computes a layout of a composition in a recursive fashion using a design tree. Design children components of a current component in the design tree are identified, and new media components between the current component and the identified design children components are created. A media division for each media component indicates a portion of the layout for each media component. Another method computes a layout of a composition for a chosen medium.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides for a three-way separation of the information in a document. In a particular embodiment, the document is separated into its content, design and media aspects. In one embodiment, an information data structure is provided that includes three tree structures. A design tree structure represents the design of a composition and includes design components. A content tree structure represents the content of the composition and includes content elements. A media tree structure represents the selected medium of the composition and includes media components. The content and media tree structures are linked to the design tree structure. The design tree structure, the content tree structure and the media tree structure are unique but utilize at least some common components from one another. A component data structure represents a content element within a composition. The component includes a content facet, a design facet and a media facet.

Abstract: A three-way separation of information in a document includes content, design and media aspects. This division supports automatic rendering to multiple forms of media such as print, Intranet, Internet, and OLE embedding. A method changes the design of a composition having a current design that is rendered in a particular medium. The composition is represented by components in a current design tree and includes content elements associated with the components. A new design tree is created for the composition based upon a new design and new design components. Next, each of the content elements are linked into an association with one of the new design components such that the set of relationships between the content elements in the context of the new design are maintained. Media layout values are calculated for each content element of the composition. The content elements are laid out in the new design and the new design retains the composition rendered in the particular medium.

Abstract: A three-way separation of information in a document includes content, design and media aspects. This division supports automatic rendering to multiple forms of media such as print, Intranet, Internet, and OLE embedding. A method adds content to a composition having a chosen design and automatically calculates a layout for the composition. A content object is dropped upon a receiving component of the composition. The dropped content object has at least one potential type. A potential type of the content object is matched with a compatible type of the receiving component. Next, the design tree is modified to incorporate the content object, and media layout values are calculated for each content element of the composition The dropped content may change the existing content, may replace it completely, may be inserted into the existing content, may change its properties, or may result in new components being created in the design tree.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new system for implementing software objects using an object-prototype model. Objects are defined as collections of properties, each having a unique property name. A collection of property names defines a "shape." The use of shapes frees the representation of an object in memory from the order in which the properties of the object are declared. Methods are defined independently of objects and are applicable to a specified shape, rather than to objects that are derived from a class in which the method is defined. Methods can be applied to any object that has the specified shape or that has a superset of the properties defining the specified shape, regardless of the place of the object in any inheritance hierarchy. The definition of a shape can also include additional selection criteria, such as restrictions on the values of properties, so that the application of a method can be restricted to objects satisfying the specified criteria.

Abstract: The invention includes an efficient method of dynamically binding an operation (22) to an implementation. During a first occurrence of the operation, the operation identifier and argument information are compared with entries (52) in a dictionary (50) to determine an appropriate implementation. The operation is modified by replacing the operation identifier (58) and argument information (60) with a reference to a matching entry (52). Upon subsequent execution of the operation, the interpreter checks to see whether the types of the arguments in the current function call match those in the dictionary entry. If they match, the implementation referenced by the dictionary entry is executed. If they do not match, the dictionary is searched for a matching entry. Because most operations do not change types of arguments during most function calls, the invention results in greatly improved efficiency.