Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input for adding data to an electronic storage object that is accessible via a network. The programmer input includes i) a built-in function corresponding to adding data to electronic storage objects, ii) a first parameter specifying the electronic object to which data is to be stored, and iii) one or more second parameters indicating the data that is to be stored. The programmer input is evaluated with a computational application to generate one or more messages to a server for the server to add the data to the electronic object, and the one or more messages are sent to cause the data indicated by the second parameter to be added to the electronic storage object.

Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language is received. The programmer input includes i) a built-in function corresponding to retrieving electronic objects from network-accessible storage, and ii) a parameter indicating an electronic object. The programmer input is evaluated to determine that the electronic object is to be retrieved from the network-accessible storage, and one of i) the electronic object, or ii) an evaluation of the electronic object, is retrieved.

Abstract: One or more processors determine in which level, among a plurality of levels of a structured object displayed on a display device, a position of interest is currently located. The plurality of levels, which includes a first level and a second level, are in a hierarchy or corresponding to a multi-dimensional coordinate space. In response to determining that the position of interest is currently located in the first level: the one or more processors determine, based on the hierarchy or the multi-dimensional coordinate space, a next location in the second level of the structured object. The next location is a prediction of where a user will choose to move the position of interest subsequently from the current location. The one or more processors generate first display data that, when displayed by the display device, shows the position of interest at the next location in the second level.

Abstract: One or more processors receive one or more messages corresponding to requests to access data in an electronic storage object stored in a database. Responsive to the one or more messages, the one or more processors: locate the electronic storage object in the database based on the one or more messages, retrieve data from the electronic storage object, and forward the retrieved data to a computer that executes a computational application, the retrieved data being in a format recognized by the computational application.

Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language in received, where the programmer input defines a behavior of an executable electronic object. One or more computers generate the executable electronic object according to the programmer input. An electronic message corresponding to invoking the executable electronic object is received, and in response to receiving the electronic message, the executable electronic object is invoked by one or more computers.

Abstract: A selection-type user input corresponding to a selection position on a structured object displayed on a display device is received via a user interface device. The structured object includes a plurality of levels in a hierarchy or corresponding to a multi-dimensional coordinate space, and the plurality of levels includes a first level and a second level. When it is determined that the selection position is within the first level, first display data is generated that, when displayed by the display device, shows contents of the structured object within the first level as selected and does not show contents of the structured object within the second level as selected. When it is determined that the selection position is within the second level, second display data is generated that, when displayed by the display device, shows contents of the structured object within both the first level and the second level as selected.

Abstract: One or more processors receive programmer input in a programming language. The programmer input is for adding data to an electronic storage object that is accessible via a network, and includes i) a built-in function corresponding to adding data to electronic storage objects, ii) a first parameter specifying the electronic storage object to which data is to be stored, and iii) one or more second parameters indicating the data that is to be stored. One or more processors evaluate the programmer input with a computational application to generate one or more messages to a server for the server to add the data to the electronic storage object. One or more processors send the one or more messages to cause the data indicated by the second parameter to be added to the electronic storage object.

Abstract: In a method for generating an electronic form, programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input including specification data corresponding to an electronic form to be generated. The programmer input is evaluated to generate an electronic form object that includes one or more user-interface mechanisms for receiving the user input, including evaluating the specification data to generate code in the electronic form object, the generated code capable of being processed by an application to render the electronic form on or via a user interface device such that the electronic form serially prompts the user over time for multiple user inputs. The electronic form object is stored in a memory of or communicatively coupled to the one or more computers.

Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input including i) specification data corresponding to an electronic form to be generated, and ii) a parameter that indicates a function to be applied to user input. The programmer input is evaluated to generate an electronic form object that includes one or more user-interface mechanisms for receiving the user input, wherein evaluating the programmer input includes evaluating the specification data and/or the parameter that indicates the function to generate code in the electronic form object which is capable of being processed by an application to render the electronic form. The electronic form object is generated such that the electronic form object is configured to apply, upon being processed by the application, the function to the user input received via the one or more user-interface mechanisms.

Abstract: A system receives one or more messages corresponding to a request to add data to an electronic storage object that is accessible on a network, the one or more messages corresponding to the electronic storage object to which data is to be stored, and including raw data corresponding to the data that is to be stored. Responsive to the one or more messages, the system: locates the electronic storage object in a database, identifies data conversion metadata in the electronic storage object that indicates how the raw data is to be converted to formatted data in a format that is recognized by a computational application, uses the data conversion metadata to convert the raw data to the formatted data in the format recognized by the computational application, and stores the formatted data to the electronic storage object in the database.

Abstract: Programmer input in a first programming language is received, the programmer input including i) a built-in function of the first programming language, the built-in function corresponding to generating code for remotely invoking an electronic object deployed, or to be deployed, on a server via a communication network, and ii) a parameter that indicates the electronic object, wherein the code for invoking the electronic object comprises a) code in a second programming language different than the first programming language, or b) code in a markup language interpretable by a web browser. The programmer input is evaluated to: i) generate the code for remotely invoking the electronic object deployed, or to be deployed, on the server, and ii) if the electronic object is not yet deployed on the server, deploy the electronic object on the server. The code for remotely invoking the electronic object is generated for inclusion in a file corresponding to a web page or a program written in the second programming language.

Abstract: A programmer input in a programming language is received, where the programmer input includes i) a built-in function of a computational application corresponding to retrieving data from electronic storage objects, and ii) a first parameter specifying the electronic storage object from which data is to be retrieved. The computational application evaluates the programmer input to generate one or more messages corresponding to requests for a server to retrieve data from the electronic storage object. The one or more messages are sent to the server to retrieve data from the electronic storage object. Data retrieved from the electronic storage object by the server is received, and the retrieved data is made available in a document for processing by the computational application, where the retrieved data is in a format recognized by the computational application.

Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input including i) first specification data specifying one or more parameters to be passed to an application programming interface (API), and ii) second specification data that specifies a function to be performed by the API. The programmer input is evaluated to generate an API object that is configured, when executed, to perform the specified function using the one or more parameters. Evaluating the programmer input includes evaluating the first specification data to generate the API object such that the API object is configured to receive the one or more parameters.

Abstract: A multimedia presentation system facilitates efficient creation of multimedia presentations. For example, in an embodiment, a multimedia presentation system provides tools for creating an authoring notebook via which a user can (i) create graphics to be used in a presentation, (ii) create a script to be read, or be referred to, by a speaker during the presentation, and (iii) provide prompts to the speaker for when and/or how to modify the graphics during the presentation. A controller may be provided to allow a user to modify the visual portion of the presentation during performance of the presentation.

Abstract: Image data corresponding to an image depicting an equation is received. The image data is processed to identify a plurality of morphological components corresponding to the equation depicted in the image. A computer readable data object is generated using the plurality of morphological components, wherein the computer readable data object is in a defined syntax computable by a computational application.

Abstract: Positioning pads are displayed via a display device to facilitate movement of a position of interest (e.g., as indicated by a cursor) with respect to a structured object also displayed via the display device. The structured object is analyzed to determine predicted locations to which a user may subsequently wish to navigate the position of interest, and positioning pads are displayed at, or associated with, the predicted locations. When activation of a positioning pad is detected, (i) the position of interest is moved to the location of, or associated with, the positioning pad, and (ii) the positioning pad is no longer displayed via the display device.

Abstract: First specification data defining a grammar corresponding to natural language, and second specification data defining a mapping between the grammar and one or more outputs to be generated, are received. An electronic object is generated using the first specification data and the second specification data, the electronic object being configured to, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to map received natural language input to the one or more outputs. The one or more outputs may be used to control an electronically controllable machine.

Abstract: A data function in received. The data function is indicative of a request for data from a database, and is included in a library of built-in functions of a computational software application. In response to receiving the data function, a request for database data is transmitted to a database system via a network. In response to the request for data, the database data is received from the database system via the network. In response to receiving the database data via the network, an expression is created using at least a portion of the received database data. The expression is capable of being operated on by the computational software application.

Abstract: A result is generated, using a data processing or computational system, in response to a user-provided or user-indicated input expression. The result is displayed, or caused to be displayed, on a display device. The result is analyzed, and, based on the analysis of the result, one or more further data processing or computational actions that the user will perform on the result are predicted. A user interface mechanism is generated to facilitate performing the predicted one or more further data processing or computational actions or to facilitate viewing one or more further results generated in response to one or more of the predicted further data processing or computational actions. The user interface mechanism is displayed or caused to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A system receives first requests to create electronic storage objects that are accessible on the communication network or another communication network, and creates electronic storage objects responsive to the first requests. The first requests specify one or more data types to which the system should convert raw data received for storage in the electronic storage objects. The system also receives second requests to store specified data to the electronic storage objects, and stores received raw data (or converts the raw data to specified data types and stores the converted data) to the electronic storage objects responsive to the second requests. The system further receives third requests to retrieve data from specified electronic storage objects, and retrieves data from the specified electronic storage objects responsive to the third requests, the retrieved data being in specified data types.