Abstract: In a method of delivering software over a network a server presents a software feature selection list to a client. In response to selection of selected features from the software feature selection list, the server determines a set of software modules required to perform the selected features. The set of software modules includes a subset of core modules and a subset of non-core modules. The server begins downloading to the client machine the set of software modules. The client stores the core modules in core module storage as they are received. The client stores the non-core modules in non-core module storage as they are received. While the client is receiving and storing downloaded modules, the client determines if it has received the subset of core modules. The client examines a core module from the core module storage.

Abstract: A method for sharing information in applications via instant messaging (IM), the method includes: receiving a representation of an item in a first IM window on a sending device; recording metadata associated with the item with a sending plugin; sending the item and the associated recorded metadata to one or more receiving devices; receiving the item and the associated recorded metadata in a second IM window at the one or more receiving devices; opening the item with a receiving plugin; and wherein in response to the associated metadata the receiving plugin determines how to position and display information from the item; wherein the item is one or more of the following: a uniform resource locator (URL) and files generated with application software; and wherein the application software comprises word processors, spreadsheets, planning and scheduling, presentation, drawing, financial, statistical, and gaming.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for processing data encoded as one or more data elements in a data format, the data format being arranged for further processing by a parser to extract the encoded data elements. An index of the data elements is created for use in the decoding of the data elements. The index is embedded in a part of the file that is not used by the parser for extraction of the data elements from the file.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for determining an alternative character string, in response to an invalid character string being received by a consumer application, wherein the invalid character string is derived from the selection of a series of keyboard keys in combination with a modifier key and wherein each key is associated with at least one glyph. An apparatus in accordance with an embodiment includes: a converter component for converting each glyph of the invalid character string into a first format; a converter component for parsing each of the converted first formats into a second format; an alternatives engine for determining from each of the second formats a third format which can be derived from a combination of a selection of the key and an alternative modifier key; and a converter component for converting each of the determined third formats into their associated glyphs for compiling into a list of alternative character strings.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and computer programs for managing data organisation for computer programs. The method includes generating a reference taxonomy (information defining a first data organisation), accessing storage to obtain an application taxonomy (a second data organisation) for a computer program, and comparing the reference and application taxonomies to identify matching and non-matching features within the taxonomies. The results of the comparison can then be used to generate, in response to selection of a preferred taxonomy, a modified taxonomy to replace either the reference taxonomy or the application taxonomy. A GUI is provided to display the taxonomies and to facilitate user selections. A set of adapters provide access to the data storage of different programs and obtain taxonomy information for the different programs. A taxonomy engine compares taxonomies to identify differences and similarities, and can be used to generate an aggregate taxonomy.