Abstract: A method for managing marker entities within a document data stream independently of the content of the data stream. The method provides consistent specification and independent processing of marker entities which may include both text and non-text data and which may be associated physically and/or logically with data stream content at the document or lower order entity level. A define marker structure control is utilized within the data stream to specify in a data type independent fashion the physical structure and content of a marker entity as well as defining any desired relationship of a marker entity with another entity within the data stream. A map marker control is then utilized to control the position within a presentation area where the marker entity is to be imaged.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed which permits the self modification of data stream constructs by the utilization of one or more macro definitions, each of which includes a plurality of parameters, at least one of which is modifiable. A modify parameter structured field is included within a selected macro definition and identifies a particular parameter within the macro definition which may be modified. Subsequent invocation of the macro definition may include selective identification of a parameter to be modified. If the identified parameter has been specified as modifiable by the macro definition, the parameter is modified and the macro definition is thereby altered. In this manner the present method permits the utilization of a single macro definition by multiple processes within a data stream.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the presentation of nested overlays on a display medium. An overlay function resource is provided which includes its own environment specification which is independent of the space and data environment specifications. Mixing attributes are associated with each overlay and are utilized to determine which overlay space and data are to take precedence and be visible when the overlayed spaces are combined and imaged on a display medium. In a preferred mode of the present invention, the foreground and background of each overlay are separately controlled by the mixing attributes which define the mixing rules for the layered presentation of multiple overlays. Additionally, the order of precedence for displaying multiple overlays may be selectively or varied to provide multiple displays and to permit an individual overlay to be repetitively utilized.

Abstract: A system represents a variable construct within a structured data stream. Structured data streams typically include a plurality of components, each component having multiple parameters therein. A trigger or other flag element within the data stream is utilized to provide a link or reference to a variable construct definition which has been created by the data stream originator or an independent end user. The variable construct definition is then utilized to determine previously nonexistent data which may then be utilized to process at least a portion of the data stream. In this manner, variable data within a structured data stream may be processed by linking the variable data to a non-variable construct within the data stream.

Abstract: A method for the dynamic creation of a data stream of continuous data elements for transmission by a data processing system. One or more data stream libraries are created within external or "in-line" storage facilities for utilization by the data stream build process and a plurality of data resources are stored therein. Data stream resources may include: data stream templates; environments; page structures; formatting descriptions; and, object data. Object data may include: text; image; graphics; font specifications; color tables; and, code page specifications. The data stream build process then prompts the operator for inputs which specify desired data stream characteristics. A plurality of options are then presented to the operator based upon the operator's inputs and selected data processing system parameters which are utilized in a heuristic manner as determined by system parameters.

Abstract: The need for private copies of an interchange document file in a computer system is eliminated by building a common architected index characterized in that (1) it includes selected indexable elements each having sufficient associated pointers for environment and resource specifications to be accessed as stand-alone entities and (2) is structured to be handled by all application programs or processes understanding the interchange protocol. Normal work with a file requires reading the entire document file and building a process' own index. This requires excessive time and takes up storage which could be used for other purposes. By building an architected document index with associated pointers in turn associated with each indexable element, any desired element of the document can be readily addressed by many different application program.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for nesting and processing mixed data objects from diverse data types including: text, image, and graphics. The method permits the utilization of shared environmental specifications for processing multiple data objects. Each mixed data object includes a pair of object delimiters, which identify the beginning and end of that object, and an environment control indicator which determines whether that object will inherit environment objects from a nesting object or pass environment objects to the nesting object. An appropriate application for processing each object is called in response to the detection of the beginning of that object and is returned to after any intervening objects have been processed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for defining the structure of a document by specifying the relationships between document elements in a data stream. A plurality of tabular specifications are provided, each of which includes a number of document elements. The logical relationship between each document element and all other document elements within each tabular specification is specified once for the entire tabular specification. The semantic interpretation for each tabular specification is associated with a named reference to that tabular specification so that multiple references to that tabular specification may yield different semantic interpretations. In this manner, it is possible to minimize the amount of specification to define a document by utilizing individual tabular specifications repeatedly. Additionally, a reference to a tabular specification may be utilized to modify the existing logical relationship between the document elements contained therein.

Abstract: A method for dynamically selecting data formats for logical elements which are recursively nested within a document. A data processing system user is initially interactively prompted to establish logical element data formats which correspond to the order of appearance of a logical element within a nested relationhip and the level within that nested relationship where the logical element appears. Thereafter, the creation or relocation of a logical element within the document will result in a data format being automatically assigned based upon the order of appearance and the level of that logical element within the nested relationship within the document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically promoting a selected background window displayed on a computer system among a plurality of windows which at least partially overlap the background window. The output of data from the selected background window is monitored and is utilized to selectively provide an unencumbered display by altering the display sequence of the windows to automatically promote the background window to the uppermost display position, in accordance with the state of a display attribute associated with the background window. After the output of data by the selected window has occurred, the display attribute may be utilized to determine whether or not the selected window returns to its previous display position or remains in the uppermost display position.

Abstract: A method for selectively accessing a particular one of a plurality of computer applications which are simultaneously active and displayed in a plurality of overlapping viewports or windows in a multi-tasking system. User inputs to the system are monitored to determine the position of a cursor within a window or the location of an attempted data input to a window and the particular window thus selected is displayed unencumbered by promoting it to the uppermost display position in accordance with the state of a display attribute associated with that window. Thereafter, the display attribute is utilized to determine whether or not the selected window returns to its previous display position or remains in the uppermost display position in response to the movement of the cursor or the attempt by a user to input data into a second selected window.

Abstract: The data portion of a logical element in a document is dynamically modified as the data is created or edited. A decision as to what data format will be used is based on logical element characteristics such as the parent of the logical element, for example section, and the sequence of the logical element among the other children of the parent, for example first or subsequent paragraph within a section.

Abstract: A method of managing the relationship between intermingled objects of different types for editing purposes. Management is through establishing separate and combined modes of operation. When a separate mode is selected, only a selected object will be affected by an edit action. When a combined mode is selected, selection of any object will result in all objects being affected by an edit action.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for dynamically redefining a shell structure which includes embedded formatting, processing or resource information. The shell structure includes end user requirements necessary to process constructs within a data stream which are accessed by means of embedded tags within the data stream. Data stream clutter is reduced and end user formatting is rendered more flexible by embedding tags in the data stream to a point in one or more shells accessible by the end user's work station; however, it is often desirable to modify a particular shell for a specific application without permanently altering the shell. A formatting shell fragment is created in accordance with the present invention which includes a reference to a complete shell and a temporary modification to be applied to that shell. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention multiple formatting shell fragments may be concatenated with other formatting shell fragments and a complete shell.

Abstract: A compound document data stream is verified to determine if a compound document conforms to a specified architecture function set. A table driven compound document verifier identifies each deviation from a specified function set in the compound document. The verifier can test the output of document generation and modification applications to determine if they are in compliance with the architecture and to identify those applications that do not comply and in what aspects they deviate from the architecture and its specified function set.

Abstract: A method for the intelligent, in-line, dynamic editing of documents containing mixed object types on a computer work station is disclosed. The mixed object types may be text objects, draw graphics objects, business graphics objects, and tables objects. The editor executes actions on use selected objects and attributes based on internal knowledge of the object type selected rather than by explicit user commands. This procedure provides a simple user interface that makes manipulation of objects and attributes and command execution transparent to the user.

Abstract: An application composite editor for compound documents containing not only text but also graphics and tables to facilitate the manipulation of object sets in the formatting algorithm. The editor works with a page layout philosphy wherein data objects reside on the page and data resides in the data objects. All pages reside within a document object, and some data objects may have additional objects within them. Objects are data-specific entities that the user can manipulate on the page. All objects exist within a specified boundary on the page, and this boundary is defined as an object set boundary. Object sets may be moved into positions on the page such that more than one object set is occupying a single displayable area on the page. Such an arrangement of objects creates a structure called a superblock. A superblock is any displayable area containing two or more objects sets positioned so that the object sets overlap one another, reside side-by-side or extend above or below one another.

Abstract: Improvements in an application composite eidtor for compound documents containing not only text but also graphics and tables facilitate the manipulation of object sets in the formatting algorithm. The editor works with a page layout philosophy wherein data objects reside on the page and data resides in the data objects. All pages reside within a document object, and some data objects may have additional objects within them. Objects are data-specific entities that the user can manipulate on the page. All objects exist within a specified boundary on the page, and this boundary is defined as an object set boundary. Object sets may be moved into positions on the page such that more than one object set is occupying a single displayable are on the page. Such an arrangement of objects creates a structure called a superblock. A superblock is any displayable area containing two or more object sets positioned so that the object sets overlap one another, reside side-by-side or extend above or below one another.

Abstract: Improvements in an application composite editor for compound documents containing not only text but also graphics and tables facilitate the manipulation of object sets in the formatting algorithm. The editor works with a page layout philosophy wherein data objects reside on the page and data resides in the data objects. All pages reside within a document object, and some data objects may have additional objects within them. Objects are data-specific entities that the user can manipulate on the page. All objects exist within a specified boundary on the page, and this boundary is defined as an object set boundary. Object sets may be moved into positions on the page such that more than one object set is occupying a single displayable area on the page. Such an arrangement of objects creates a structure called a superblock. A superblock is any displayable area containing two or more object sets positioned so that the objects sets overlap one another, reside side-by-side or extend above or below one another.

Abstract: Improvements in an application composite editor for compound documents containing not only text but also graphics and tables facilitate the manipulation of object sets in the formatting algorithm. The editor works with a page layout philosophy wherein data objects reside on the page and data resides in the data objects. All pages reside within a document object, and some data objects may have additional objects within them. Objects are data-specific entities that the user can manipulate on the page. All objects exist within a specified boundary on the page, and this boundary is defined as an object set boundary. Object sets may be moved into positions on the page such that more than one object set is occupying a single displayable area on the page. Such an arrangement of objects creates a structure called a superblock. A superblock is any displayable area containing two or more object sets positioned so that the object sets overlap one another, reside side-by-side or extend above or below one another.