Abstract: A computer implemented method includes accessing a spreadsheet for display on a display screen during a remote meeting, receiving a first selection to execute a spotlight function, receiving a second selection of a portion of the spreadsheet being displayed, creating an overlay via the spotlight function, the overlay having a transparent cavity corresponding to the selected portion of the spreadsheet, and applying the overlay to the spreadsheet being displayed such that the selected portion is visible and other portions of the spreadsheet are obscured.

Abstract: A user may easily read, browse, and jump through the messages contained within a thread. Different portions of the message may be highlighted such that they are easily identifiable. The user may easily navigate through the thread by selecting a user interface element, such as an arrow button, to move to the next or previous message within the thread. The order of the thread may also be reversed such that the user may view the thread from the first message to the last message, or view the thread from the last message to the first message. The messages within the thread may be marked, such as by using XML tags, in order to facilitate the identification of the sections of the messages within the thread.

Abstract: An extensible markup language (“XML”) schema is provided for defining a content region which displays specific types of content in an electronic document created in a word processing application program. The schema includes structural elements for defining the content region in the electronic document. The structural elements include a properties element for defining properties associated with the content to be displayed in the content region and a content element for receiving the content to be displayed according to the defined properties. The properties element and the content element define the content region in the electronic document.

Abstract: An extensible markup language (“XML”) schema is provided for defining a content region which displays specific types of content in an electronic document created in a word processing application program. The schema includes structural elements for defining the content region in the electronic document. The structural elements include a properties element for defining properties associated with the content to be displayed in the content region and a content element for receiving the content to be displayed according to the defined properties. The properties element and the content element define the content region in the electronic document.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a user interface. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving a request to initiate an application program configured to generate a data file. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include displaying, by the initiated application program, a property panel in response to the request. The property panel may be configured to receive meta-data to be associated with the data file generated by the application program. Also, the property panel may be configured to provide the only place to receive the meta-data by the application program. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include receiving the meta-data in the property panel.

Abstract: A word processor including a native XML file format is provided. The well formed XML file fully represents the word-processor document, and fully supports 100% of word-processor's rich formatting. There are no feature losses when saving the word-processor documents as XML. A published XSD file defines all the rules behind the word-processor's XML file format. Hints may be provided within the XML associated files providing applications that understand XML a shortcut to understanding some of the features provided by the word-processor. The word-processing document is stored in a single XML file. Additionally, manipulation of word-processing documents may be done on computing devices that do not include the word-processor itself.

Abstract: One or more data stores are maintained separately from a primary presentation storage within a document for storing, relating and for allowing use of arbitrary data that is associated with a computer-generated document between multiple data consumers. The data store exposes application programming interfaces (APIs) to the various pieces of data in the data store for allowing different data consumers to access and operate on one or more of the data pieces in real time. Multiple data consumers may access and edit the same piece of data concurrently, and any conflicting changes to a given piece of data are resolved. Each data consumer may accept or reject the change as well as make additional side-effect changes as a result of the original change. In this way, the data may be synchronized in real time across the data consumers.

Abstract: An object model allows code to be developed using a programming environment to access the functionality of an application, in a word processing application, for example. The object model may be used to manipulate one or more data bindings in an application. Code may also be developed using a programming environment for reacting to changes, in either direction, of a content region or a node in XML data associated with one or more data bindings. Code may be developed to define data bindings between file content and content within data in a data store. Additionally, code may be developed that reacts to changes within a bound region of a file or within a data store, trapping or intercepting events, such as edits, additions, deletions, etc.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided for saving the contents of a memory structure stored in a volatile memory. According to the method, corrupted portions of the memory structure are identified and an attempt is made to repair these portions. If the corrupted portions cannot be repaired, the saving of these portions is skipped. The uncorrupted and repaired portions of the memory structure are then saved to a data file stored on a mass storage device. If portions of the memory structure cannot be repaired or skipped, an attempt is made to save only the user data contained in the memory structure to the data file. In this manner, the user data contained in the memory structure may be saved to a data file even in cases of severe corruption.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for incorporating meta-data in document content. The disclosed systems and methods may include initiating an application program configured to generate a document. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include displaying, by the initiated application program, a property panel. The property panel may be configured to receive meta-data to be associated with the document generated by the application program. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include receiving the meta-data in the property panel and copying the meta-data from the property panel to the document content.

Abstract: A programmability mode for interacting with data stores within a document allows real time interaction. Data for structuring information associated with a document, such as document metadata, is maintained in the data store where relationships between different pieces of data are maintained in a location distinct from the surface level view of a document. The data store exposes interfaces to the various pieces of data in the data store for allowing different applications to access and operate on one or more of the data pieces. The pieces of data may be structured according to a markup language such as the Extensible Markup Language (XML), and XML schemas may be associated with each piece of data for allowing the data store to validate the structure applied to the data based on an XML schema associated with a given piece of data.

Abstract: A word processor application is provided for creating word processor documents wherein the data and presentation can be separated. Data can be stored in a separate location from the presentation surface of the word processor document. Users of the word processor application can establish links (or bindings) between the contents of the data and the presentation surface. A user can modify contents of a word processor document by directly changing the linked data without having to deal with the complexity of the presentation format, which can be constantly changing. A user can modify content of a word processor document, by editing a data store without any knowledge of the current layout of the presentation surface. A user can modify complex backing data through simple document edits, without exposure to the complexities of the data structure.

Abstract: Word processing documents that are created using content from a database are used to repopulate a database. The document includes content placeholders that link the content to locations within the database from which the content was retrieved. The appropriate content based on the changes made to the document is extracted from the document and is placed back within the database at the correct location. The database is repopulated such that the content within the database does not include all of the metadata required to produce the desired look and feel of a document that is generated using the content.

Abstract: Documents are automatically generated from data within a database. The look and feel of the document is defined externally from the data in the database such that a consistent look and feel is applied to the retrieved data. Templates are defined that specify the structure of the document including its look and feel for the documents created by using data from the database. When a document is requested to be generated for viewing and/or editing, the appropriate data from the database is retrieved and placed within the document according to the defined look and feel that is contained within the templates.

Abstract: Described is a mechanism for issuing an event notification message, from a first program to a second program, to indicate that an action occurred within the first program, where the event notification message includes a parameter that indicates that the action is one of a group of possible actions. More specifically, in an application configured to edit documents created with the eXtensible Markup Language XML, the occurrence of an XML-related action causes the event notification message to be issued. The XML-related action may be either an XML-related move action, an XML-related insert action, or an XML-related delete action. In this way, a single event notification message can be used to indicate the occurrence of three different types of actions while editing an XML document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for utilizing a document object model to manage content regions for use in an electronic document. A content region is a predefined area which may be inserted in an electronic document and which serves as a placeholder for receiving and displaying specific types of content such as text, graphics data, calendar data, or tabular data. The document object model enables a user to create, modify, and delete content regions from an electronic document using an application programming interface from within a computer application program.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for managing specific types of content in an electronic document. A user interface is provided for displaying a specific type of content in a predefined area of and electronic document. The user interface includes a content region for receiving the specific type of content and displaying the specific type of content within a predefined boundary. The user interface also includes a selection region for receiving a selection of content for insertion into the content region. The user interface validates the content received in the content region based on the specific type of content defined for the content region and based on a predefined content limit. The specific type of content received in the content region may be formatted according to a predetermined format and may also be bound to a data source external to the electronic document.

Abstract: A graphical user interface is disclosed for providing a visual and/or numeric aid facilitating the use formatting styles in word processing application programs and others. Visual and numeric indicators are assigned to all styles defined within the word processing application program. The visual indicator may be a unique color assigned and applied to each defined style. Upon launching the visual aids functionality, each style name in a styles pallet is displayed with its assigned visual and numeric indicators. The visual and numeric indicators are also displayed along side the text, with text of a given style being displayed with the visual and numeric indicator assigned to the style name. Thus, the visual aids allow a user to quickly ascertain which styles are applied to what text.

Abstract: A data store is provided for storing, relating and for allowing use of data associated with a computer-generated document. Data for structuring information associated with a document, such as document metadata, is maintained in the data store where relationships between different pieces of data are maintained in a location distinct from the surface level view of a document. The data store exposes interfaces to the various pieces of data in the data store for allowing different applications to access and operate on one or more of the data pieces. The pieces of data may be structured according to a markup language such as the Extensible Markup Language (XML), and XML schemas may be associated with each piece of data for allowing the data store to validate the structure applied to the data based on an XML schema associated with a given piece of data.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for creating, inserting, and reusing document parts in an electronic document. According to a system, a word processing application program receives a selection of a document part category. In response to the selection of the document part category, a gallery of document parts is displayed in a user interface. A selection of a document part from the gallery is received and inserted in the electronic document without the need for additional formatting. The gallery of document parts defines a page layout for the electronic document. Document parts may be created within the user interface by modifying pre-built document parts.