Abstract: A system and method for providing network-based functionality to a spreadsheet includes, the client side, a personal computer application which is augmented with network-enabling software that provides users with new network-based functionality that can be accessed within the personal computer application. The network-enabling software of the present invention enables users to generate and modify spreadsheets by embedding network-enabling objects that can launch and make use of network-based functionality from within the personal computer application. The invention further includes remote server support for the network-enabling software that augments the personal computer application, and as well as support for the resulting spreadsheet.

Abstract: A system and method for providing network-based functionality to a word processing document includes, on the client side, a productivity application which is augmented with network-enabling software that provides users with new network-based functionality, which may be accessed within the productivity application. The network-enabling software of the present invention enables users to generate and modify word processing documents by embedding network-enabling objects that can launch and make use of network-based functionality from within the productivity application. The invention further includes remote server support for the network-enabling software that augments the personal computer application, and as well as providing support for the resulting word processing document. Network-based content may be placed, for example, in a table, at a specific insertion point or within an embedded portion of another document type within a word processing document.

Abstract: A visual editing system for creating commercial online computer services. The visual editing system creates online services that consist of a number of subservices. Each subservice is a program that provides a particular type of functionality to the online service. Different subservices exist for displaying hypermedia documents, searching directories and databases, displaying classified advertisements, providing a bulletin board system, etc. Each subservice has an associated database of information and a collection of scripts that handle events such as input from a user. The visual editing system of the present invention features a fee setting tool that allows the developer to develop a fee structure for an online service. The fee structure can handle both fees levied against users and third party content providers. For example, users can be levied fees for logging onto an online service, performing searches, or downloading information.