Abstract: A driver for a printing device includes a communication protocol configured to retrieve capabilities of the printing device, invocation commands for invoking the capabilities of the printing device, and display strings for guiding display of the capabilities of the printing device for the printing device when the driver is initialized for use; a user interface configured to display the capabilities of the printing device for a user based on the display strings for the capabilities of the printing device as retrieved by the communication protocol; and a command emission protocol configured to render a print job of the user for the printing device based on the invocation commands for the capabilities of the printing device as retrieved by the communication protocol.

Abstract: Intercepting function calls. In one embodiment of the application, an import address table for an application is accessed and an address, in the import address table, associated with a function to which calls from the application are to be intercepted is replaced with an address to be used to access a proxy function. In another embodiment, the application is loaded in debugging mode. Once the import address table for the application has been populated with addresses for functions called by the application, the execution of the application is paused. An address, in the import address table, associated with a function to which calls from the application are to be intercepted is replaced with an address to be used to access a proxy function. Execution of the application is then resumed.

Abstract: A driver for a printing device includes a communication protocol configured to retrieve capabilities of the printing device, invocation commands for invoking the capabilities of the printing device, and display strings for guiding display of the capabilities of the printing device for the printing device when the driver is initialized for use; a user interface configured to display the capabilities of the printing device for a user based on the display strings for the capabilities of the printing device as retrieved by the communication protocol; and a command emission protocol configured to render a print job of the user for the printing device based on the invocation commands for the capabilities of the printing device as retrieved by the communication protocol.

Abstract: Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention operate to intercept a call directed to a common dialog function and to redirect that call to another more desirable proxy function. An action module providing an internal function that makes a call to the external function is loaded into memory. The action module's import address table is accessed. The external function is identified within the import address table, and an address associated with the external function is replaced with an address to be used to access the proxy function. In one embodiment, the proxy function is designed to utilize settings acquired programmatically and is able to replace a common dialog function, thus, eliminating the need for user interaction to perform a particular task.

Abstract: An operating system font is created from a printer metrics file. The printer metrics file includes at least one set of font metrics. Each set of font metrics represents one font. The printer metrics file is opened and the font metrics are read. A system font is created from each set of font metrics. The system font is created by applying the font metrics to a font template. The font template with the applied font metrics is saved as a system font. The system font is then installed and registered with the operating system. A name of the operating system font is recorded with a printer driver associated with the printer metrics file.

Abstract: A method for use in printing a print job from an application program on a printer. The printer has associated job settings which include a private portion containing a printer-specific job setting. The method includes providing a program interface configured to enable the application program to access the printer-specific job setting. The method also typically includes, from the application program, sending a command to the program interface to perform an operation related to the printer-specific job setting, and performing the operation related to the printer-specific job setting.

Abstract: Intercepting function calls. In one embodiment of the application, an import address table for an application is accessed and an address, in the import address table, associated with a function to which calls from the application are to be intercepted is replaced with an address to be used to access a proxy function. In another embodiment, the application is loaded in debugging mode. Once the import address table for the application has been populated with addresses for functions called by the application, the execution of the application is paused. An address, in the import address table, associated with a function to which calls from the application are to be intercepted is replaced with an address to be used to access a proxy function. Execution of the application is then resumed.

Abstract: Document production. The present invention arose from a need to deliver a document to a computing device as a server and to allow the server to produce the document without requiring user interaction. In various embodiments a document to be produced is received. A production application responsible for producing the document is initated. Calls from the production application to document production functions are caused to be redirected to proxy document production functions. The production is then instructed to produce the document.

Abstract: Intercepting calls to document production functions. In one embodiment of the application, an import address table for the application is accessed, document production functions being supplied by an operating system are identified within the import address table. For each identified document production function, an address associated with that function in the import address table is replaced with an address to be used to access a proxy document production function. In another embodiment, the application is loaded in debugging mode. Once the import address table for the application has been populated with addresses for functions called by the application, the execution of the application is paused. An address, in the import address table, associated with a document production function to which calls from the application are to be intercepted is replaced with an address to be used to access a proxy document production function. Execution of the application is then resumed.

Abstract: A method, system, program product, and means for maintaining state information for a browser instance when multiple browser instances are instantiated, the method comprising the steps: instantiating a first browser instance; associating first state information with the first browser instance and storing the association; instantiating a second browser instance; associating second state information, which is different from the first state information, with the second browser instance and storing the association; accessing the instantiated first browser instance; and retrieving the first state information for the first browser instance.

Abstract: Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention operate to intercept a call directed to a common dialog function and to redirect that call to another more desirable proxy function. An action module providing an internal function that makes a call to the external function is loaded into memory. The action module's import address table is accessed. The external function is identified within the import address table, and an address associated with the external function is replaced with an address to be used to access the proxy function. In one embodiment, the proxy function is designed to utilize settings acquired programmatically and is able to replace a common dialog function, thus, eliminating the need for user interaction to perform a particular task.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a user before granting access to a network resource. In response to a first request from a client to access the resource, access data for an authentication service and return access data for the resource are acquired. The client is then directed to request authentication, the direction including the access data for the authentication service and the return access data for the resource. The client requests access the authentication service using the access data an the return access data. If the authentication service successfully verifies the source of the request, it then directs the client to again request access to the resource using the return access data.

Abstract: A method for generating a custom distribution media package includes the following steps: Providing an original software suite distribution media package which includes an Internet download option; accessing a remote server via the Internet on which is loaded updated and new software related to the original suite; selecting the software components to be included in the custom media package; comparing the component files that reside on the original distribution media package with those that reside on the remote server, including the component installation data files and setup data files; identifying the most recent files and new files which do not east in the original package; identifying a local mass storage medium is identified on which the new distribution package will be created; copying the most recent files from their source locations to the new medium; and updating the installation data files and setup data files, to reference files from the new media package location.

Abstract: A method for installing and uninstalling software which fragments the process so that the installation or uninstallation of each component of a software suite is controlled by multiple independent files, rather than by a single script. Each software component has associated therewith a unique component-specific data file which is independent of and external to the installer-processing engine, the suite installation process flow, and the other software components. Each such data file contains the characteristics of the software component, as well as the commands to be executed for installation and unexecuted during uninstallation. The flow of the installation/uninstallation process is controlled by a separate process-control file which is read and executed by the install/uninstall processing engine, which for a preferred embodiment of the invention, is a state machine.