Abstract: A process is provided for documenting the contents of at least one version of a plurality of data products stored in a database, at least one of the products being a composite product having at least a portion of at least one of the data products included therein. The process includes the steps of: creating a state file to be associated with a version of a composite product to be created, the state file specifying a selected version of at least one selected data product to be used in creating the composite product; using the state file to access the selected version of the selected product from the database; creating the version of the composite product by including therein at least a portion of the selected version of the selected product; and generating a state history file associated with the version of the composite product, the state history file indicating that at least a portion of the selected version of the selected product is included within the version of the composite product.

Abstract: A method for navigating within a software application of an electronic device, such as a computer, personal digital assistant or global positioning system, using a scrolling navigational ribbon. In one embodiment, information is obtained by scrolling the ribbon to the left or right by clicking on left or right arrows until the user-selectable descriptive title of the required information appears. In another embodiment, the ribbon is scrolled by clicking on a grab bar beneath the ribbon and moving it to the right or left. The user then clicks on the required title, and the information appears on the screen. The descriptive title is placed in a field above the ribbon, known as the breadcrumb field. When the required information is more than one layer down in the hierarchy of the information database, descriptive titles on the scrolling ribbon change with each selection to reflect the next layer of information.

Abstract: A process is provided for documenting the contents of at least one version of a plurality of data products stored in a database, at least one of the products being a composite product having at least a portion of at least one of the data products included therein. The process includes the steps of: creating a state file to be associated with a version of a composite product to be created, the state file specifying a selected version of at least one selected data product to be used in creating the composite product; using the state file to access the selected version of the selected product from the database; creating the version of the composite product by including therein at least a portion of the selected version of the selected product; and generating a state history file associated with the version of the composite product, the state history file indicating that at least a portion of the selected version of the selected product is included within the version of the composite product.