Abstract: A concept for providing hierarchical navigation information relative to one or more databases within a distributed computer system is described. In one aspect, this includes a process for hierarchically organizing bodies of information that includes: receiving a query from a user, abstracting a list of descriptors from one or more sources of information selected based on the query, organizing the list according to an hierarchy of nodes referenced in the one or more sources of information and providing information configured to facilitate displaying a graphical user interface illustrating the hierarchy and having user programmable server control classes for accession of nodes in the hierarchy.

Abstract: Web pages that share a common layout and/or functionality are associated with at least one master page and at least one endpoint page. Each master page specifies a common layout and/or functionality that are intended to be shared between the web pages. The master pages also include content place holders that identify content segments that are intended to be replaced by content that is obtained from the at least one endpoint page. When a client system requests one of the web pages, the server system merges the appropriate master page and endpoint page into a resulting page that can be rendered as the requested web page by the client system. This enables web pages sharing common features to be created automatically, in real-time, and transparently to the client system, and without having to redundantly store duplicative content for each of the web pages at the server system.

Abstract: A web page rendering mechanism in which a computing system generating a web page from a web page definition. A web page class is compiled from the web page definition. The theme-specific properties are described separate from the web page definition in theme-oriented text documents that are compiled into a theme class. The web page is rendered by executing an instance of the web page class in conjunction with an instance of the theme class. The web page object may include an object for each control element to be rendered. In addition, the theme object may include an object for control elements of each control element type. When rendering a control element of a particular type, the object corresponding to that control element is executed from the web page object. In addition, the object corresponding to the control element type is executed from the theme object.

Abstract: Web pages that share a common layout and/or functionality are associated with at least one master page and at least one endpoint page. Each master page specifies a common layout and/or functionality that are intended to be shared between the web pages. The master pages also include content place holders that identify content segments that are intended to be replaced by content that is obtained from the at least one endpoint page. When a client system requests one of the web pages, the server system merges the appropriate master page and endpoint page into a resulting page that can be rendered as the requested web page by the client system. This enables web pages sharing common features to be created automatically, in real-time, and transparently to the client system, and without having to redundantly store duplicative content for each of the web pages at the server system.