Abstract: A system, method, and data structure are described that permit a function to be operable at a designated node or sub nodes. An instruction that designates one or more nodes is processed to perform the instruction on each of the nodes. If the instruction is not performable on a current node, the data structure relating to the current node is navigated to obtain one or more sub nodes. The instruction is then performed on the sub nodes.

Abstract: A digital ink environment is provided for non-native ink application programs to create independent ink services for sharing between different application programs and transmission. The digital ink environment is provided for interacting with embedded or linked ink words or other ink data in a compound ink document. The user is provided with the freedom to input digital ink so they can write anywhere in the ink environment, in any orientation, and using any desired stroke size provided by the ink environment. The ink environment is provided in an activated state for in-situ user interaction and manipulation in a computing environment, for example a pen-based environment.