Abstract: Status-based reading and authoring assistance is provided. A status-based reading and authoring assistance feature can automatically determine a status of a user and automatically adapt reading and authoring tools provided for display based on the determined status. The status-based reading and authoring assistance feature provides the right reading and authoring tools at the right time, according to the current use of the application. During a user session with respect to a productivity application that includes status-based reading and authoring assistance, signals (e.g., user actions and context information) associated with a file can be received. A status regarding the use of the file can be determined using at least the signals. The status can comprise a reading status or an authoring status (or even a sub status). Reading and authoring tools provided for a display of the productivity application can be adapted based on the status during the user session.

Abstract: The following disclosure describes software components, such as add-ins, that are launched automatically, without being manually activated by a user. In some embodiments, the add-in may run silently, e.g. the add-in runs in the background, without displaying content in an ancillary pane. The add-in may be given access to document content, enabling pre-processing as well as decorating document content with metadata for future use. The add-in may determine that the document has met a criteria, and in response, display a visual cue directing the user to activate the add-in. When a user does manually activate the add-in by clicking on an icon or pressing a keyboard shortcut, the add-in may be pre-loaded, initialized, and have already accessed and processed document content. In this way, the add-in may display useful content in an ancillary pane in much less time, solving the technological problem of delay between manual activation and initialization of an add-in.

Abstract: The following disclosure provides a system that filters and batches changes to improve communication between an application and an add-in. In some embodiments, the application batches a threshold number of changes made to a section of content. Using a threshold regulates the rate of updates to the add-in. In some embodiments, changes can be filtered based on the type of change (e.g. text changes, style changes, etc.) or the type of input that caused the change (e.g. keyboard input, cut and paste command, etc.). Filtering changes can reduce traffic between the application and the add-in, preventing the add-in from being overwhelmed and improving application responsiveness.

Abstract: Status-based reading and authoring assistance is provided. A status-based reading and authoring assistance feature can automatically determine a status of a user and automatically adapt reading and authoring tools provided for display based on the determined status. The status-based reading and authoring assistance feature provides the right reading and authoring tools at the right time, according to the current use of the application. During a user session with respect to a productivity application that includes status-based reading and authoring assistance, signals (e.g., user actions and context information) associated with a file can be received. A status regarding the use of the file can be determined using at least the signals. The status can comprise a reading status or an authoring status (or even a sub status). Reading and authoring tools provided for a display of the productivity application can be adapted based on the status during the user session.

Abstract: The present invention enables a system to efficiently maintain an ancillary pane containing a projection of document content, and content derived therefrom, while the underlying document is being edited. In one embodiment, an acronym pane displays a list of acronyms used in a document and one or more expansions of those acronyms. A data store containing maps is used to index which paragraphs contain which acronyms, and which acronyms are associated with which expansions. As sections of content are added, modified, or deleted, acronyms and expansions are added to and/or removed from the data store, causing the acronym pane to be updated.

Abstract: The following disclosure describes software components, such as add-ins, that are launched automatically, without being manually activated by a user. In some embodiments, the add-in may run silently, e.g. the add-in runs in the background, without displaying content in an ancillary pane. The add-in may be given access to document content, enabling pre-processing as well as decorating document content with metadata for future use. The add-in may determine that the document has met a criteria, and in response, display a visual cue directing the user to activate the add-in. When a user does manually activate the add-in by clicking on an icon or pressing a keyboard shortcut, the add-in may be pre-loaded, initialized, and have already accessed and processed document content. In this way, the add-in may display useful content in an ancillary pane in much less time, solving the technological problem of delay between manual activation and initialization of an add-in.

Abstract: The following disclosure provides a system that filters and batches changes to improve communication between an application and an add-in. In some embodiments, the application batches a threshold number of changes made to a section of content. Using a threshold regulates the rate of updates to the add-in. In some embodiments, changes can be filtered based on the type of change (e.g. text changes, style changes, etc.) or the type of input that caused the change (e.g. keyboard input, cut and paste command, etc.). Filtering changes can reduce traffic between the application and the add-in, preventing the add-in from being overwhelmed and improving application responsiveness.

Abstract: The present invention enables a system to efficiently maintain an ancillary pane containing a projection of document content, and content derived therefrom, while the underlying document is being edited. In one embodiment, an acronym pane displays a list of acronyms used in a document and one or more expansions of those acronyms. A data store containing maps is used to index which paragraphs contain which acronyms, and which acronyms are associated with which expansions. As sections of content are added, modified, or deleted, acronyms and expansions are added to and/or removed from the data store, causing the acronym pane to be updated.

Abstract: A system is provided in which two sets of content are cached in a corresponding two caches—a current cache and a next cache. A client renders content in the current cache and uses the next cache to define the expiration for the content in the current cache as well as provide the replacement content when the current content expires. When a client application renders the content in the current cache, the application checks whether the expiration for the current cache has been reached according to the expiration defined by the content in the next cache (which is not being rendered). If the expiration has been reached, the content in the next cache is moved to the current cache and rendered. New content can then be downloaded to fill the next cache and define the expiration for the content formerly in the next cache but now in the current cache.

Abstract: A system is provided in which two sets of content are cached in a corresponding two caches—a current cache and a next cache. A client renders content in the current cache and uses the next cache to define the expiration for the content in the current cache as well as provide the replacement content when the current content expires. When a client application renders the content in the current cache, the application checks whether the expiration for the current cache has been reached according to the expiration defined by the content in the next cache (which is not being rendered). If the expiration has been reached, the content in the next cache is moved to the current cache and rendered. New content can then be downloaded to fill the next cache and define the expiration for the content formerly in the next cache but now in the current cache.

Abstract: A presentation device selectively renders list data that is synchronized across multiple devices via a centralized or distributed synchronization system. The selective rendering depends on a variety of factors including the identity of the entity (e.g., a user, an organization, a system, a device) accessing the list data and the limitations of the presentation device used to access the list data. The selective rendering may also depend on the service or application through which the resource referenced by each list item can be accessed. Further, when uploading list data to a synchronization system, the list data is pre-filtered according to the storage location of each resource referenced by a list item and/or the service through which each resource referenced by a list item is accessible.

Abstract: A protocol handler that is registered to handle URLs that follow a protocol that is associated with a client application initiates content downloads from a network location. When a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is selected from a browser, the protocol handler passes the URL to the client application registered to handle the protocol. The client application parses the URL and determines the actions to perform based on the content identified in the URL. A client application may perform many different actions, such as: downloading the identified content; downloading any additional content (e.g. related files) associated with the identified content; place the downloaded content on a clipboard; automatically display downloaded content within a display; and the like. When the application is not installed on the client machine, information may be provided to the user to assist in interacting with the content identified by the URL.

Abstract: Application gallery connections to dynamic server-hosted content may be provided. An application may be instantiated on a client device. Upon loading, the application may connect to an available content server and download a content manifest. An application setting, such as a privacy setting or an administrative restriction may prevent connections to the content server; otherwise the application may determine whether the content manifest lists any new content for download. New content may be downloaded and made available to users of the application. The application may also determine whether any previously downloaded content is out of date according to the content manifest and remove unused content.

Abstract: Application gallery connections to dynamic server-hosted content may be provided. An application may be instantiated on a client device. Upon loading, the application may connect to an available content server and download a content manifest. An application setting, such as a privacy setting or an administrative restriction may prevent connections to the content server; otherwise the application may determine whether the content manifest lists any new content for download. New content may be downloaded and made available to users of the application. The application may also determine whether any previously downloaded content is out of date according to the content manifest and remove unused content.