Abstract: A system and method provides conversion of SGML or XML files to HTML files by component conversion techniques. In one embodiment, the system addresses the conversion of an SGML formatted document, with associated graphic and multimedia for viewing in a plurality of frames produced in a web browser, such as with Java or JavaScript. A parser allows for multi-layered HTML documents comprised of dynamically sizing framesets which combines transformed SGML and external components such as graphics multimedia with executable mini-applications that enable external (to the SGML document domain) referencing of add-on interactive features such as local and global search, bookmarks, and annotation. In a preferred embodiment, a Java or JavaScript executable produces a collapsible/expandable table of contents in one of the frames.