Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting and retrieving computer data files from a remote computer includes an automatic file translation mechanism. In one embodiment, the data being retrieved and the file translation mechanism are located on the same computer. The method of the invention includes establishing a data transfer link with the remote computer, displaying the files available for retrieval from the remote computer, selecting a file to be transferred, and translating the file prior to transfer. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a pen-based computer and the remote computer is a desktop computer.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing the data between two separate computer systems is described. In a first aspect of the invention, the method includes the step of identifying each record stored in the memory of the first computer system that is intended to be synchronized. The records are identified with a unique identification indicia and an indicia that indicates the last time that the record was altered. Using the time of the last synchronization information, each of the selected records that was added to or deleted from one of the computer systems since the last synchronization is identified and added to or deleted from the other computer system. Further, each of the records that was modified on one computer system is modified on the other. If conflicting actions have occurred on the two computer systems, then the conflicts are handled in accordance with a predetermined protocol.

Abstract: A method of creating an editor that is executed on a first computer system is disclosed in which the editor is arranged to facilitate the editing of data from a first application program executed on a second computer system without requiting that the first application program run on the first computer system. The method includes the steps of creating a display info array that identifies the data fields that may be displayed in a data browser window portion of the editor and creating an edit info array that identifies the data fields may be edited in a detail window portion of the editor. In a preferred embodiment, validation scripts that define the types of data that may be accepted in each of the data fields that is set forth in the edit info array are identified, with the validations scripts forming a portion of the edit info array. This arrangement facilitates editing data using a foreign computer system.