Abstract: Techniques for guiding an interaction with an electronic form via a computing device are described. For example, a form guidance engine is initiated. The form guidance engine maintains a state of the electronic form. The form guidance engine also maintains user information in, for example, a user profile. The user information is associated with a user of the computing device and relates to how the user interacts with the electronic form. Based on the user information, the form guidance engine anticipates a potential interaction with the electronic form given the state. Accordingly and prior to a user request for information about the electronic form, the form guidance engine generates a presentation configured to guide the user to perform the potential interaction with the electronic form via a computing device. A user response to the presentation is received. The form guidance engine performs an action associated with the electronic form and updates the state of the electronic form.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and populating static form fields using prior responses to similar form fields. An example method includes receiving an electronic form having, encoded in the form, static text and a static form field for containing information specific to a given user of the electronic form. Using an image recognition algorithm, a fillable form field candidate is identified based on a graphical representation of the static form field. An attribute of the fillable form field candidate can be identified based on the static text. A suggested response for populating the fillable form field candidate is selected from prior responses to other form fields having at least one attribute in common with the identified attribute of the fillable form field candidate. The prior responses are inputs obtained from or associated with the given user. The suggested response is presented to the user for subsequent acceptance or rejection.

Abstract: Techniques for assisting users electronic forms. One exemplary technique involves initiating a workflow assistant based on user input of the user or a predetermined triggering event to prompt the user to complete the electronic form. The workflow assistant downloads or obtains the electronic form based on a user response and identifies a workflow based on the electronic form. The workflow identifies a sequence of user interactions to complete the electronic form. Identifying the workflow includes developing, based on fields in the electronic form, requests for content of fields from the user and possible predicted answer choices for the content of each of the fields. The workflow assistant then executes the workflow to conduct the user interactions to obtain the content for the fields of the electronic form to complete the electronic form.

Abstract: Techniques for assisting a user with completing an electronic form via a computing device are described. For example, the user operates the computing device to populate fields of the electronic form. Rather than presenting the electronic form at the computing device in order to populate the fields, a form filling engine reformulates the electronic form into a set of input requests. The form filling engine is local or remote to the computing device. Each input request, when presented, provides guidance about at least one field and solicit a user response that is proper for that field. The form filling engine presents the input requests via the computing device one at a time to solicit the user responses. Data from the user responses are used by the form filling engine to populate the fields of the electronic form.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein associate forms with categories based on form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of the forms. One embodiment provides a method for facilitating searching for a form by associating forms with categories based on form features. The method involves automatically associating, by a processor of a computing device, forms with respective categories based on form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of the forms and storing the forms and the respective categories associated with the forms at an electronic form search server. Search results are provided from the electronic form search server based on input identifying a search category and a form is identified as a search result based on the form being associated with the search category.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and populating static form fields using prior responses to similar form fields. An example method includes receiving an electronic form having, encoded in the form, static text and a static form field for containing information specific to a given user of the electronic form. Using an image recognition algorithm, a fillable form field candidate is identified based on a graphical representation of the static form field. An attribute of the fillable form field candidate can be identified based on the static text. A suggested response for populating the fillable form field candidate is selected from prior responses to other form fields having at least one attribute in common with the identified attribute of the fillable form field candidate. The prior responses are inputs obtained from or associated with the given user. The suggested response is presented to the user for subsequent acceptance or rejection.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and populating static form fields using prior responses to similar form fields. An example method includes receiving an electronic form having, encoded in the form, static text and a static form field for containing information specific to a given user of the electronic form. Using an image recognition algorithm, a fillable form field candidate is identified based on a graphical representation of the static form field. An attribute of the fillable form field candidate can be identified based on the static text. A suggested response for populating the fillable form field candidate is selected from prior responses to other form fields having at least one attribute in common with the identified attribute of the fillable form field candidate. The prior responses are inputs obtained from or associated with the given user. The suggested response is presented to the user for subsequent acceptance or rejection.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide form search results in response to form-specific search criteria. One embodiment involves receiving, at an electronic form search server, input providing form-specific search criteria comprising one or more field characteristics. The embodiment further involves identifying, by the electronic form search server, one or more forms as search results based on form-specific search criteria. The embodiment further involves providing, by the electronic form search server, the search results.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein facilitate adding content to forms by providing field content suggestions using context determined based on form features. This involves providing a user interface for display, the user interface displaying a form and providing editing features usable to add content to fields of the form. The systems and method further involve categorizing the form or portion of the form into a context based on form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of the form or portion of the form. A form field suggestion for a field is identified based on the context of the form or portion of the form containing the field and the field content suggestion for the field is provided for display in the user interface.

Abstract: Techniques for assisting users electronic forms. One exemplary technique involves initiating a workflow assistant based on user input of the user or a predetermined triggering event to prompt the user to complete the electronic form. The workflow assistant downloads or obtains the electronic form based on a user response and identifies a workflow based on the electronic form. The workflow identifies a sequence of user interactions to complete the electronic form. Identifying the workflow includes developing, based on fields in the electronic form, requests for content of fields from the user and possible predicted answer choices for the content of each of the fields. The workflow assistant then executes the workflow to conduct the user interactions to obtain the content for the fields of the electronic form to complete the electronic form.

Abstract: Techniques for guiding an interaction with an electronic form via a computing device are described. For example, a form guidance engine is initiated. The form guidance engine maintains a state of the electronic form. The form guidance engine also maintains user information in, for example, a user profile. The user information is associated with a user of the computing device and relates to how the user interacts with the electronic form. Based on the user information, the form guidance engine anticipates a potential interaction with the electronic form given the state. Accordingly and prior to a user request for information about the electronic form, the form guidance engine generates a presentation configured to guide the user to perform the potential interaction with the electronic form via a computing device. A user response to the presentation is received. The form guidance engine performs an action associated with the electronic form and updates the state of the electronic form.

Abstract: Techniques for assisting a user with completing an electronic form via a computing device are described. For example, the user operates the computing device to populate fields of the electronic form. Rather than presenting the electronic form at the computing device in order to populate the fields, a form filling engine reformulates the electronic form into a set of input requests. The form filling engine is local or remote to the computing device. Each input request, when presented, provides guidance about at least one field and solicit a user response that is proper for that field. The form filling engine presents the input requests via the computing device one at a time to solicit the user responses. Data from the user responses are used by the form filling engine to populate the fields of the electronic form.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein facilitate adding content to forms by providing field content suggestions using context determined based on form features. This involves providing a user interface for display, the user interface displaying a form and providing editing features usable to add content to fields of the form. The systems and method further involve categorizing the form or portion of the form into a context based on form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of the form or portion of the form. A form field suggestion for a field is identified based on the context of the form or portion of the form containing the field and the field content suggestion for the field is provided for display in the user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein associate forms with categories based on form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of the forms. One embodiment provides a method for facilitating searching for a form by associating forms with categories based on form features. The method involves automatically associating, by a processor of a computing device, forms with respective categories based on form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of the forms and storing the forms and the respective categories associated with the forms at an electronic form search server. Search results are provided from the electronic form search server based on input identifying a search category and a form is identified as a search result based on the form being associated with the search category.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide form search results in response to form-specific search criteria. One embodiment involves receiving, at an electronic form search server, input providing form-specific search criteria comprising one or more field characteristics. The embodiment further involves identifying, by the electronic form search server, one or more forms as search results based on form-specific search criteria. The embodiment further involves providing, by the electronic form search server, the search results.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and populating static form fields using prior responses to similar form fields. An example method includes receiving an electronic form having, encoded in the form, static text and a static form field for containing information specific to a given user of the electronic form. Using an image recognition algorithm, a fillable form field candidate is identified based on a graphical representation of the static form field. An attribute of the fillable form field candidate can be identified based on the static text. A suggested response for populating the fillable form field candidate is selected from prior responses to other form fields having at least one attribute in common with the identified attribute of the fillable form field candidate. The prior responses are inputs obtained from or associated with the given user. The suggested response is presented to the user for subsequent acceptance or rejection.

Abstract: In some example, a computerized method includes receiving a first electronic document and a second electronic document. The method also includes determining a difference between the first electronic document and the second electronic document based on matching of a component of the first electronic document to a component of the second electronic document in a hierarchical order. The method includes storing the difference in a machine-readable medium.

Abstract: Techniques for directing plug-in updates for software applications to a target audience using manifest parameters are disclosed. In some embodiments, directing plug-in updates for software applications to a target audience using manifest parameters includes processing a manifest to determine that a plug-in is available for a software application on a device; determining whether a plurality of attributes associated with the plug-in match corresponding attributes associated with the device or the software application, in which the plurality of attributes are identified in the manifest; and automatically installing the plug-in if the plurality of attributes are determined to match.

Abstract: Out of band component updating may include receiving a data structure that includes information regarding a component of an application. It may further include determining, from the data structure, that an updated version of the component is available. Out of band component updating may also include storing the updated component in a local data store. It may additionally include, during execution of the application and without shutting down the application, updating the component with the stored updated version of the component. Updating the component may include loading the updated version of the component in a time that is substantially similar to that of a time to load a previous version of the component.

Abstract: Techniques for interactive product improvement through the use of variants and data gathering reports in a system that can be updated on the fly are disclosed. In some embodiments, interactive product improvement through the use of variants and data gathering reports in a system that can be updated on the fly includes processing a manifest to determine that a plug-in that includes a plurality of variants is available; randomly selecting a variant for the plug-in to automatically install on a device; and automatically installing the plug-in, in which the randomly selected variant is executed at run-time.