Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2001-05-01
Hong, Stephen S. (Department: 2776)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226658
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to universally-readable computer document files, and more specifically to a system and method of tuning the page layout codes in such document files so as to improve universal compatibility with multiple different manufacturers' word processing, desktop publishing and related applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well understood in the art of computer document publishing that different software manufacturers adopt different formatting standards in compiling document files. This presents a problem in generating document files that are compatible with multiple word processing packages. Software manufacturers have addressed this problem in recent years by releasing new versions of their word processor applications that can (a) receive files in a foreign format and convert them into the native format for that application, and (b) save completed work in a file format acceptable and readable by one or more specific foreign applications. Not all software manufacturers offer receipt and saving capability for documents in all foreign formats, however, and of course, not all conversions are done the same way by different manufacturers. Thus, cross-application compatibility is far from universal and predictable.
A further problem presents itself in the art when a physical document is being scanned into a word processor-readable computer file by a scanner. Optical character reading (“OCR”) software may prepare the scanned-in software for a subsequent word processing, but the user may not know ahead of time which format to select in instructing the OCR software to prepare a document file. Alternatively, the user may prefer not to select a word processor-specific format ahead of time at all, if she expects the file to be destined to be received by many word processor types.
The typical solution is for the user to instruct the OCR software to save the document in one of the “universally-read” file types known in the art, such as Microsoft's Rich Text Format (RTF). As will be discussed, however, use of quotes in describing these file types as “universally-read” is appropriate in view of the fact that there are still problems accepting these files universally among different word processors.
Another alternative for the user is to save the applications document in Adobe's “pdf” format (standing for “portable document format”). The drawbacks with this alternative, however, are that (a) a special viewer, albeit freely obtainable, is required to read and view the document, and (b) the document may not be edited once it is read and displayed by the viewer. Thus, “pdf” documents are useful primarily for electronic distribution of documents in a read-only format, where the target audience is likely to have or be able to easily obtain, the correct viewing software.
Returning, then, to the problem of generating document files that may universally received by various manufacturers' word processing applications, the option perhaps most often chosen by users is to save the document in Microsoft's RTF. RTF is typical of “universally-readable” document file formats in that it was designed to address the compatibility problems described above. As noted, however, RTF is also typical of its genre in that it still is not as “universal” as a user might hope for. Experience has shown, for example, that in some popular word processing applications, a perfectly legal RTF file will show as a blank. In others, the original page layout will become lost or disfigured. Some legal RTF files have even been known to cause word processor applications to crash.
Clearly, RTF files read as blank, or causing the word processor to crash, are unacceptable. Disfigured page layouts from the original could in theory be tolerated, but of course this means that the layouts then have to be cleaned up and restored when received in the destination word processor application. This is an unnecessary chore, and may be difficult to do if the originally-created page layouts are not known. Further, it defeats the purpose of setting up an originally-organized page layout if this layout is lost or disfigured by a word processor's document file opening protocols operating on a supposedly “universal” document file format.
There is therefore a need in the art to perfect the “universal” compatibility of document file formats such as RTF so as to make them more truly universally compatible with popular word processor applications. This will then enable publishers to create document files, either by scanning or by original creation, in a format that will be seamlessly accepted for further editing by many other word processors without the document creator having to know in advance which word processor type is likely to be used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects, features and technical advantages are achieved by a system and method in which page layout code in so-called “universal” document file formats (such as RTF) is customized to make the file format more universally compatible with word processor applications software across a spectrum of different manufacturers. Since different manufacturers treat document file types in different ways, it is not possible to generate a single “fix”. The invention therefore groups word processor applications into a “target list”. The invention then customizes the page layout code so that document files distributed in the customized file format will be as universally receivable as possible within the word processor applications on the target list. While the invention requires no specific criteria for being included on the target list, it may be advantageous to select word processor application for inclusion on the list according to predetermined criteria, such as their general commercial popularity, or their popularity within a specific industry segment or commercial/scientific community.
A preferred embodiment of the invention customizes RTF code using “framing” techniques according to a target list of general user popularity among commercially-available word processor software packages. The list includes all the major packages such as Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, Lotus WordPro, Microsoft Works, Aldus Pagemaker, and Microsoft WordPad. The list in the preferred embodiment also includes most of the recent versions of these word processor packages. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to any particular series of word processor packages or versions thereof. It will be further appreciated that the invention is also not limited to customizing RTF code using framing techniques. It will be realized that the invention is broader in concept in that it “tunes” the so-called “universal” code. More specifically, the invention customizes page layout code in document file formats originally intended to be compatible across a spectrum of target word processor applications, so that the customized code enhances the chances that the document file, when read by one of the target applications, reflects the page layout of the document substantially as originally created.
It is therefore a technical advantage of the present invention to enable those in the document publishing community to generate document files in formats such as RTF, originally understood to be compatible with a spectrum of differing word processor software applications, with greater confidence that the document files will indeed be substantially universally compatible, without fear of possible loss of page layout or other detrimental consequences.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to be able to select universal file types in which to save documents where customizations to said file types are tailored to a specific predetermined target list of word processor applications.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of th
Hewlett--Packard Company
Hong Stephen S.
Paula Cesar B.
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