Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-09
2001-10-30
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2176)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311196
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to software for editing web pages and, specifically, to a method and apparatus that allows a user to specify borders for a web page.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, people have begun to automate the task of designing world wide web pages. Various software programs exist that allow people to define the appearance of a web page. Users on the world wide web can then view the defined page using browser software. In general, when viewed with a browser, the defined page will appear as it was defined. Conventional web page editors, however, do not allow the user complete freedom in where to place elements on the borders of all web pages on a web site. What is needed is an improved way to let the human designer plan his web site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the prior art by allowing the user to specify “master borders” that are normally a part of each web page on a web site. Web page editor software designed in accordance with the present invention generates the internal representation of a page (such as HTML) differently depending on how the user specifies the web page.
Specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows the user to define the size of top, left, right, and bottom margins for each master border. The master borders are used for each page on the web site, unless the user chooses not to use the default master border on a particular page. Each master border has display elements defined therein. Initially, all pages in a site have the same master border. The master border for each page may be changed by the user. Changes to a master border, such as the addition of display elements to a master border on one page, are reflected in all pages using the master border.
The user can also, for each page, specify whether one or more margins of the master borders is implemented as an HTML frame. Frames can have separate styles, etc.
The editor generates an HTML table representing each web page (or each frame of the web page). The user can chose to have HTML for the master borders generated as frames, overlapped in a user-defined manner.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is a method for allowing a user to specify master borders for a web site, comprising the steps, performed by a data processing system, of: defining a master border for a web site; displaying a web page of the web site, where the first web page is automatically displayed having the master border; and displaying a second web page of the web site, where the second web page is automatically displayed having the master border.
Advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims and equivalents.
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Arora Gagan
Arora Samir
Desarnauts Bernard
Frid-Nielsen Martin
Feild Joseph H.
McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen
RAE Technology Inc.
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