Method and apparatus for restricting the application of formatting to the contents of an electronic document

1. A method for restricting the application of formatting to the contents of an electronic document, the method comprising:

receiving a request to restrict the application of formatting to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to the request, providing a user interface for selecting one or more available styles;

receiving through the user interface, the selection of one or more styles that may be applied to the contents of the electronic document;

determining whether styles that may not be applied to the contents of the electronic document should be removed from the electronic document;

in response to determining that styles that may not be applied should be removed, replacing the styles contained in the electronic document that may not be applied with a style that may be applied;

receiving a request to apply formatting to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to the request, determining whether the request comprises a request to apply formatting directly to the contents of the electronic document or a request to apply a style to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to determining that the request comprises a request to apply formatting directly to the contents of the electronic document, denying the request to apply formatting;

in response to determining that the request comprises a request to apply a style to the electronic document, determining whether the style comprises one or the one or more styles that may be applied to the contents of the electronic document; and

applying the style if the style comprises one of the styles that may be applied to the document or denying the request to apply the style if the style does not comprise one of the styles that may be applied to the document.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising denying any request to create a new style or to modify a style.

3. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for restricting the application of formatting to the contents of an electronic document, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a request to restrict the application of formatting to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to the request, providing a user interface for selecting one or more available styles;

receiving through the user interface, the selection of one or more styles that may be applied to the contents of the electronic document;

determining whether styles that may not be applied to the contents of the electronic document should be removed from the electronic document;

in response to determining that styles that may not be applied should be removed, replacing the styles contained in the electronic document that may not be applied with a style that may be applied;

receiving a request to apply formatting to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to the request, determining whether the request comprises a request to apply formatting directly to the contents of the electronic document or a request to apply a style to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to determining that the request comprises a request to apply formatting directly to the contents of the electronic document, denying the request to apply formatting;

in response to determining that the request comprises a request to apply a style to the electronic document, determining whether the style comprises one or the one or more styles that may be applied to the contents of the electronic document; and

applying the style if the style comprises one of the styles that may be applied to the document or denying the request to apply the style if the style does not comprise one of the styles that may be applied to the document.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 3 , further comprising denying any request to create a new style or to modify a style.

5. A system for restricting the application of formatting to the contents of an electronic document, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:

receiving a request to restrict the application of formatting to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to the request, providing a user interface for selecting one or more available styles;

receiving through the user interface, the selection of one or more styles that may be applied to the contents of the electronic document;

determining whether styles that may not be applied to the contents of the electronic document should be removed from the electronic document;

in response to determining that styles that may not be applied should be removed, replacing the styles contained in the electronic document that may not be applied with a style that may be applied;

receiving a request to apply formatting to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to the request, determining whether the request comprises a request to apply formatting directly to the contents of the electronic document or a request to apply a style to the contents of the electronic document;

in response to determining that the request comprises a request to apply formatting directly to the contents of the electronic document, denying the request to apply formatting;

in response to determining that the request comprises a request to apply a style to the electronic document, determining whether the style comprises one or the one or more styles that may be applied to the contents of the electronic document; and

applying the style if the style comprises one of the styles that may be applied to the document or denying the request to apply the style if the style does not comprise one of the styles that may be applied to the document.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to deny any request to create a new style or to modify a style.