Data-driven page layout
Data driven page layout is disclosed. In some embodiments, an instance of a display page is created based at least in part on a display page structure derived from a previously-created display page at least in part by extracting from the previously-created display page one or more structural objects of the previously-created display page and one or more structural relationships between them, but not corresponding content of the previously-created display page, and an editing interface is provided that is configured to enable the instance of the display page to be edited at least in part by manipulating, within a graphical representation of a current structure of the display page, a graphical representation of a structural object comprising the display page.
1 . A method for creating a display page, comprising:
creating an instance of a display page led at least in part on a display page structure derived from a previously-created display page at least in part by extracting from the previously-created display page one or more structural objects of the previously-created display page and one or more structural relationships between them, but not corresponding content of the previously-created display page; and
providing an editing interface configured to enable the instance of the display page to be edited at least in part by manipulating, within a graphical representation of a current structure of the display page, a graphical representation of a structural object comprising the display page.
2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selection of the display page structure.
3 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein manipulating includes dragging or otherwise moving the graphical representation of the structural object comprising the display page to a desired new location within the graphical representation of the current structure of the display page; deleting the structural object from the graphical representation of the current structure of the display page; adding the structural object to the graphical representation of the current structure of the display page; linking a stored content item with the structural object comprising the display page; and editing an attribute of the structural object comprising the display page.
4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising receiving via the editing interface an indication of a desired change to the instance of the display page.
5 . A method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising implementing the desired change to the instance of the display page.
6 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a structural object points to one or more content items.
7 . A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising receiving one or more specifications of content items associated with the instance of the display page structure.
8 . A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising rendering the instance of the display page.
9 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein rendering the instance of the display page comprises rendering the instance of the display page in real time.
10 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein rendering the instance of the display page comprises rendering the instance of the display page using a WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) editor.
11 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a structural object comprises one or more of the following: an image, text box, button, navigation bar, table, matrix, divider, and view object.
12 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a structural object includes one or more attributes.
13 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a structural object points to one or more content items and wherein a content item includes one or more of the following: text, graphics, and a link.
14 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the display page structure comprises a template.
15 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the display page structure comprises a hierarchical object graph of structural objects.
16 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the display page structure is stored in a database.
17 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the display page structure is coded in XML.
18 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a display page comprises a web page.
19 . A method for creating a reusable display page structure, comprising:
determining a structure of a first display page; and
saving the structure in a database to make the structure available for reuse to create a second display page.
20 . A method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the structure comprises a template.
21 . A method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the structure comprises a hierarchical object graph of structural objects
22 . A system for creating a display page, comprising:
a processor configured to:
create an instance of a display page based at least in part on a display page structure derived from a previously-created display page at least in part by extracting from the previously-created display page one or more structural objects of the previously-created display page and one or more structural relationships between them, but not corresponding content of the previously-created display page; and
enable the instance of the display page to be edited at least in part by manipulating, within a graphical representation of a current structure of the display page, a graphical representation of a structural object comprising the display page; and
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.
23 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein manipulating includes dragging or otherwise moving the graphical representation of the structural object comprising the display page to a desired new location within the graphical representation of the current structure of the display page; deleting the structural object from the graphical representation of the current structure of the display page; adding the structural object to the graphical representation of the current structure of the display page; linking a stored content item with the structural object comprising the display page; and editing an attribute of the structural object comprising the display page.
24 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an indication of a desired change to the instance of the display page and implement the desired change to the instance of the display page.
25 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein a structural object points to one or more content items.
26 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to render the instance of the display page.
27 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the display page structure comprises a template.
28 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the display page structure comprises a hierarchical object graph of structural objects.
29 . A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the display page structure is coded in XML.
30 . A computer program product for creating a display page, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
creating an instance of a display page based at least in part on a display page structure derived from a previously-created display page at least in part by extracting from the previously-created display page one or more structural objects of the previously-created display page and one or more structural relationships between them, but not corresponding content of the previously-created display page; and
providing an editing interface configured to enable the instance of the display page to be edited at least in part by manipulating, within a graphical representation of a current structure of the display page, a graphical representation of a structural object comprising the display page.