Methods and systems for merging software-level objects with document-level objects in a document publishing environment

1. A computer-implemented method for managing documents in a computing system environment, comprising:

identifying a placeholder object included in a document having a document-level object, the document-level object being configured in a first format associated with a first set of constraints, and the placeholder object having metadata corresponding to a software-level object, the metadata comprising an identifier of a first repository associated with the software-level object, wherein:

a first process executed by a processor manages the document-level object; and

a second process executed by the processor maintains the software-level object;

generating, by the first process, a query message based on the placeholder object, the query message comprising the identifier;

receiving, by a first process, a response to the generated query message from the second process, the response comprising software-level object content associated with the software-level object, the software-level object content being in a second format associated with a second set of constraints;

transforming, by the first process, the second format of the software-level object content included in the response to the first format of the document-level object;

merging, by the first process, the transformed software-level object content in the document, based on the placeholder object in the document; and

generating, by the first process, an output document based on the transformed software-level object content and the document-level object, such that the software-level object content replaces the placeholder object in the output document.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the query message includes:

inserting, based on the placeholder object, configuration information in the query message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response comprises an XML stream of data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating step is performed by the first process, and the method further comprises:

providing, by the second process, the response comprising the software-level object content to the first process.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the software-level object content includes executable code that is modifiable by the second process.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the merging step is performed by the first process, and the method further includes:

modifying, by the second process, the software-level object content;

receiving, by the second process, a second query message that includes the metadata associated with the software-level object; and

providing, by the second process, the modified software-level object content to the first process in a second response message, such that the first process merges the modified software-level content and the document-level object into the document.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second query message includes configuration information that identifies the first repository, and wherein providing the modified software-level object content further includes:

collecting the modified software-level object content from the first repository; and

storing the unmodified software-level object content in a second repository.

8. A system for managing documents, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform:

a first process to:

retrieve a document including a document-level object and a placeholder object associated with metadata corresponding to a software-level object, the document-level object being configured in a first format associated with a first set of constraints, the metadata comprising an identifier of a first repository associated with the software-level object, wherein:

a first process executed by a processor maintains the document-level object; and

a second process executed by the processor maintains the software-level object;

provide a query message identifying the metadata, the query message comprising the identifier;

receive a response message to the generated query message including software-level object content having a second format associated with a second set of constraints;

transform the second format of software-level object content included in the response message to the first format of the document-level object; and

merge the software-level object content and document-level object into an output document; and

a second process to:

create the software level object;

locate the first repository based on at least the identifier;

identify the software-level object content based on at least the metadata; and

provide the response message to the first process in response to the query message,

wherein the first process generates the output document based on the transformed software-level object content and the document-level object, such that the software-level object content replaces the placeholder object in the output document.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second process maintains the software-level object in the first repository.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first process generates the query by inserting, based on the placeholder object, configuration information in the query message.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second process provides the response message by collecting the software-level object content from the first repository and inserting the software-level object content in the response message.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second process provides the response message as an XML stream of data.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the software-level object content includes executable code that is modifiable by the second process.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first process is configured to generate the output document based on the executable code included in the software-level object content and without the document-level object.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second process modifies the software-level object content, receives second query message that includes the metadata associated with the software-level object, and provides the modified software-level object content to the first process in a second response message.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first process merges the modified software-level content and the document-level object into the output document, such that the modified software-level object content replaces the placeholder object in the output document.