Document processor program having document-type dependent user interface
Systems and methods for document processing are discussed herein. In certain embodiments, novel document processor programs may allow for a knowledge worker to concentrate on the content of a document, rather than its formatting. Such programs may separately store layout and/or typesetting information from content, allowing for their combination after the content is created. Novel data structures and techniques are provided to permit the use of advanced version control, collaboration techniques and team/or workflows. User interfaces are also disclosed which dynamically adapt to a document type and/or a portion of a document being edited. Such features may significantly increase knowledge worker drafting efficiency.
1. A computer-implemented method of creating a document comprising:
creating, by a computer, a primary data object (“PDO”),
wherein the PDO is associated with a document schema comprising information relating to:
a plurality of allowable node data object types, and
a plurality of allowable node data object relationships;
providing, by the computer, a document drafting interface that permits creation of only node data objects comprising one of the plurality of allowable node data object types and one of the plurality of allowable node data object relationships;
displaying, by the computer, via the document drafting interface, a first group of permitted node data object types selected from the plurality of allowable node data object types, such that a user of the document drafting interface may select a first node data object type from only the first group of permitted node data object types;
upon receiving a selection of the first node data object type, creating, by the computer, a first node data object comprising the first node data object type;
associating, by the computer, the first node data object with the PDO;
determining, by the computer, a second group of permitted node data object types selected from the plurality of allowable node data object types,
wherein said determining is based on the first node data object type and the plurality of allowable node data object relationships;
displaying, by the computer, via the document drafting interface, the second group of permitted node data object types such that the user may select a second node data object type from only the second group of permitted node data object types;
upon receiving a selection of the second node data object type, creating, by the computer, a second node data object comprising the second node data object type;
wherein a first relationship exists between the first node data object and the second node data object, the first relationship corresponding to one of the plurality of allowable node data object relationships;
populating, by the computer, a content field of the second node data object with content data,
wherein said content data is stored within one or more databases, and
wherein the one or more databases are in informatic communication with one or more third party systems;
associating, by the computer, the second node data object with the PDO; and
creating, by the computer, a storable document, based on the PDO, the first node data object, the second node data object and a document template.
2. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 further comprising:
associating, by the computer, a metadata data object with the PDO, and
wherein said creating a storable document is further based on the metadata data object.
3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 2 , further comprising receiving the metadata data object from the user.
4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 3 , wherein the metadata data object comprises information relating to the user.
5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the PDO is created upon receiving a document creation request, the request comprising a document type corresponding to the document schema.
6. A computer-implemented method according to claim 5 , wherein the request is received from the user via a document management interface or the document drafting interface.
7. A computer-implemented method according to claim 6 , wherein:
the request is received from the user via the document management interface,
the request further comprises a metadata data object,
the metadata data object comprises information relating to a position of the user within the document management interface, and
said creating a storable document is further based on the metadata data object.
8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the document drafting interface prevents the user from creating a third node data object having a third node data object type that is not one of the plurality of allowable node data object types.
9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the document drafting interface prevents the user from creating a third node data object having a second relationship to the second node data object that is not one of the plurality of allowable node data object relationships.
10. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the first relationship between the first node data object and the second node data object is a parent-child relationship.
11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the first node data object type is a heading, and
the second node data object type is a sub-heading, paragraph or list.
12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the first node data object type is a list, and
the second node data object type is a list item.
13. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the first relationship between the first node data object and the second node data object is a sibling-sibling relationship.
14. A computer-implemented method according to claim 13 , wherein the first node data object type and the second node data object type are different.
15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 13 , wherein the first node data object type and the second node data object type are the same.
16. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
associating, by the computer, a madlib data object with the second node data object, and
wherein said creating a storable document is further based on the madlib data object.
17. A computer-implemented method according to claim 16 , wherein the madlib data object is also associated with a third node data object that is not associated with the PDO.
18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the document template comprises one or more of: background content, program logic and output logic.
19. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the storable document is an intermediate document.
20. A computer-implemented method according to claim 19 , further comprising creating a storable rendered document based on the intermediate document.