Translation file
View Patent ↗A data processing application uses a translation file to render a visual surface based on underlying structured data. The data processing application provides mapping between nodes associated with the visual surface and nodes associated with the structured data. The mapping is generated in two phases. In a first phase, the data processing application adds mapping functions to the translation file. In the second phase, the data processing application renders the visual surface on the basis of a specific instance of the structured data, and, in the process, executes the mapping functions within the translation file to provide specific pointer information that is embedded amongst the nodes associated with the visual surface. The pointer information points back to specific locations in the structured data, thus providing mapping between the visual surface and the structured data. The structured data can be formed using Extensible Markup Language (XML). The visual surface can be formed using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The translation file can be formed using Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT).
1. A system comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor operatively connected with the memory, the processor executing operations that comprise:
receiving an indication that an editing control has been created that is used to control data entry into an electronic document,
creating an editing component based on the received indication, wherein the editing component comprises first data that identifies the editing component and second data that specifies how a structured data element is editable in response to manipulation of the editing control in the electronic document, and
displaying the first data and the second data of the created editing component in a markup language document that corresponds with the electronic document.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the created editing control is selected from the group consisting of a table editing control, a plain list editing control, a bulleted list editing control, a numbered list editing control, a rich text box editing control, and a text box editing control.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the editing control is a table editing control, and wherein the editing component is an xCollection editing component.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the created editing component edits an XML node associated with an XML document.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the XML node is the parent node of the structured data element.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structured data element is displayed in the markup language document.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the electronic document is an HTML document.
8. A computer-implemented method for mapping structured data to a visual presentation, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving an indication that an editing control has been created that is used to control data entry into an electronic document;
creating an editing component based on the received indication, wherein the editing component comprises first data that identifies the editing component and second data that specifies how a structured data element is editable in response to manipulation of the editing control in the electronic document; and
in response to received input for manipulation of the editing control, using a markup language document to determine how the editing control is editable in the electronic document, wherein the second data is presented in the markup language document.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the created editing control is selected from the group consisting of a table editing control, a plain list editing control, a bulleted list editing control, a numbered list editing control, a rich text box editing control, and a text box editing control.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the editing control is a table editing control, and wherein the editing component is an xCollection editing component.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the created editing component edits a node associated with an XML document.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the node is part of the structured data element.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the structured data element is displayed in the electronic document.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the electronic document is an HTML document.
15. A computer storage device housing instructions that, when executed, are capable of performing a method comprising:
receiving an indication that an editing control has been created that is used to control data entry into an electronic document;
creating an editing component based on the received indication, wherein the editing component comprises first data that identifies the editing component and second data that specifies how a structured data element is editable in response to manipulation of the editing control in the electronic document; and
displaying the first data and the second data of the created editing component in a markup language document that corresponds with the electronic document.
16. The computer storage device of claim 15 , wherein the created editing control is selected from the group consisting of a table editing control, a plain list editing control, a bulleted list editing control, a numbered list editing control, a rich text box editing control, and a text box editing control.
17. The computer storage device of claim 16 , wherein the editing control is a table editing control, and wherein the editing component is an xCollection editing component.
18. The computer implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the created editing component edits a node associated with an XML document.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the node is part of the structured data element.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the structured data element is displayed in an HTML document.