Scripted dynamic document generation using dynamic document template scripts
A dynamic document template having static data, dynamic data, and/or procedural statements may be called by an application on a server. The dynamic document template is separate from the application program and is processed to form an interim script, which is then executed by a host computer system. The script generates document records in HTML or XML format that are output to a document. The data and procedural statements in the dynamic document template may be distinguished through interpreting mark-up language surrounding the data and procedural statements. The dynamic document templates execute in a separate namespace from the application and preserve the state of data in the application. A given application may call more than one dynamic document template to generate different portions of the output document. Additionally, the dynamic document templates may be replaced with new templates without affecting the application.
1. A computer implemented method, comprising:
executing a dynamic document template having access only to variables in its local namespace and variables passed by an application through arguments to the dynamic document template, wherein the dynamic document template is physically separate from the application, in which executing dynamic document template comprises calling the separate dynamic document template scripts which comprise the dynamic document template from more than one application program, in which calling the dynamic document template comprises generating an interim script, and in which the method further comprises the step of deleting the interim script after generating the document;
generating a script from the dynamic document template; and
creating a document based, in part, on the script by executing procedural statements of the script to generate document records,
wherein the document comprises document records without the procedural statements.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing arguments to the dynamic document template before generating the script from the dynamic document template.
3. The method of claim 1 , in which the dynamic document template is called from a Business Information Server (BIS) script.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising appending the document to a Dataset object.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising compiling the interim script alter generating the script.
6. The method of claim 1 , in which executing the dynamic document template comprises distinguishing between static data, dynamic data, and procedural statements.
7. The method of claim 6 , in which creating the document comprises customizing the document based, in part, on the procedural statements and arguments passed from a calling application.
8. The method of claim 6 , in which distinguishing comprises identifying mark-up syntax distinguishing between the static data, dynamic data, and procedural statements.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising executing a second dynamic document template.
10. A computer program product, comprising:
a non-transitoty computer readable medium comprising:
code to execute a dynamic document template having access only to variables in its local namespace and variables passed by an application through arguments to the dynamic document template, wherein the dynamic document template is physically separate from the application, in which the code to execute the dynamic document template comprises code to call separate dynamic document template scripts which comprise the dynamic document template from more than one application program, in which the code to call the dynamic document template comprises code to generate an interim script, and further comprises code to delete the interim script after the document is generated;
code to generate a script from the dynamic document template; and
code to create a document based, in part, on the script by executing procedural statements of the script to generate document records, wherein the document comprises document records without the procedural statements.
11. The computer program product of claim 10 , in which the medium further comprises code to append the document to a dataset object.
12. The computer program product of claim 10 , in which the medium further comprises code to compile the script after generating the script.
13. The computer program product of claim 10 , in which the medium further comprises code to distinguish between static data, dynamic data, and procedural statements in the dynamic document template.
14. The computer program product of claim 13 , in which the medium further comprises code to interpret mark-up syntax in the dynamic document template to distinguish between static data, dynamic data, and procedural statements in the dynamic document template.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, in which the at least one processor is configured:
to execute a dynamic document template having access only to variables in its local namespace and variables passed by an application through arguments to the dynamic document template, wherein the dynamic document template is physically separate from the application, in which the step to execute the dynamic document template comprises the step to call separate dynamic document template scripts which comprise the dynamic document template from more than one application program, in which the step to call the dynamic document template comprises the step to generate an interim script, and in which the method further comprises code to delete the interim script after the document is generated;
to generate a script from the dynamic document template; and
to create a document based, in part, on the script by executing procedural statements of the script to generate document records, wherein the document comprises document records without the procedural statements.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , in which the at least one processor is further configured to append the document to a Dataset object.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , in which the at least one processor is further configured to compile the script after generating the script.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , in which the at least one processor is further configured to interpret mark-up syntax in the dynamic document template to distinguish between static data, dynamic data, and procedural statements in the dynamic document template.