Method and apparatus for providing a graphical user interface for creating and editing a mapping of a first structural description to a second structural description

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for creating and editing a mapping of structured information to different structured information, which allows a user to interactively define the mapping. The present invention operates as a user tool by accepting interactive input from a user of a source input, processing the input to display the source input in a format for accepting user commands to create or edit a transformation map of source components to target components. Interactive user input is accepted for selection of an input file to be transformed and selection of a transformation map for the requested transformation Interactive user input is accepted for processing for selection of individual components of the first structured information format for mapping, and for selection of options for the target components. Exemplary options for the target components are a null value, the source component itself, a single selected target, component, or plural selected target components. Interactive user input is accepted for processing to assign attribute values to components of the second structured information format. Exemplary options for the sources of attribute values are attribute values obtained from the source components, system attribute values, no value, attribute values input interactively by the user through the user interface, and content of element. Interactive user input is then accepted and processed to initiate processing of a transformation of the source input file in the first structured information format to a target output file in the second structured information format.

1 . A method of transforming information, comprising: 
 inputting, into an editor, a first structural description of a first structured format;    inputting, into the editor, a second structural description of a second structured format;    inputting, into the editor by a user, preferences for transforming an element of the first structural description to at least one element of the second structural description;    storing translation information output from the editor, the translation information comprising at least the preferences input by the user; and    transforming first information provided in the first structured format into second information in the second structured format based on the translation information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first structured format has a Document Type Definition (DTD) directed hierarchy.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first structured format is derived from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said first structured format is eXstensible Markup Language (XML).  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second structured format is a Document Type Definition (DTD) directed hierarchy.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 outputting, from the editor to a graphical user interface, a representation of a translation between the first structured format and the second structured format.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second structured format is derived from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second structured format is eXstensible Markup Language (XML).  
     
     
         9 . A system for transforming information, comprising: 
 means for inputting, into an editor, a first structural description of a first structured format;    means for inputting, into the editor, a second structural description of a second structured format;    means for inputting, into the editor by a user, preferences for transforming an element of the first structural description to at least one element of the second structural description;    means for storing translation information output from the editor, the translation information comprising at least the preferences input by the user; and    means for transforming first information provided in the first structured format into second information in the second structured format based on the translation information.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first structured format has a Document Type Definition (DTD) directed hierarchy.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first structured format is derived from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said first structured format is eXstensible Markup Language (XML).  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second structured format is a Document Type Definition (DTD) directed hierarchy.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for outputting, from the editor to a graphical user interface, a representation of a translation between the first structured format and the second structured format.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second structured format is derived from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second structured format is eXstensible Markup Language (XML).  
     
     
         17 . A computer program product having a computer usable medium for transforming information, comprising: 
 instructions for inputting, into an editor, a first structural description of a first structured format;    instructions for inputting, into the editor, a second structural description of a second structured format;    instructions for inputting, into the editor by a user, preferences for transforming an element of the first structural description to at least one element of the second structural description;    instructions for storing translation information output from the editor, the translation information comprising at least the preferences input by the user; and    instructions for transforming first information provided in the first structured format into second information in the second structured format based on the translation information.    
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the first structured format has a Document Type Definition (DTD) directed hierarchy.  
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein said first structured format is derived from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).  
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein said first structured format is eXstensible Markup Language (XML).  
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the second structured format is a Document Type Definition (DTD) directed hierarchy.  
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 instructions for outputting, from the editor to a graphical user interface, a representation of a translation between the first structured format and the second structured format.    
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the second structured format is derived from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).  
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the second structured format is eXstensible Markup Language (XML).