Systems and Methods for Editing XML Documents

Abstract

A system and method capable of identifying that a node of an extensible markup language (XML) document is editable using an element of an electronic-form template is described. In at least some embodiments, the system and method are capable of determining operations that are permitted for the identified node using another element of the electronic-form template.

1 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that perform the following when executed by one or more computers:
 identifying a node of an extensible markup language (XML) document as editable using an editability element of an electronic-form template; and   determining operations permitted for the identified node using an operation element of the electronic-form template.   
   
   
       2 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further perform a method comprising:
 enabling selection of the operations through an electronic form;   receiving selection of one of the operations; and   performing the selected operation on at least one node of the XML document.   
   
   
       3 . The media of  claim 2 , wherein the one node of XML document comprises the identified node. 
   
   
       4 . The media of  claim 2 , wherein the one node of XML document comprises other nodes subordinate or sibling to the identified node. 
   
   
       5 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the act of determining the operations permitted comprises determining a context in which the operations are permitted. 
   
   
       6 . The media of  claim 5 , wherein the act of determining the context in which the operations are permitted comprises locating a character string of “container” in the editability element. 
   
   
       7 . The media of  claim 5 , wherein the act of determining the context in which the operations are permitted comprises determining the context by locating a value associated with a character string of “container” in the editability element. 
   
   
       8 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the act of identifying comprises finding an XPath expression in the editability element and comparing the XPath expression to nodes of the XML document. 
   
   
       9 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the act of identifying comprises finding a character string of “xmlToEdit” and an XPath expression associated with the character string. 
   
   
       10 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the act of determining the operations comprises finding a character string of “editWith” and syntax associated with the character string that is usable to determine the operations. 
   
   
       11 . The media of  claim 10 , wherein the syntax comprises a second character string of “component”. 
   
   
       12 . The media of  claim 10 , wherein the syntax comprises a second character string of “component”, and a value of the second character string comprises a third character string of “xCollection”, the third character string being usable to determine that the operations comprise insertion or deletion of a node corresponding to or sibling to the identified node. 
   
   
       13 . The media of  claim 10 , wherein the syntax comprises a second character string of “component” and a value of the second character string comprises a third character string of “xOptional”, the third character string being usable to determine that the operations comprise insertion or deletion of the identified node. 
   
   
       14 . The media of  claim 10 , wherein the syntax comprises a second character string of “component” and a value of the second character string comprises a third character string of “xTextList”, the third character string being usable to determine that the operations comprise modification, insertion or deletion of a node corresponding to or sibling to the identified node. 
   
   
       15 . The media of  claim 10 , wherein the syntax comprises a second character string of “component”, and a value of the second character string comprises a third character string of “xField”, the third character string being usable to determine that the operations comprise textual editing of data of the identified node. 
   
   
       16 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the syntax further comprises a fourth character string of “rich”, the fourth character string being usable to determine that the operations comprise rich-text textual editing of data of the identified node. 
   
   
       17 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the syntax further comprises a fourth character string of “plain”, the fourth character string being usable to determine that the operations comprise plain-text textual editing of data of the identified node. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for identifying an editable node of an extensible markup language (XML) document by analyzing an editability element of an electronic-form template; and   means for determining an operation permitted for the editable node by analyzing an operation element of the electronic-form template.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 means for enabling selection of the operation;   means for receiving selection of the operation; and   means for performing the operation on the editable node or other nodes subordinate or sibling to the editable node.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the means for identifying the editable node comprises means for finding a character string of “xmlToEdit” and an XPath expression associated with the character string. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the means for determining the operation permitted comprises means for determining a context in which the operation is permitted by locating a value associated with a character string of “container” in the editability element. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the means for determining the operation comprises means for finding a character string of “editWith” and a syntax associated with the character string that is associated with the operation.