Method of associating properties or fields of graphical objects with each other for efficient composition of documents

Abstract

An automated method is provided for preparing a document for editing. The document includes a first graphical object and at least one variable field or property in a second graphical object that is associated with a property of the first graphical object. The first graphical object has a plurality of properties. A user interface display screen is provided that allows a user to design a document that includes a plurality of graphical objects. Then, a document is created on the user interface display screen. A first graphical object and a second graphical object are added to the document. At least one variable field or property in the second graphical object is identified. The identified field or property in the second graphical object is associated with a property of the first graphical object. In this manner, a document is prepared for editing.

1 . An automated method of preparing a document for editing, the document including a first graphical object and at least one variable field or property in a second graphical object that is associated with a property of the first graphical object, the first graphical object having a plurality of properties; the method comprising:
 (a) providing a user interface display screen that allows a user to design a document that includes a plurality of graphical objects;   (b) creating a document on the user interface display screen;   (c) adding a first graphical object and a second graphical object to the document;   (d) identifying at least one variable field or property in the second graphical object; and   (e) associating the identified field or property in the second graphical object with a property of the first graphical object, wherein a document is prepared for editing by performing steps (a)-(e).   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the editing is versioning. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (f) saving the document for subsequent use as a document or a document template.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (f) selecting a digital asset via a user interface display screen;   (g) linking the digital asset to a first graphical object;   (h) populating the first graphical object with the digital asset;   (i) populating properties of the first graphical object with editable related data of the digital asset; and   (j) automatically setting the at least one variable field or property in the second graphical object using the value of the associated property from the first graphical object.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first graphical object is an image box or a text box. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second graphical object is an image box or a text box. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first graphical object and the second graphical object are the same graphical object. 
   
   
       8 . An automated method of editing a document, the document including a first graphical object and at least one variable field or property in a second graphical object that is associated with a property of the first graphical object, the first graphical object having a plurality of properties, the document being created using a library of digital assets, each of the digital assets including editable related data; the method comprising:
 (a) providing the document in a document composition environment;   (b) selecting a digital asset from the library via a user interface display screen;   (c) linking the digital asset to a first graphical object;   (d) populating the first graphical object with the digital asset;   (e) populating properties of the first graphical object with editable related data of the digital asset; and   (f) automatically setting the at least one variable field or property in the second graphical object using a value of the associated property from the first graphical object, wherein the document is edited as a result of performing steps (a)-(f).   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (a) is performed by selecting a document template from a set of previously defined document templates. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (a) is performed by selecting a document from a set of previously defined documents. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first graphical object is an image box or a text box. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the second graphical object is an image box or a text box. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first graphical object and the second graphical object are the same graphical object. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the graphical object association is a direct object to object association. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the graphical object association is a direct object to object association.