Calculation of properties of objects/shapes across versions of applications

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a self-describing file is generated and utilized to provide applications with the ability to properly preserve unknown file content. A self-describing file may contain, or be associated with, an extension section that provides information that an application can use to properly calculate unknown file content. The extension section may include functions of formulas that the application can use to calculate values for data that the application would not otherwise support. This allows for the content of the self-describing file to be modified by an application that does not support all of the capabilities of the file while maintaining the integrity of the file and user experience when the file is subsequently accessed by a full featured application.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for recalculating content stored in a self-describing file, the method comprising:
 opening, by a first application, the self-describing file;   determining, by the first application, that a portion of the content of the self-describing file has been miscalculated by a second application;   recalculating, by the first application, the portion of the content of the self-describing file determined to be miscalculated; and   updating the recalculated portion of the file.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the miscalculated portion of the self-describing file corresponds to a second property of an object that is dependent upon a first property of the object. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first property of the object was improperly calculated by the second application. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining, by the first application, that a portion of the content of the self-describing file has been miscalculated by a second application comprises analyzing an indicator for the self-describing file, the indicator containing information that the self-describing file's contents have not been correctly updated. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the indicator is a flag or an error message associated with the self-describing file. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the indicator comprises metadata associated within the self-describing file. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the recalculation is based on a formula or a function associated with an extension file. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the extension file is updated after recalculation of the file has occurred. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the recalculation is based on a formula or a function in the extension file. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the extension file contains one or more child elements that define a section of the self-describing file. 
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable storage device comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for recalculating content stored in a self-describing file, the method comprising:
 opening, by a first application, the self-describing file;   determining, by the first application, that a portion of the content of the self-describing file has been miscalculated by a second application;   recalculating, by the first application, the portion of the content of the self-describing file determined to be miscalculated; and   updating the recalculated portion of the file.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 31 , wherein the miscalculated portion of the self-describing file corresponds to a second property of an object that is dependent upon a first property of the object. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 32 , wherein the first property of the object was improperly calculated by the second application. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 31 , wherein determining, by the first application, that a portion of the content of the self-describing file has been miscalculated by a second application comprises analyzing an indicator for the self-describing file, the indicator containing information that the self-describing file's contents have not been correctly updated. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the indicator is a flag or an error message associated with the self-describing file. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 34  wherein the indicator comprises metadata associated within the self-describing file. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the recalculation is based on a formula or a function associated with an extension file. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 37 , wherein the extension file is updated after recalculation of the file has occurred. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 34 , wherein the recalculation is based on a formula or a function in the extension file. 
     
     
         40 . A method for interpreting content of a self-describing file not supported by a second application, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first application, a request to access information about an extension for a self-describing file, the self-describing file created by the first application;   analyzing the request to determine an appropriate extension to send to the first application; and   sending the extension to the first application, the extension containing a function describing a relationship between a first portion of data and a second portion of data of the self-describing file.