Providing a server-side scripting language and programming tool

Abstract

Server side scripting language and programming tool that includes an inventive script that is added to a normal text-based document can benefit from a dynamic document architecture. The document is processed by an interpreter to access database or other information. When a browser requests a document enhanced by the present invention, the interpreter processes the document by scanning for the inventive script commands. When a script command is encountered, the interpreter executes the script command, returns the result to the web page, and strips the executable script command from the resulting “pure-format” document. Once all executable script commands have been executed and stripped, the resulting document is in a “pure-format” form, which is sent by the server to the client computer, whose browser initiated the document request. Due to the text-based format of the present invention, the novel script commands may be added, deleted or edited from a typical HTML or Web page editor or from a word processor or text editor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a system that includes a computer device, a method for facilitating the creation of a web page using a script command and a database, the method comprising the steps for: 
 creating a text-based document;    adding a server-side script command to the text-based document to create a mixed-format scripted document, wherein the server-side script command provides increased functionality to the web page;    using an interpreter to process the scripting command;    selectively accessing a database when the text-based document is requested by a browser; and    providing the web page on a display device.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the interpreter is a Java servlet.  
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the text-based document is a one of: 
 (i) an HTML document;    (ii) a spreadsheet; and    (iii) a word-processing document.    
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step for using an interpreter to process the scripting command comprises the step for using the interpreter to scan the text-based document for the server-side script command.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the step for using an interpreter to process the scripting command further comprises the step for using the interpreter to execute the server-side script command upon encountering the server-side script command.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the step for using an interpreter to execute the server-side script command initiates the step for selectively accessing a database.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the step for selectively accessing a database comprises the steps for: 
 (i) processing information from the database;    (ii) returning a result to the browser; and    (iii) stripping the script command from a resulting document.    
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the resulting document is an HTML document without an extraneous tag.  
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the browser and the display device are at a client computer.  
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step for adding a server-side script command is performed using one of: 
 (i) an HTML editor;    (ii) a word processor; and    (iii) a text editor.    
     
     
         11 . In a networked system that includes a client and a server, a method for facilitating creation of a web page for display at the client, the method comprising the steps for: 
 initiating a request from a client computer device to a web server for information corresponding to a web page, wherein the web page is represented by a URL address that is located on the web server;    using the web server to locate a document associated with the URL address;    using the web server to check the file extension of the document to determine whether a script command is located in the document;    if the script command is located in the document, sending the document to an interpreter to execute the script command;    using the interpreter to selectively accessing a database; and    sending results to the client computer device for display of the web page on a display device.    
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step for initiating a request is performed by a web browser of the client computer device.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the document is a text-based document that includes a server-side script command to create a mixed-format scripted document that provides increased functionality to the web page.  
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the text-based document is a one of: 
 (i) an HTML document;    (ii) a spreadsheet; and    (iii) a word-processing document.    
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step for sending the document to an interpreter to execute the script command comprises the step for loading and parsing the script command.  
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the interpreter is a Java servlet.  
     
     
         17 . A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for facilitating the creation of a web page using a script command and a database, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for: 
 creating a text-based document;  
 adding a server-side script command to the text-based document to create a mixed-format scripted document, wherein the server-side script command provides increased functionality to the web page;  
 using an interpreter to process the scripting command;  
 selectively accessing information from a database; and  
 providing the web page on a display device.  
   
     
     
         18 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the step for using an interpreter to process the scripting command comprises the steps for 
 using the interpreter to scan the text-based document for the server-side script command; and    using the interpreter to execute the server-side script command upon encountering the server-side script command.    
     
     
         19 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the step for using an interpreter to execute the server-side script command initiates the step for selectively accessing a database.  
     
     
         20 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the step for selectively accessing a database comprises the steps for: 
 processing information from the database;    returning a result to the browser; and    stripping the script command from a resulting document.