Method for adding metadata to data

Abstract

A method for adding labels to data, for example XML compliant or XBRL compliant labels, includes a) identifying data in an electronically represented file, b) selecting labels that correspond to text strings in the identified data, based on a list associating labels with text strings, and c) adding the selected labels into the electronically represented file to label the text strings and elements in the identified data associated with the text strings. The labels include information about the data and are defined in one or more taxonomies. When the list does not associate a label with the text string, a user can be prompted to select a label corresponding to a text string in the identified data. The association indicated by the user's selection, can then be added to the list associating labels with text strings.

1 - 54 . (canceled)  
     
     
         55 . A method for adding labels to data, the labels including information about the data and being defined in at least one taxonomy, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a transformation program receiving an electronically represented file from a target program, wherein the transformation program appears to the target program as a printer driver;    transformation program identifying data in an electronically represented file; and    the transformation program selecting labels that correspond to metadata in the identified data, based on a list associating labels with metadata.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , comprising the step of the transformation program adding the selected labels into the electronically represented file to label at least one of a) the elements in the identified data associated with the metadata, and b) the metadata.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , comprising the step of the transformation program creating a new file by combining the selected labels with at least the identified data from the electronically represented file to label at least one of a) the elements in the identified data associated with the metadata, and b) the metadata.  
     
     
         58 . A method for forming an import file template for importing at least a portion of a data set into a target application, the data set including labels indicating information about data in the data set, the labels being defined in at least one taxonomy, the method comprising the steps of: 
 the target application exporting data in an export file;    a user associating at least one of the entries in the export file with at least one of the labels; and    forming the import file template based on a format of the export file and the associated at least one entry and at least one label; and    entering data from the date set into the import file template based on labels associated with both the data from the data set being entered and entries in the import file template.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  58 , comprising the step of storing the associations made by the user.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  59 , wherein the labels are consistent with XML (extensible Markup Language).  
     
     
         61 . The method of  60 , wherein the labels conform to an XBRL (extensible Business Reporting Language) specification.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the target program is not XBRL compliant.  
     
     
         63 . A method for importing at least a portion of a data set into a target application, the data set including labels indicating information about data in the data set, the labels being defined in at least one taxonomy, the method comprising the steps of: 
 the target program exporting data in an export file;    a user associating entries in the export file with ones of the labels; and    forming an import file by replacing data in the export file at entries associated with ones of the labels, with data from the data set, the replacement data having the same labels as the entries.    
     
     
         64 . A method for inputting at least a portion of a set of data into a target application, the data set including labels indicating information about data in the data set, the labels being defined in at least one taxonomy, the method comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring entry of data associated with the labels into the target application, and storing key strokes associated with the entry of data for each different label;    receiving the data set; and    entering data from the data set into the target application, by performing the stored key strokes corresponding to the labels associated with the data in the data set.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  64 , wherein the program observing the user is a memory resident program.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  64 , comprising the step of prompting the user to enter a data item into the target application, when no key strokes have been stored for a label associated with the data item.  
     
     
         67 . A method for inputting at least a portion of a data set into a target database, the data set including labels indicating information about data in the data set, the labels being defined in at least one taxonomy, the method comprising the steps of: 
 inputting test data into the target database;    searching the database for patterns corresponding to the test data;    modeling a structure of the database based on the search results; and    directly accessing the database using the modeled structure to perform at least one of inserting data into, or retrieving data from, the database.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the step of searching is performed by a pattern recognition application.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , comprising the step of associating locations within the database structure with labels, the labels corresponding to elements of the test data found at the locations during the step of searching.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , comprising the step of inserting an element of the data set into a location within the database, based on a label associated with both the location and the element.