Importable template

Abstract

An importable electronic template and methods of creating and utilizing the importable template. The template includes an alphanumeric field created by a template creation entity and a response field created by the template creation entity. Data is electronically entered into the response field by a responding entity. The importable electronic template is incorporated into a general purpose electronic template.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an interface configured to:
 receive a request for a general purpose electronic template including a first set of elements, wherein the general purpose electronic template includes a reference to an importable electronic template to be imported into the general purpose electronic template; and 
 in response to receiving the request, obtain the importable electronic template based at least in part on the reference included in the general purpose electronic template, wherein the importable electronic template includes a second set of elements including:
 a text field; and 
 a response field: 
 
   a processor configured to:
 render the obtained importable electronic template as a portion of the general purpose electronic template at least in part by importing the obtained importable electronic template into the general purpose electronic template such that the general purpose electronic template includes at least a portion of the second set of elements included in the importable electronic template in addition to the first set of elements; and 
   a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.   
     
     
         2 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the importable electronic template is locked such that a user of the general purpose electronic template is prohibited from modifying the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         3 . The system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the interface is further configured to receive an indication of a change to the importable electronic template, wherein the change is caused at least in part by a second user that is permitted to modify the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         4 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reference to the importable electronic template includes a reference to a location in a data storage in which the importable electronic template is stored. 
     
     
         5 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the text field and the response field are referenced by the general purpose electronic template. 
     
     
         6 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the text field of the importable electronic template is modified after the importable electronic template is imported into the general purpose electronic template. 
     
     
         7 . The system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the modification to the text field is rendered in the general purpose electronic template. 
     
     
         8 . The system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the modification to the text field is propagated to a second general purpose electronic template that includes a reference to the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         9 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the response field is modified after the importable electronic template is incorporated into the general purpose electronic template. 
     
     
         10 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein the modification to the response field is rendered in the general purpose electronic template. 
     
     
         11 . They system recited in  claim 9 , wherein the modification to the response field is propagated to a second general purpose electronic template that includes a reference to the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         12 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the text field is configured to receive template creation data stored in at least one of a relational database and a memory device of XML code. 
     
     
         13 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to render a search view that permits a user to search for the importable electronic template and data entered against the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a request for a general purpose electronic template including a first set of elements, wherein the general purpose electronic template includes a reference to an importable electronic template to be imported into the general purpose electronic template; and   in response to receiving the request, obtaining the importable electronic template based at least in part on the reference included in the general purpose electronic template, wherein the importable electronic template includes a second set of elements including:
 a text field; and 
 a response field; and 
   rendering the obtained importable electronic template as a portion of the general purpose electronic template at least in part by importing the obtained importable electronic template into the general purpose electronic template such that the general purpose electronic template includes at least a portion of the second set of elements included in the importable electronic template in addition to the first set of elements.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the importable electronic template is locked such that a user of the general purpose electronic template is prohibited from modifying the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reference to the importable electronic template includes a reference to a location in a data storage in which the importable electronic template is stored. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the text field and the response field of the importable electronic template is modified after the importable electronic template is imported into the general purpose electronic template. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 receiving a request for a general purpose electronic template including a first set of elements, wherein the general purpose electronic template includes a reference to an importable electronic template to be imported into the general purpose electronic template; and   in response to receiving the request, obtaining the importable electronic template based at least in part on the reference included in the general purpose electronic template, wherein the importable electronic template includes a second set of elements including:
 a text field; and 
 a response field; and 
   rendering the obtained importable electronic template as a portion of the general purpose electronic template at least in part by importing the obtained importable electronic template into the general purpose electronic template such that the general purpose electronic template includes at least a portion of the second set of elements included in the importable electronic template in addition to the first set of elements.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the importable electronic template is locked such that a user of the general purpose electronic template is prohibited from modifying the importable electronic template. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the text field and the response field of the importable electronic template is modified after the importable electronic template is imported into the general purpose electronic template.