Method and apparatus for utilizing an extensible markup language schema for managing specific types of content in an electronic document

Abstract

An extensible markup language (“XML”) schema is provided for defining a content region which displays specific types of content in an electronic document created in a word processing application program. The schema includes structural elements for defining the content region in the electronic document. The structural elements include a properties element for defining properties associated with the content to be displayed in the content region and a content element for receiving the content to be displayed according to the defined properties. The properties element and the content element define the content region in the electronic document.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 providing an interactive content pane to manage content manipulation of an application, wherein the interactive content pane includes a content region that comprises structural elements including at least one properties element and at least one content element that are each defined by a markup language schema, wherein the properties element define properties for displaying the content element in the content region of the application;   receiving a selection of the content element in the interactive content pane; and   in response to receiving the selection of the content element, displaying a type of content within the interactive content pane, wherein the type of content displayed is determined by the properties element that includes a plurality of mutually exclusive child elements for defining the properties associated with the type of content for display.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements define allowable content to be included within the content region for the content element. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements comprise at least two selected from a group consisting of:
 a first mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a first portion of the content associated with a date;   a second mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a second portion of the content associated with a picture;   a third mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a third portion of the content associated with a dropdown list;   a fourth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a fourth portion of the content associated with a table;   a fifth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a fifth portion of the content associated with a document part;   a sixth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a sixth portion of the content associated with rich text;   a seventh mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a seventh portion of the content associated with text comprising a paragraph; and   an eighth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving an eighth portion of a plurality of content types.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 23 , wherein the properties element further comprises a formatting attribute defining a format for display of content associated with the at least two mutually exclusive child elements in the electronic document, and wherein the displaying displays the content in accordance with the formatting attribute. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 23 , further comprising receiving selection of a child element of the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements, and enabling manipulation of a field associated with the selected child element. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 21 , wherein the content region is associated with a user interface of the application, and wherein the content element is a user interface component that is selectable by a user through the user interface. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 26 , wherein the content element comprises a plurality of elements for receiving content in the content region, wherein the plurality of elements comprise at least two selected from a group consisting of:
 a paragraph element for receiving a paragraph of text in the electronic document;   a run element for receiving a region of text, the region of text comprising a contiguous run of characters with identical formatting;   a table element for receiving a table;   a table row element for receiving a row of table cells; and   a table cell element for receiving a single table cell.   
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory operatively connected with the processor that stores executable instructions, which when executed on the processor, cause the processor to execute:
 providing an interactive content pane to manage content manipulation of an application, wherein the interactive content pane includes a content region that comprises structural elements including at least one properties element and at least one content element that are each defined by a markup language schema, wherein the properties element define properties for displaying the content element in the content region of the application; 
 receiving a selection of the content element in the interactive content pane; and 
 in response to receiving the selection of the content element, displaying a type of content within the interactive content pane, wherein the type of content displayed is determined by the properties element that includes a plurality of mutually exclusive child elements for defining the properties associated with the type of content for display. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements define allowable content to be included within the content region for the content element. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements comprises at least two selected from a group consisting of:
 a first mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a first portion of the content associated with a date;   a second mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a second portion of the content associated with a picture;   a third mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a third portion of the content associated with a dropdown list;   a fourth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a fourth portion of the content associated with a table;   a fifth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a fifth portion of the content associated with a document part;   a sixth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a sixth portion of the content associated with rich text;   a seventh mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a seventh portion of the content associated with text comprising a paragraph; and   an eighth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving an eighth portion of a plurality of content types.   
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the properties element further comprises a formatting attribute defining a format for display of content associated with the at least two mutually exclusive child elements in the electronic document, and wherein the displaying displays the content in accordance with the formatting attribute. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving selection of a child element of the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements, and enabling manipulation of a field associated with the selected child element. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the content region is associated with a user interface of the application, and wherein the content element is a user interface component that is selectable by a user through the user interface. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the content element comprises a plurality of elements for receiving content in the content region, wherein the plurality of elements comprise at least two selected from a group consisting of:
 a paragraph element for receiving a paragraph of text in the electronic document;   a run element for receiving a region of text, the region of text comprising a contiguous run of characters with identical formatting;   a table element for receiving a table;   a table row element for receiving a row of table cells; and   a table cell element for receiving a single table cell.   
     
     
         35 . A computer-readable storage medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed on at least one processor, causes the processor to perform a method comprising:
 providing an interactive content pane to manage content manipulation of an application, wherein the interactive content pane includes a content region that comprises structural elements including at least one properties element and at least one content element that are each defined by a markup language schema, wherein the properties element define properties for displaying the content element in the content region of the application;   receiving a selection of the content element in the interactive content pane;   upon receiving the selection of the content element, displaying a type of content within the interactive content pane, wherein the type of content displayed is determined by the properties element that includes a plurality of mutually exclusive child elements for defining the properties associated with the type of content for display;   receiving selection of a child element of the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements; and   in response to receiving the selected child element, enabling manipulation of a field associated with the selected child element.   
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements define allowable content to be included within the content region for the content element. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of mutually exclusive child elements comprise at least two selected from a group consisting of:
 a first mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a first portion of the content associated with a date;   a second mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a second portion of the content associated with a picture;   a third mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a third portion of the content associated with a dropdown list;   a fourth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a fourth portion of the content associated with a table;   a fifth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a fifth portion of the content associated with a document part;   a sixth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a sixth portion of the content associated with rich text;   a seventh mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving a seventh portion of the content associated with text comprising a paragraph; and   an eighth mutually exclusive property for defining the content region to display and for receiving an eighth portion of a plurality of content types.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 37 , wherein the properties element further comprises a formatting attribute defining a format for display of content associated with the at least two mutually exclusive child elements in the electronic document, and wherein the displaying displays the content in accordance with the formatting attribute. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 35 , wherein the content region is associated with a user interface of the application, and wherein the content element is a user interface component that is selectable by a user through the user interface. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 39 , wherein the content element comprises a plurality of elements for receiving content in the content region, wherein the plurality of elements comprise at least two selected from a group consisting of:
 a paragraph element for receiving a paragraph of text in the electronic document;   a run element for receiving a region of text, the region of text comprising a contiguous run of characters with identical formatting;   a table element for receiving a table;   a table row element for receiving a row of table cells; and   a table cell element for receiving a single table cell.