Document navigation method and system

Abstract

A method for navigating between an input working version and an output version generated for export of a document from the working version, comprises displaying, simultaneously, an input portion (76) of the working version and an output portion (78) of the output version; providing (80) navigation elements to select the input portion of the working version and the output portion of the output version for each the working version and the output version, and adjusting the respective other (82, 84) to allow a user to select matched working version and output version, or unmatched portions thereof. The invention allows each working or output version to used as navigation for the respective other, which facilitates the generation of a document, specifically of complex paginated printed documents. The method was found to facilitate creation of higher quality documents by facilitating multiple revisions during document editing.

Description

[0001] Document Navigation Method and System

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method and system for navigating between an input working version and an output version of a document, wherein the working version comprises editable input fields and the output version is generated for viewing, export and / or distribution from the editable input fields. More specifically, the invention relates to a navigation interface for editing large documents with complex hierarchic input field structures, from which a static, printable output document is to be generated.

[0004] The invention relates to what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) preview functions used in document editors.

[0005] For instance, document editors are known that permit switching between a preview and an editing view, wherein the editing view may display non-printable characters, comments, etc., that are not reproduced in the preview. The process of switching back to an editing view, making changes, and reopening a preview window, if it has to be carried out several times, can become cumbersome.

[0006] The present invention seeks to ameliorate at least some of the shortcomings of existing WYSIWYG solutions. of the Invention

[0007] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method for navigating between an input working version and an output version of a document, the working version comprising editable input fields and the output version being generated for export from the editable input fields, the method comprising: displaying, for simultaneous viewing by a user, on one or more display devices an input portion of the working version and an output portion of the output version; providing navigation elements for a user to select said input portion of the working version and said output portion of the output version, providing the navigation elements for each the working version and the output version such that a user is allowed to select the input portion and the output portion independently of each other, thereby enabling a user to simultaneously display matching display-sized portions of both the working version and the output version for some periods of time, and to simultaneously display unmatched portions thereof for other periods of time.

[0008] The method can be executed via a software application installed on a computer device, such as a desktop, laptop, and / or mobile device, comprising one or more display devices. The invention relates a configuration to display an editing view at the same time, e.g., side-by-side, with an output version, such as a preview, on the same screen, or within the same application window or frame.

[0009] Version 2025-01-22 For small documents, e.g. single page documents, the input and output versions may fit on a screen simultaneously, side by side. For larger documents, or magnified documents, the input portion and the output portion are understood to be subsets of the working version and the output version, respectively, that are sized so as to fit on a partial or full region of a display. The input and output portions may be considered displayed portions, respectively.

[0010] The navigation elements may be of any suitable form. Typically, navigation elements may be provided as input means such as a scroll bar or tree structure to allow a user to select other parts of the document as the input portion and / or the output portion so as to view a different display-sized portion of the working version and / or the output version, respectively. The navigation elements may be provided by a scroll function other than a scroll bar, e.g. by a context menu, and / or by a configuration of an input device such as assigned mouse or keyboard keys, or may be constituted by an input or output portion permitting swiping for scrolling. Likewise, the navigation elements may allow zooming in or out. For the working document, the navigation elements may further allow navigation through an input field hierarchy, e.g. by expanding and / or collapsing of hierarchical structures.

[0011] Herein, the expression “display-sized” is used in relation to screen size or window size, for a portion or part of a document that is of appropriate size to fit onto the space provided by the window, screen or screen portion, respectively, on which it is intended to be displayed. The other parts of a document not currently viewable are non-displayed at the same time as display-sized portions, wherein the display-sized portions can be selected from non-displayed parts of the document by selecting or deselecting, e.g., by scrolling, expanding, collapsing and similar commands to make visible on screen, or to remove from view, the respective portions or parts of the document. The expression “moving” a display-sized portion is used to refer to selecting a new display-sized portion that differs from an immediately preceding display-sized portion. Herein, the composition and contents of the working version and the output version as such are not necessarily reorganised by moving an input portion or an output portion.

[0012] As will be appreciated, by providing navigation elements for both the working version and the output version, the input portion and the output portion can be selected independently of each other. This allows a user to navigate an output version, if desired, without necessarily moving the working version, and vice versa. Conversely, a configuration may allow that the two portions may be locked such that moving one of the input and the output portions results in simultaneous navigation of the other of the input and the output portions. Thereby, the method allows both the input version and the output version to be used as navigation aid for the respective other, for individual navigation through the input version and the output version

[0013] An appreciation underlying the invention was that for large documents, when the input working version of a document may be constituted by a large database, the input working version (e.g., a database) and the corresponding output version, can be cumbersome to navigate contemporaneously with a static preview document. Moving, scrolling or “jumping” between different

[0014] Version 2025-01-22 portions may take considerable time, particularly if a portion is displayed at a level of magnification at which text remains legible.

[0015] For instance, if a user notices, whilst reviewing the output version, that an amendment is required, it can be cumbersome and time-consuming to then scroll through the working document, and to possibly search through sub-menus, to find the appropriate data field to be edited. The inconvenience may be increased when a user works on a “live” project during which many changes may be made and reverted, which may necessitate consequential changes at different locations of a document that are distributed across different document section, e.g., several pages separated, from another.

[0016] “Matched”, in this context, means an input portion of a working version that corresponds to the output portion of an output version, i.e. from the same or corresponding region, heading, or section of a document. “Unmatched” means input and output portions from different regions that a user may wish to view simultaneously.

[0017] As will be appreciated, while matched portions are displayed, an entry made in the display-sized, displayed, input portion is visible in the display-sized, displayed, output portion. When unmatched portions are displayed, an entry made in the display-sized, displayed, input portion is not visible in the display-sized, displayed, output portion until the portions are matched.

[0018] The method proposed herein facilitates navigation between an editing view, here in the form of a working version, and output, particularly when the editing view represents an input database or input field structure that is of a different, and potentially much higher, complexity than the output. In that case, multiple repeated switching between an input portion, for instance in the form of an editor interface, and an output portion, for instance in the form of a “WYSIWYG” preview, is facilitated by navigation elements permitting individual navigation through input and output version, the navigation being practically achieved by selecting the desired input and output portions, respectively.

[0019] Upon completion, the method presents, for a user, a command menu option to generate an exported document from the output version. The exported document is a copy of the output version.

[0020] For instance, any data and layout, such as item numbers, dates, pagination and page breaks, in the exported document are exactly as shown in the output version. The invention avoids that a datum or layout arrangement of the output version is altered between output presentation and export of the output as document.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method comprises providing, on the output portion of the output document, one or more command elements executable to display, upon actuation by a user, an input portion that matches the output portion displayed at the time of actuation.

[0022] Version 2025-01-22 In some embodiments, the method comprises providing, on the input portion of the working document, one or more command elements executable to display, upon actuation by a user, an output portion that matches the input portion displayed at the time of actuation.

[0023] As will be appreciated, if a user input is received in the form of an actuation of a command element, when unmatched portions are displayed, this results in an updating of the displays to display an input portion that matches the current output portion, or an output portion that matches the current input portion, respectively.

[0024] In some embodiments, the navigation elements are control elements for a user to perform one or more of: scrolling, zooming, rotating, expanding, collapsing, and / or accessing submenu navigation commands.

[0025] The navigation elements provided may comprise a scroll bar. Additionally, or alternatively, the navigation elements provided may be activated via touchscreen functionality, enabling a user to swipe the screen, e.g., using touch screen input, to navigate through a document. The navigation elements may allow a user to select the display-sized portions independently, by scrolling through one document whilst the other document remains stationary.

[0026] In some embodiments, the output version comprises data elements corresponding to the editable input fields of the input working version, wherein simultaneously displaying matching portions comprises displaying matching editable input fields and data elements of the input portion and the output portion.

[0027] The data elements of the output version may be read-only data elements, each associated with an editable input field of the working version. In this manner, editing the data elements may be permitted only indirectly, namely by editing the associated input field in the working version.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method comprises aligning, along an alignment line, matched editable input fields and data elements.

[0029] The alignment line may be a horizontal line, for vertical alignment, e.g. aligned relative to a horizontal display axis. Vertical alignment is believed to be useful for documents presented in a top-down reading orientation. However, this is not necessarily the case in all embodiments, and depending on the type of output document, an alignment line may be vertical, for horizontal alignment. The alignment line is not necessarily a line displayed on the display device. The alignment line may be formed by an aligned input field and data element, e.g. by alignment of the top edges.

[0030] In some embodiments, the method comprises presenting a visual marker indicating matching editable input fields and data elements on the matching portions.

[0031] The visible marker is believed to be useful for presentation of the input and output portions on different displays that may not necessarily be physically aligned.

[0032] Version 2025-01-22 In some embodiments, the method comprises aligning, along an alignment line, the visual marker of an input portion with a corresponding visual marker of an output portion.

[0033] In some embodiments, the visual marker comprises a first indicator to indicate that the output portion is matched to the input portion, and a second indicator to indicate that the input portion is matched to the output portion, the first indicator differing from the second indicator.

[0034] For instance, a first indicator may be a “right arrow” or “greater than” symbol, and a second indicator may be a “left arrow” or “less than” symbol.

[0035] In some embodiments, the first and second indicators comprise a pointer symbol pointing towards the respective other of the input portion and output portion.

[0036] The arrows may be arranged such that they point towards to respective other portion, i.e. from the input portion to the output portion, or vice versa. If the input portion is located on the left screen side, the arrow might point to the right, i.e. towards the output portion, to indicate that the output portion was matched to the input portion. The indicators may be symbols displaying an animation, e.g. in the form of a compass needle rotating to point towards the respective matched portion.

[0037] In some embodiments, the editable input fields are configured to receive a user input during display of the output portion, and wherein the method comprises updating a data element based on the user input.

[0038] The editable data fields may be configured as an array of editable input fields. The editable input fields may each be capable of receiving a data input from a user. The editable input fields may be provided via one or more associated data entry interfaces configured to be displayed on the working document upon activation by a user. Each data item can be exported from the editable input fields, thereby generating, or updating, corresponding data elements for display on the display-sized portions of the working and output versions of the document.

[0039] In some embodiments, the method comprises determining an extent of an output portion, and upon actuation of a navigation element of the input portion, creating an output portion that is smaller than the output version.

[0040] Depending on document size, the creation of a smaller document portion may result in a faster display for navigation.

[0041] In some embodiments, the method comprises creating the output version in the form of a paginated document.

[0042] Version 2025-01-22 In some embodiments, the method comprises determining a number of pages covered by an output portion, and upon actuation of a navigation element of the input portion, creating for preview the pages covered by the output portion.

[0043] This may reduce response time for larger documents. For instance, pages not required for display as part of the output portion may be created, or rendered, upon receipt of further navigation commands, such as scrolling.

[0044] In some embodiments, the method comprises providing an input interface actuatable by a user to enter user-positioned page break commands in the output version.

[0045] In some embodiments, the method comprises providing an input interface actuatable by a user to switch between a paginated presentation of the output version and a continuous presentation of the output version.

[0046] In some embodiments, the continuous presentation of the output version ignores user-positioned page break commands.

[0047] In use, a user may wish to update an input field. This can be achieved by navigating the working version. Likewise, if a user wishes to change a data element of the output version, this may be achieved by navigating to a matched portion of the working version and updating the input field associated with the data element. Upon user input, both the input field and the associated data element on the output portion are updated, in response to the input field entry, practically at the same time. As such, the output document displays changes made to the editable input fields, such that the updates can be viewed practically immediately on the output version. It will be appreciated that updating may include altering, moving, deleting input fields, and adding input fields, such that the associated data element is changed, moved, removed, or added from the output version. The input field may be used to accept text, numbers, images etc. In this manner, a user may immediately be able to see a visual impact of a change of an input field, particularly consequential changes, e.g., if a longer text affects paragraph length, and therefore pagination. For instance, to undo a change, or to make a consequential change at a different passage of the document, a user does not have to scroll through an interface or contents list to find a passage in question. Instead, a user may use the output portion to call up the corresponding input portion.

[0048] In some embodiments, the method comprises generating an exported document based on the output version; the method optionally comprising at least one of downloading, saving, printing, uploading and / or sending the exported document to a recipient.

[0049] The output version may, therefore, be a what-you-see-is-what-you-get preview of a document to be exported.

[0050] The document may be saved locally and / or uploaded to a server. The document may be exported in electronic form or other suitable format, such as printed.

[0051] Version 2025-01-22 In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a machine-executable program executable, when loaded into the memory of a computer, for navigating between an input working version and an output version of a document, the product configured to carry out the method according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0052] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-transitory medium storing a computer program comprising program instructions that when executed by a processor implement the method according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0053] Description of the Figures

[0054] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0055] Figure 1 shows, conceptually, views of a working version and an output version of a document;

[0056] Figure 2 shows an input portion and an output portion of the Figure 1 versions;

[0057] Figure 3 shows the input portion and output portion of Figure 2 in aligned condition;

[0058] Figure 4 is an exemplary screenshot of part of a working version;

[0059] Figures 5A to 5D show parts of input and output portions in a first use example;

[0060] Figures 6A to 6B show parts of input and output portions in a second scenario;

[0061] Figures 7A to 7B show parts of input and output portions in a third scenario; and

[0062] Figure 8 illustrates exemplary steps of a method of navigating between a working version and an output version of a document.

[0063] Description

[0064] Referring first to Figure 1 , this illustrates elements of a working version 12 of a document 10, here in the form of a database structure, and of a preview version 52, constituting an example of an output version, of the same document 10, here in the form of discrete pages 54a, 54b, 54c.

[0065] The working version 12 comprises a series of input fields 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc. The input fields may be dynamically extendable or collapsible to present submenus, here in the form of two submenus 114a, 114b. The input fields may be expandable and collapsible in the manner of a tree navigation hierarchy, although this is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments.

[0066] The preview version 52 presents data that is intended for output from the working version 12 in static, read-only form, e.g. by positioning data from the dynamically expandable fields of the working version 12 as a series of data elements laid out on discrete document portions, e.g. in the form of discrete pages 54a, 54b, 54c for printing, presentation slides, for document export. The preview version 52 may comprise user-defined page-break commands 58 indicated by a symbol or by a graphical depiction, e.g. by depiction of an edge of a sheet.

[0067] Version 2025-01-22 The preview version 52 comprises, here shown on page 54a, a plurality of first level data elements 56a, 56b, 56c, and second level data element fields 156a, 156b. As will be appreciated, the data elements 56a, 56b, 56c on the first page 54a correspond to the input fields 14a, 14b, 14c. A further field 56d corresponds to the input field 14d, however is positioned on a second page 54b, separated from the preceding data element 156b by a user-defined page-break command 58.

[0068] Due to the dynamic nature of the input field structure, navigation in the working version 12 may include collapsing and expanding of data fields, in addition to scrolling, zooming, or jumping using a navigation bar, and other navigation methods. In contrast, navigation in the preview version 52 may be achieved by scrolling, zooming, or jumping, but cannot use collapsing and expanding of preview fields, due to the static nature of the preview version.

[0069] Turning to Figure 2, this shows, conceptually, two displays 2 and 4, here in a side-by-side configuration illustrated by two frames, for instance in the form of a dual screen setup permitting side- by-side display on different halves of one screen. The left display 2 shows an input portion 20 of the working version 12 and the right display 4 shows an output portion 60 of the preview version 52. In Figure 2, the input portion 20 and the output portion 60 show different views of the document 10 that are a smaller portion, or subset, of the entire document 10. The input portion 20 shows, here, the input fields 14c, 14d and submenus 114a, 114b. The output portion 60 shows the entire page 24a, including the data elements 56a, 56b, 56c, 156a, 156b. As such, the data element 56d (see Figure 1) is currently not part of the output portion 60, and as such not a displayed portion. In Figure 2, the input fields 14c, 114a and 114b and their corresponding data elements 56c, 156a, 156b happen to be displayed at the same time, however the data element 56d does not fit into the display-sized output portion 60.

[0070] Figure 3 shows the two displays 2 and 4, here showing an input portion 20 and an output portion 60. In this view, the data element 56c has been vertically aligned with the input field 14c, such that the input portion 20 and output portion 60 are matched. The vertical alignment is illustrated in Figure 3 by the alignment of the input field 14c and data element 56a with a dotted line V, constituting an alignment line, here a horizontal alignment axis. The alignment line V is not necessarily displayed on screen, but will be understood as a line visually prominent to a user, e.g., by aligned edges, headings, highlighted regions or body portions of input fields and corresponding data elements.

[0071] Figures 1 and 3 may be representative of a project database, here constituting a document 10, comprising an input interface, here in the form of the working version 12, from which a user may generate a project report, here in the form of a preview version 52, to be exported as paginated document such as a formatted, printable document, email attachment, or otherwise.

[0072] The invention was developed in connection with large project databases as may be used in the management of interior design projects. A user of such a database may be responsible for planning, selecting and sourcing of supplies for interior design projects, some of which may relate to larger premises. In such projects, different areas, buildings, floors, and / or rooms may be sub-projects each comprising individual specification, item listings, measurements, project dates, as well as

[0073] Version 2025-01-22 commercially sensitive information, such as supplier identity, supplier terms, costs and fees. Some of the projects, e.g. rooms, may have identical or easy-to-confuse names, such as Bedroom 1 or Bedroom 2, or may be reassigned different names. The information exported from a database or working version may amount to several tens and sometimes hundreds of pages.

[0074] Figure 4 shows a screenshot of part of a database interface for a project, corresponding to a dynamically adjustable working version 12 of the document 10. In Figure 4 and the following figures, the same numerals are used for like elements as in the description of Figures 1 to 3, without repeating the description thereof. Figure 4 shows an input portion 20 of a working version 12, displayed on a first screen 2, here showing six first-level fields 14a to 14f (collectively input fields 14), including a field 14a for a hallway, field 14b for a kitchen, field 14c for a dining area, field 14d for a home cinema, field 14e for a drawing room, field 14f for a cloak room. As will be appreciated, a user may add any number of fields to the project database, re-order, duplicate and / or delete fields, and the project comprises several more input fields that are not displayed in the input portion.

[0075] Each of the input fields 14 may be expanded to reveal further project data and input fields in relation to the sub-project to which it relates. The input fields are visually demarcated by a frame 16, here six frames 16a to 16f for each one of the fields 14a to 14f, and provided with a menu button 18, here six menu buttons 18a to 18f for each one of the fields 14a to 14f (collectively menu buttons 18). Each of the input fields 14 comprises editable input fields in which data relating to the project may be recorded. The program interface may allow the input portion to be displayed without preview output portion and vice versa. In the example of Figure 4, the input field 14c for the “Dining Area” is highlighted as being selected for expansion, as presented in Figures 5A to 5D below. In accordance with embodiments, an input portion and an output portion can be displayed simultaneously, e.g. side by side on one display, or on multiple displays.

[0076] Figures 5A to 5D show a side-by-side arrangement of a working version 12 and a preview version 52 displayed in left and right sides, respectively, of a screen 1 . On the left-hand side, an input portion 20a is displayed that corresponds to an expanded submenu structure of the input field 14c, here to show two sub-projects 114a and 114b each having further sub-projects 114a1 , 114a2 and 114b1 and 114b2 respectively. Each of the sub-projects may have further sub-projects in a hierarchical structure, which may be added, moved, or deleted, by a user according to a scope of a project. E.g., the sub-project 114a “Furniture” comprises further tasks or sub-projects 114a1 and 114a2 to define specifications of a table, chairs, and so on. As will be appreciated, in this manner a user may add further detail to define specifications for subprojects. Likewise, the use of collapsible fields facilitates navigation through different rooms and interior design elements, while providing a possibility to add further detail or sub-specifications, such as material, number of items, etc. The hierarchical structure also allows status and progress of subprojects to be recorded individually, such as “approved”, “paid”, “ordered”, “delivered”, “installed”, “inspected”, “completed” etc.

[0077] The right-hand side of Figure 5A shows an exemplary preview version 52 in the form of a static output, suitable as print preview. In this example, the output portion 60a shows, on part of a page 54a, the data element 56c corresponding to the dining area 14c, without showing other projects 14a,

[0078] Version 2025-01-22 14b, 14d etc. The data element 56c comprises associated data elements 156a, 156a1 , 156a2, 156b, 156b1 , 156b2, the data elements presenting information in static form that was entered in the corresponding, associated input fields 14c to 114b2. As will be appreciated, for each data element there may be an associated input field. Two or more input fields may have identical information at different locations of an input version, to be presented as identical data element at different locations of the output version.

[0079] Each data element 56c is provided with a menu button 58, constituting a navigation element. The menu buttons 58 provide command elements via which a user may select the display of the corresponding input field 14 of the input portion 20a, or, respectively, the corresponding data element 56 of the output portion 60a. As will be appreciated, the functionality may be implemented by redefining the position and size of an input portion 20a or output portion 56a, respectively, such that matching input fields 14 and data elements 56 are presented in view. An exemplary execution of a navigation command is illustrated in Figures 5B to 5D.

[0080] Figures 5B to 5D show the same layout as Figure 5A and only some of the numerals of Figure 5A are reproduced. Referring to Figure 5B, the menu button 58c, here presented as an example of a navigation element, can be actuated by a user to call up a context menu 62, shown in Figure 5C. Initially, as shown in Figure 5B, the data element associated with a menu button 58c may be highlighted, e.g. by a field 61 , e.g. while a user moves or hovers a mouse curser over different menu buttons. Figure 5C shows the response following actuation of the menu button 58c. The actuation may require a user input, such as a mouse click or keyboard input. Alternatively, hovering a mouse curser over a menu button may be interpreted as actuation. Upon actuation, a location command 64 (here labelled “Find in project”) is presented for actuation by a user. Actuation of the location command 64 results in a presentation of an input field 14 that corresponds to the data element 56 associated with the menu button 58. In the specific example of Figures 5A to 5D, the input field 114a1 for a “Dining Table” is matched to its corresponding data element 156a1 “Dining Table”.

[0081] In Figures 5A to 5D, menu buttons 18 and 58 are illustrated simultaneously for each input field 14 and data element 56. In practice, the menu buttons may be inactive, e.g., invisible or partially transparent, or of reduced size, until a curser is moved over the associated input field or data element, the curser movement or hovering causing the menu button 58 to be presented in full, e.g. revealing it or presenting it at full size. Likewise, highlighting effects, such as the example highlight 61 of Figure 5B, may be used as a visual indication of the data element or of the input field currently active, or interpreted as selected by a user for the next actuation. If a user, viewing the preview version 52, wishes to find an input field 14 corresponding to a data element 56, activation of the location command 64 via the menu button 58 in Figure 5C results in two responses.

[0082] First, decision logic of a program executing the method ensures that the input portion 20 matches the output portion 60. If, as shown in Figures 5A to 5D, the input portion 20a already matches the output portion 60a, no change of the input portion 20 is effected. If the input portion 20 is unmatched to the output portion 60, the input portion 20 is moved accordingly, or zoomed in or out, as may be

[0083] Version 2025-01-22 required. Likewise, the hierarchy level of the working version may be expanded to show the input fields corresponding to the hierarchy level of the navigation element in the preview document.

[0084] Secondly, the corresponding input field 14 is indicated to a user, e.g. by highlighting the corresponding frame 16. Figure 5D shows that the input field 1 14a1 is highlighted with an indication 32 in the form of a differently coloured field.

[0085] Furthermore, the menu buttons 18c and 58c that are associated with the aligned field 14 and data element 56 are highlighted and include an indication, here in the form of an arrow symbol, here pointing towards the input portion. While the indication may be optional, the indication provides visual feedback for a user that the input portion 20a was aligned with the output portion 60a, rather than vice versa. The indication is believed to be useful when the input and output portions are not perfectly matched, as may be the case for instance, with a dual screen setup.

[0086] Conveniently, the indication is provided on or near a navigation element that was actuated to select a display portion, however this is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments.

[0087] The location of a matching input portion facilitates modifications to the preview version, without having to switch between either only a working version or only a preview version. Further, if a project comprises input fields with similar or identical names, the matching input function reduces a risk of working on a wrong input field. E.g., a user may operate on a field “Dining Room” without having to reassure themselves if the Dining room is located in the correct floor or building unit.

[0088] The inventors appreciated that the invention facilitates document creation by avoiding a need to use a contents menu or map. While a contents menu may still be provided, the document creation is facilitated by allowing a user to jump from a data element in a working version directly to the associated input field, and vice versa, allowing a user to call up, from an input field, the associated data element and the surrounding areas of a preview.

[0089] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate an example in which a user wishes to modify or change a data element 156a1 in the preview version 52. After locating the corresponding input field (see procedure of Figures 5A to 5D), the corresponding input field 14 can be modified. In the present example, the field “Dining Table” is modified to read “Dining Table to seat 12”, here to provide a more detailed narrative. It will be appreciated that the modification of the data element is effected by updating the working version of the document 10, here by modifying an input field. In the same manner, the new input fields may be added, reordered, and / or deleted. The input field may accept a predefined data type, such as text, hyperlinks, numbers, image data, or other suitable data.

[0090] Figure 6B shows that the preview version is updated contemporaneously, i.e. upon receipt of the input “Dining Table to seat 12”, and therefore practically at the same time, as the input field is modified in the working version 12. In this manner, a user can see immediately in what form the input affects the output.

[0091] Version 2025-01-22 As will be appreciated, the input fields of the working version may use a font, font type and font size, as well as field layout that facilitate data entry, and may display meta data, links, tags, stock information, supplier data, pricing information, and the like. Conversely, the preview version may use a font, font type and font size, as well as data element layout that are optimised for presentation, projection and / or printing, as may be required. For instance, a user may wish to use a description that covers no more than a single line in the output version, and can do so by editing the input field, while immediately seeing the preview in the output version.

[0092] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a process of locating an output portion 60c that corresponds to an input portion20c. The process of Figures 7A and 7B is similar to the process illustrated in Figures 5A to 5D, however some of the indicators are used to indicate that it is, in this case, the output portion 60 that was aligned with the input portion 20.

[0093] In the left side of a display 1 , an input portion 20b of part of the working version 12 is displayed, including input fields 14c and 14d. In the right side of the display 1 , an output portion 60n is displayed of the preview version 52. In the example of Figure 7A, the output portion 60n shows an unmatched portion, here a page 54c, including data elements 56n and menu buttons 58n. The data elements 56n of the unmatched output portion 60n do not correspond to the input fields 14c and 14d visible in the input portion 20b.

[0094] Upon actuation of a menu button 18d, associated with the input field 14d (here for a “Cinema”), a context menu 36 is presented, including a location command 38, here labelled “Find in document”. Actuation of the location command 38 results in two responses, similar to the actuation of the location command 64.

[0095] First, decision logic of a program executing the method ensures that the output portion 60 matches the input portion 20b. If the input and output portions already match, no action is necessary. If, as shown in Figure 7A, the input portion 20b does not correspond to the output portion 60n, the output portion is redefined, e.g. moved, to a new output portion 60b, as illustrated in Figure 7B.

[0096] Secondly, the menu buttons 18d and 58d that are associated with the aligned input field 14d and the data element 56d are highlighted and include an indication, here in the form of an arrow symbol, here pointing towards the output portion 60b. The indication provides visual feedback for a user that the output portion 60b was aligned with the input portion 20b.

[0097] In the example of Figure 7B, the data elements 58d happen to be located on a different page 54b, separated from the first page 54a. The page separation is indicated in the preview version 52 by a page break 58, here in the form of an illustration resembling an edge of a sheet. Part of the first page 54a is therefore included in the output portion 60c.

[0098] As will be appreciated, if a user wishes to view a different area of the preview version, e.g. to return to the data elements 56c, this can be achieved by conventional scrolling, e.g. using a scroll bar.

[0099] Version 2025-01-22 However, a functionality provided by the presented embodiment is for a user to use one of the menu buttons 18 to execute a location command to redefine the output portion of the preview window.

[0100] In this manner, a user may navigate the working version and the output version independently of each other, by using conventional scrolling, swiping and zooming commands etc. In addition, the invention provides navigation elements, here in the form of location commands executable via context menus, for a user to select matched input and output portions from the respective other portion. This allows a user to display both a working version and an output version simultaneously e.g. during editing. Likewise, unmatched portions may be displayed simultaneously, e.g. during navigation. This allows both the working version and the preview version to be used as navigation aid for moving through the respective other version, which facilitates navigation and real-time editing of a final-version preview.

[0101] As will be appreciated, the preview version 52 may be a document to be exported, e.g. for saving, uploading or printing. Likewise, the working version 12 may be a document to be saved or exported for revisiting a project. The invention facilitates the creation of higher quality exported documents than would otherwise be created, because the navigation facilitates it for a user to implement multiple revisions, edits, consequential changes and reversals of changes, during the process of document editing. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that document editing is facilitated at least in part by avoiding the need for a content menu for navigation, by allowing a user to effectively call up, or effectively jump to or between, associated input fields and data elements, respectively.

[0102] Figure 8 shows exemplary steps of a method 70 of navigating between a working version and an output (preview) version of a document. In step 72, a working version of a document is presented that is editable and comprises editable input fields. In step 74, an output version of the same document is presented that comprises data elements corresponding to the input fields. As described above, the working version may be a hierarchical database with collapsible fields and information not to be exported. The output version is a version for presentation, e.g. organised in static paginated format, suitable for exporting or printing. Steps 72 and 74 may be carried out simultaneously and / or independently, e.g. upon receipt of a corresponding user command.

[0103] In step 76, a display-sized input portion of the working version is selected. In step 78, a display-sized output portion of the output version is selected. The display-sized portions are understood to be portions of the versions that fit onto the area of a display in use, such as a screen area, window area, or portion thereof in side-by-side viewing configurations. Steps 76 and 78 may be carried out in a reverse order and / or simultaneously.

[0104] In step 80, a navigation menu is provided for the input portion and for the output portion. The navigation menu may be provided in the form of a context menu and / or navigation elements. The navigation menu enables a user to carry out step 82 and step 84. In step 82, an input portion is adjusted, e.g. moved, based on a navigation command from the output portion. E.g., an input field may be vertically aligned, and / or expanded or collapsed, to match its associated data element of the output portion. In step 84, an output portion is adjusted, e.g. moved, based on a navigation

[0105] Version 2025-01-22 command from the input portion. E.g., an output field may be vertically aligned to match its associated input field in the input portion.

[0106] In step 86, an indication is provided to identify the matched portions. For instance, the indication may be of visual nature, providing a highlighted field or frame. The indication may comprise an indicator or symbol indicating whether step 82 or step 84 was executed, i.e., whether an output portion was aligned with an input portion, or whether an input portion was aligned with an output portion.

[0107] In step 88, if an input field is edited, added or deleted, the corresponding data element is updated while both input and output portions are presented. In this manner, a user can immediately see the presentation of the input on the output preview version.

[0108] In optional step 90, a document is exported from the output version. For instance, the output version may be saved as a printable paginated document, or may be printed.

[0109] The method may return to one of the earlier steps, e.g. to step 72 or 74, as applicable, or to step 76 or 78, or to step 80, to display different input or output portions, to match the respective other portion, and to allow a user to edit further input fields while simultaneously being presented with an output data element.

[0110] For brevity, the data capture of the input fields and the rendering of the data elements is not described in detail, and several processes will be known to a skilled person to implement data capturing functionally. For instance, a processor may monitor the input fields and update upon receipt of an entry the corresponding memory locations and the corresponding data element. Likewise, while the examples shown herein use text, the data fields may accept numbers, calculations, image files, etc. Depending on output type, the input fields may be configured to accept sounds files, movie files, and / or multimedia files.

[0111] While the menu buttons are presented in the form of symbols actuatable by a curser, the menu buttons may be defined differently to suit different input means. E.g., the navigation elements may be provided in the form of keyboard shortcuts or speech processing for speech recognition. In that case, the menu buttons may be presented in the form of command elements, or identifiers, e.g. key combinations, identifying the associated input field and / or data element.

[0112] As will be appreciated, upon receipt of an entry in an input field, it is not necessarily a requirement for the entire preview version to be updated. The processing of the method may be such that only part of a document is updated.

[0113] The method described herein is presented as a single-user interface. The method may be implemented for collaborative documents, for contemporaneous use by multiple users. In that case, input fields in use by a first user may be locked, and / or may be visually marked, to block their editing

[0114] Version 2025-01-22 by a second user. In that case, the navigation function may provide a visual indication that an input field in question is currently not editable, until release the first user.

[0115] The method is believed to be useful particularly for the creation of large documents, such as project reports, from a complex hierarchical database. The method was prepared particularly for use in the interior design sector, but may also be useful in the preparation of other documents such as application forms, tax returns, and the like, in which a user may have to switch repeatedly between different fields to update data, and may have to add or create additional fields depending on different circumstances, and to verify an output created in a different format than the data entered in the input fields, before creating an exported document.

[0116] The input fields may be provided with additional information, such as specification, instructions, comments and / or example values, as well as data entry interfaces such as toggle buttons, slide bars etc, that are not to be included, or not reproduced, in the preview / output version.

[0117] The invention enables a user to immediately see an effect of a change made to the working version, while avoiding a need to carry out edits a preview window. In this manner, it is also ensured that data entered into the project data base is captured via the input fields.

[0118] Whilst the principle of the invention has been illustrated using exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to exemplary embodiments and that the invention may be embodied by other variants defined within the scope of the appended claims.

[0119] Version 2025-01-22

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A computer-implemented method for navigating between an input working version and an output version of a document, the working version comprising editable input fields and the output version being generated for export from the editable input fields, the method comprising: displaying, for simultaneous viewing by a user, on one or more display devices an input portion of the working version and an output portion of the output version; providing navigation elements for a user to select the input portion of the working version and the output portion of the output version, providing the navigation elements for each the working version and the output version such that a user is allowed to select the input portion and the output portion independently of each other, thereby enabling a user to simultaneously display matching portions of both the working version and the output version for some periods of time, and to simultaneously display unmatched portions thereof for other periods of time, thereby allowing both the input version and the output version to be used as navigation aid for the respective other, for individual navigation through the input version and the output version, and wherein the method further comprises presenting, for a user, a command menu option to generate an exported document.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising providing, on the output portion of the output document, one or more command elements executable to display, upon actuation by a user, an input portion that matches the output portion displayed at the time of actuation.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising providing, on the input portion of the working document, one or more command elements executable to display, upon actuation by a user, an output portion that matches the input portion displayed at the time of actuation.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the navigation elements are control elements for a user to perform one or more of: scrolling, zooming, rotating, expanding, collapsing, and / or accessing submenu navigation commands.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the output version comprises data elements corresponding to the editable input fields of the input working version, and wherein simultaneously displaying matching portions comprises displaying matching editable input fields and data elements of the input portion and the output portion.

6. A method according to claim 5, comprising aligning, along an alignment line, matched editable input fields and data elements.Version 2025-01-227. A method according to claim 5 or 6, comprising presenting a visual marker indicating matching editable input fields and data elements on the matching portions.

8. A method according to claim 7, comprising aligning, along a display axis, the visual marker of an input portion with a corresponding visual marker of an output portion.

9. A method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the visual marker comprises a first indicator to indicate that the output portion is matched to the input portion, and a second indicator to indicate that the input portion is matched to the output portion, the first indicator differing from the second indicator.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first and second indicators comprise a pointer symbol pointing towards the respective other of the input portion and output portion.

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the editable input fields are configured to receive a user input during display of the output portion, and wherein the method comprises updating a data element based on the user input.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising determining an extent of an output portion, and upon actuation of a navigation element of the input portion, creating an output portion that is smaller than the output version.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising creating the output version in the form of a paginated document.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising determining a number of pages covered by an output portion, and upon actuation of a navigation element of the input portion, creating for preview the pages covered by the output portion.

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, comprising providing an input interface actuatable by a user to enter user-positioned page break commands in the output version.

16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, comprising providing an input interface actuatable by a user to switch between a paginated presentation of the output version and a continuous presentation of the output version.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the continuous presentation of the output version ignores user-positioned page break commands.

18. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising generating an exported document based on the output version.Version 2025-01-2219. The method according to claim 18, wherein generating an exported document comprises at least one of downloading, saving, printing, uploading and / or sending the exported document to a recipient.

20. A machine-executable program executable, when loaded into the memory of a computer, for navigating between an input working version and an output version of a document, the product configured to carry out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

21. A non-transitory medium storing a computer program comprising program instructions that when executed by a processor implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 19.Version 2025-01-22

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