Document Property Overrides for Fragment Formatting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies for formatting data fields in documents, such as online forms, lack flexibility and scalability in combining XML-based template fragments, leading to limitations in customizing the appearance and structure of data fields.

Innovation Solution

The system allows for property overrides by combining XFA-based template fragments, where host settings can prioritize either document or fragment properties to determine the formatting of a final document, using references like 'usehref=' to specify fragments and override properties dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If XML-based template fragments are combined to format data fields, then customization and scalability of data field formatting is improved, but device complexity and difficulty in managing fragment properties increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization of data field formattingVSAvoidcomplexity of combining and managing fragments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The document formatting system is divided into independent XML-based template fragments that can be selectively combined. Each fragment represents a discrete portion of the document structure that can be independently managed, customized, and retrieved, reducing the overall complexity of managing a complete document template.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A fragment manager component is introduced as an intermediary to handle the complexity of fragment retrieval, combination, and property management. This mediator automatically manages the fragment assembly process, resolving conflicts and combining fragments into final documents without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If property overrides are implemented to prioritize document or fragment properties, then flexibility in determining formatting is improved, but difficulty in detecting and measuring property conflicts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in determining formattingVSAvoiddetecting property conflicts between document and fragment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic detection of property conflicts between document-level and fragment-level properties. When conflicts are detected, the system provides feedback through override mechanisms that allow explicit resolution of which property takes precedence, making the conflict resolution process transparent and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the state of property conflicts from implicit to explicit by introducing override properties. When a property conflict occurs, the system transitions to a resolved state by applying explicit override rules, transforming the conflict detection problem into a straightforward parameter comparison and resolution process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9015575B2Property overrides on included material

Publication Date: 2015.04.21 ADOBE INC

AI summary

In one example embodiment, a system and method is shown that includes identifying a host setting related to a property of a document data structure and a property of a fragment data structure, the document data structure reflecting an organization of a document, and the fragment data structure reflecting an organization of a portion of the document. Additionally, the system and method may include overriding the property of the fragment data structure using the property of the document data structure, if the host setting includes a command that the property of the fragment data structure is to be overridden by the property of the document data structure.