Enhanced Content Controls for Structured Document Templates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional developer tools face difficulties in creating document templates that can produce richly-formatted content and maintaining a separation between the view and object model, making it challenging to design and use structured document templates effectively.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of enhanced content controls that visually scale to nesting levels, present richly-formatted information, and synchronize changes between the content control and data source, allowing for the creation of highly structured and richly-formatted document templates by managing content controls within document templates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional content controls are used in document templates, then basic document structure can be created, but the ability to produce richly-formatted content is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to produce richly-formatted contentVSAvoidcomplexity of content control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the content control system into multiple hierarchical levels (document template level, document part level, and content control level). Each level has its own set of content controls that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows richly-formatted content to be created by combining multiple segmented controls rather than requiring a single complex control, thus improving versatility while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If nested content controls are used to create structured document parts, then document structure capability is improved, but visual distinction between nested levels becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument structure capabilityVSAvoidvisual distinction between nested levels

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements visual differentiation of nested content controls by applying distinct color schemes, border styles, and visual indicators to each nesting level. Parent content controls and child content controls are distinguished through color-coding and visual markers, making the hierarchical structure immediately apparent to users. This resolves the visual distinction problem while maintaining the nested structure capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If content controls are embedded in document parts, then structured content can be created, but separation between view and object model deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructured content creationVSAvoidseparation between view and object model

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the view (document template presentation) and the object model (underlying data structure). This intermediary consists of the content control system that acts as a mediator, allowing the view to reference the object model through standardized content control interfaces without direct coupling. This maintains structured content creation capability while preserving view-object model separation through the mediating content control layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple content controls are nested within a document part, then richly-formatted information can be presented, but visual clutter and difficulty in identification increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverichly-formatted information presentationVSAvoidease of identification and management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses color-coding and visual indicators to differentiate nested content controls, making them easily identifiable despite multiple levels of nesting. Each content control type and nesting level has distinct visual characteristics that reduce clutter and improve ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested doll structure where content controls are organized in hierarchical nesting levels, with each level clearly visualized. This nested structure allows richly-formatted information to be presented through multiple levels of content controls while maintaining organizational clarity through the nested arrangement, making it easier to identify and manage individual controls within the hierarchy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2691873B1Techniques to create structured document templates using enhanced content controls

Publication Date: 2021.05.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

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AI summary

Techniques to create structured documents and document templates using enhanced content controls are described. An apparatus may comprise an application to generate a document from a document template. The application may comprise a document template component operative to retrieve a document template comprising multiple document parts. The application may further comprise a content control component operative to manage a content control embedded in a document part of the document template. The content control may be associated with a data source arranged to store richly formatted content presented by the content control without necessarily requiring the data storage to be written in any particular way. The content control component may synchronize any changes to the formatted content between the content control and the data store. Other embodiments are described and claimed.