Web Page Template Creation via Visual Component Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building a website using a web content management (WCM) application requires technical skills and extensive training, as it involves decomposing HTML mock-ups into building blocks and manually assembling them, which is time-consuming and only accessible to those with deep knowledge of the WCM tool.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to create templates from existing web pages through a template developer and builder, which visually identifies and processes selectable portions of a web page to generate templates, making it possible for users without technical knowledge to create templates quickly and easily.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual decomposition and assembly of HTML mock-ups is used to create templates, then templates can be created with deep knowledge of WCM tools, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires extensive training
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary parsing of HTML mock-ups to pre-identify building blocks and their relationships before template creation begins. This automated preliminary analysis eliminates the need for manual decomposition, allowing users to create templates quickly without requiring deep WCM tool knowledge while maintaining quality through structured preprocessing of the HTML content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies or representations of the HTML mock-up structure that can be directly manipulated. By copying the essential structural information into a visual format, the system allows users to select and assemble template components intuitively without needing to understand the underlying complex WCM tool mechanics, thus reducing training requirements and time investment.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual decomposition of HTML mock-ups into building blocks is performed, then templates can be constructed with proper structure, but the process requires deep knowledge of WCM applications and programming interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary visual interface layer between the user and the WCM application's programming interfaces. This intermediary automatically handles the complex tasks of decomposing HTML mock-ups into properly structured building blocks and translating user selections into WCM template code. Users interact with simple visual elements rather than complex programming interfaces, making template creation accessible while maintaining structural accuracy through the intermediary's automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of decomposing HTML and assembling templates with an automated computational system. The automated parser and generator substitute for manual user actions, performing the complex structural analysis and assembly tasks that previously required deep WCM knowledge. This substitution maintains manufacturing precision through algorithmic consistency while dramatically improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for users to understand complex WCM mechanics.
3Productivity
If automated template generation from web pages is implemented, then template creation time is reduced significantly, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the template creation process into distinct modular components: HTML parsing module, building block identification module, visual interface module, and template generation module. Each segment handles a specific task independently, which manages system complexity through modular design while achieving high productivity through automated processing of each segment. The segmentation allows the complex automated generation process to be built from manageable, specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein allow for the creation of templates from existing web pages, making it possible to create pages. Embodiments can provide visual tools so that a user can convert an existing web site or web page into a template. The template may be made available to a web content management application for the creation of web pages. According to one embodiment, a template developer can visually identify selectable portions of the web page in a rendering of the web page; receive a first component selection of a first selected portion of the web page; and store template data comprising the first component selection. A template builder can create a template and components based on the template data in a format consumable by a web content management system.