A system and method for editing a structured document to modify emphasis characteristics

Claim 2

Data processing system for editing a text document as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing (170) values representing locations of said begin tag and said end tag in said alphanumeric string.

Claim 3

Data processing system for editing a text document as recited in claim 2 further comprising deleting (180) an emphasis type from said marked area (90) by accessing said values representing said locations of said begin and end tags thereof and deleting said begin and end tags from said alphanumeric string (93) at said locations thereof; removing said displayed present indication in saidemphasis menu (120) corresponding to said emphasis type deleted from said marked area (90) in said deleting step.

Claim 4

Data processing system for editing a text document as recited in claim 2 further comprising adding (180) an emphasis type to said marked area (90) by accessing said values representing said begin and end locations of said marked area (90) and inserting additional begin and end tags thereof in said alphanumeric string proximate to said begin and end locations, respectively, of said marked area; displaying a present indication in said emphasis menu (120) corresponding to said emphasis type added to said marked area (90) in said adding step.

Claim 5

In a data processing system for editing a text document, a system for changing emphasis characteristics of a marked area (90) of WYSIWYG text (104) located within a parent structure of the document, comprising: a memory (106) for storing program instructions to perform document editing functions; a processor (106) coupled to said memory (106), for executing said program instructions; said memory (106) storing a text document as an alphanumeric string of structured document text (93) upon which said editing functions are to be performed by said processor (108) executing said program instructions; a keyboard (114) coupled to said processor (108) for selecting said editing functions to be performed; a display device (100) coupled to said processor (108) for displaying said stored text document in WYSIWYG form (104); said memory (106) storing values (92) representing begin and end locations in said alphanumeric string, of a marked area (90) designated by said keyboard (114); said memory (106) storing a type (98) for a parent structure within which said marked area (90) is located; said processor (108) performing a lookup of said parent structure type in a table (96) of emphasis types stored in said memory (106) to determine which of said emphasis types are valid emphasis types for said parent structure; said processor (108) locating a first emphasis type begin tag proximate to said begin location for said marked area (90); said processor (108) determining if a corresponding end tag is proximate to said end location for said marked area (90); said processor (108) classifying said first emphasis type as present in said marked area (90) if said determining step is satisfied; said memory (106) storing values (94) representing locations of said begin tag and said end tag in said alphanumeric string; said processor (108) repeating said locating, determining, classifying and storing steps for any additional emphasis begin tags proximate to said begin location for said marked area (90); said display device (100) displaying an emphasis menu (120) of said valid emphasis types, indicating which ones thereof are present in said marked area (90).

Claim 6

The system of claim 5, which further comprises: said processor (108) deleting an emphasis type from said marked area (90) by accessing said values stored in said memory (106) representing said locations of said begin and end tags thereof and deleting said begin and end tags from said alphanumeric string at said locations thereof; said processor (108) removing said displayed present indication in said emphasis menu (120) displayed on said display device (100) corresponding to said emphasis type deleted from said marked area (90) by said processor (108).

Claim 7

The system of claim 5, which further comprises: said processor (108) adding an emphasis type to said marked area (90) by accessing said values stored in said memory (106) representing said begin and end locations of said marked area (90) and inserting additional begin and end tags thereof in said alphanumeric string proximate to said begin and end locations, respectively, of said marked area (90); said display device (100) displaying a present indication in said emphasis menu (120) in response to said emphasis type being added to said marked area (90) by said processor (108).