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| Summary / Description | Abstract: A version management system for storing and retrieving changes to spreadsheet and word processor documents on a digital computer. The version management system is preferably integrated into the interface of existing spreadsheet or word processing software to permit a user to access a plurality of versions of spreadsheet or word processing documents. An original version of each document and all alternative versions are stored in a delta format, i.e., storing only the differences from a prior document version, in a common difference data file and version data file. ..... |
| Type of Prior Art | Issued Patents - US |
| Country | United States of America |
| Patent/Application # | 5806078 |
| Kind Code | United States (US) - United STATES Patent - A |
| Patentee Name | Hug, Richard A.; Presser, Leon; Softool Corporation |
| Relevant Pages, Columns, or Lines | Col. 1 Line 46 - Col. 2 Line 3 |
| URL | http://www.freepatentsonline.co... |
| Filing Date | June 9, 1994 |
| Additional Information | |
| Notes | Prior art identified by Susan Murray, IBM, and submitted by Diane Willis. |
Excerpt Summary of the Invention: Col. 1 Line 46 - Col. 2 Line 3The present invention is directed toward a version management system, applicable for maintaining a plurality of versions of spreadsheet or word processing documents, for operation on a digital computing system, e.g., a personal computer (PC). Embodiments of the present invention preferably include delta-formatting means for storing subsequent versions of each document such that only changes from each prior version are stored. A version management system in accordance with the invention preferably includes a version management processor operating in combination with a document processor for storing and retrieving a plurality of documents stored in a digital computer. An original version of a document is stored in a common file with subsequent versions of the document as delta-formatted data representative of the differences from a each prior version document. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all of said delta-formatted document versions are stored in a pair of commonly used files where a first file contains said delta-formatted data pertaining to differences from a prior version of a document and a second file contains identification data and pointers for selecting delta-formatted data from within the first file to be applied to generate a desired document version. Col. 2 Lines 11-16: In a preferred embodiment, sets of delta-formatted data are consecutively applied to regenerate intermediate files until a desired version is regenerated. In an alternative embodiment, the delta-formatted data is directly applied to the original version of a document. From 'Background of the Invention': Col. 1 Lines 21-43 Common uses for computers, especially personal computers, include the processing of documents by spreadsheet processors, using programs such as Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel and Borland Quattro Pro, for displaying a tabular presentation of numerical data and word processors, using programs such as WordPerfect, Microsoft Word and Lotus Ami Pro, for generating and modifying primarily textual data. One of the major strengths of a computer is that its use allows a user to generate and evaluate modifications from original versions of documents. As part of this evaluation, a user or group of users may desire to compare different versions of these documents to determine an optimum result. Presently, this requires the storage of multiple versions of each document, which multiplies the data storage, i.e., disk storage, requirements of the computer. While disk storage capacity has vastly increased since the introduction of the IBM PC as well as the availability of disk compression software, it is still desirable to minimize disk storage requirements. Additionally, the known capabilities for comparing documents is limited. For example, Microsoft Excel is known to be able to generate a list of differences by cell addresses but fails to show version comparisons within its normal spreadsheet display format. |
In a train dispatching system for controlling the movement of plural trains over plural track resources, the plural track resources being defined by domain data, a method of modifying the domain data comprising: (a) developing a first change set of intended modifications to the domain data, (b) developing a second change set of intended modifications to the domain data which reverses the modifications made by the first change set, (c) implementing the first change set to a domain data baseline, (d) evaluating the implementation of the first change set against a predetermined criteria; and (e) implementing the second change set if the evaluation of the first change set does not satisfy the predetermined criteria to return the domain data to the domain data baseline.
| Relevance | See the Excerpt. Disclosed is a version management system that maintains the original version and generates any version of modification from the original version to the last modifications. |
In a software system that uses domain data to define entities upon which the software operates, a method of modifying the domain data comprising: (a) developing a first change set of intended modifications to the domain data; (b) developing a second change set of intended modifications to the domain data which reverses the modifications made by the first change set; (c) implementing the first change set to a domain data baseline; (d) evaluating the implementation of the first change set against a predetermined criteria; and (e) implementing the second change set if the evaluation of the first change set does not satisfy the predetermined criteria to return the domain data to the domain data baseline.
| Relevance | See Claim 1. |
An information system having one or more computer program modules and a database, the database containing domain data that defines entities upon which the computer program modules operate, each of the one or more computer program modules in communication with the database and accessing data from at least a portion of the database, a method of reconfiguring the domain data comprising the steps of: (a) identifying a portion of the domain data to be reconfigured; (b) developing a change set which includes modifications to the identified domain data; (c) implementing the change set; (d) preventing the one or more computer program modules from accessing the identified domain data until the implementation is complete.
| Relevance | From 'Background of the Invention' in the Excerpt. Disclosed are computer programs which 'One of the major strengths of a computer is that its use allows a user to generate and evaluate modifications from original versions of documents. ' which equates to the database in the Claim. |
United States