Data object oriented repository system

An integrated multi-application data processing system, comprising:

• (a) a multi-dimensional array of data cells;
• (b) means for generating, storing, and retrieving data files, each data file comprising some data cells from the array, wherein:
• (i) each data cell has a unique multi-dimensional cell address with respect to all cells in data files generated by the system,;
• (ii) each data cell can contain a single data object;
• (iii) each data object includes an object type code, object content being self-contained and/or defined in terms of object content of other data objects, each object type code being associated with a basic data type group wherein the object content is self-contained, a composed data type group wherein each data object comprises references to other objects and information further defining the object content as reflecting a relationship among the referenced data objects, or a compound data type group wherein the data objects each comprise both self-contained data and references to other data objects, and an attribute code for defining one or more attributes of the object content;
• (iv) the object type code corresponds to the object content being any of at least a number, a formula, a date, a text, a page, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text;
• and
• (b) a program framework providing a common user interface for plural types of application programs including database programs, word processor programs, spreadsheet programs, and graphics programs, including plural application programs having incompatible native data file formats, for user interaction with a single one or plural ones of the data files.