US 2015/0149893 A1 · Multi-level List Detection Engine

Abstract

A multi-level list detection engine. The multi-level list detection engine detects text obtained from a fixed format document that is formatted as a static multi-level list and creates a dynamic multi-level list object in a flow format document. The resulting dynamic multi-level list object automatically updates as the end user edits the multi-level list in the flow format document. The multi-level list detection engine identifies list elements in the fixed format text based on the presence of a list identifier. The list elements are grouped into lists based on the properties of each list element relative to other list elements. List elements are then assigned to a list level based on the relative properties of the list elements within a list. Finally, level list assignments are verified and corrected, the levels are merged, as necessary, and the lists are consistently formatted as appropriate to create a final well-formed dynamic multi-level list object.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of converting a fixed format document into a flow format document including one or more multi-level lists that dynamically update when edited by an end user, said method comprising:

identifying each text object in a collection of text objects that begins with a list identifier as a list element, said text objects derived from said fixed format document;
creating a new list when said list element and a previous list element in said list do not have selected properties that are substantially similar;
adding said list element to an existing list when said list element and said previous list element in said list have said selected properties that are substantially similar;
assigning said list element to a list level based on said selected properties;
determining a list level format for each said list level based on common properties of list elements belonging to said list level;
and
determining a list format from each said list level format.

4 more elements

A system for generating a flow format document including a multi-level list object from a fixed format document, said system comprising a multi-level list detection engine application operable to:

identify a first text object as a first list element when the first text object begins with a first list identifier;
create a first list beginning with a first list element;
add said first list element to a first list level having a first numbering sequence;
identify a second text object as a second list element when the second text object begins with a second list identifier;
determine whether said second list identifier continues said first numbering sequence;
add said second list element to said first list level when said second list identifier continues said first numbering sequence;
compare a first value corresponding to an indentation of one or more list elements in said first list level to a second value corresponding to an indentation of said second list element to obtain a first indentation comparison result;
and
add said second list element to a second list level having a second numbering sequence when said second list identifier does not continue said first numbering sequence, and said first indentation comparison result indicates that said indentation of said second list element is greater than said indentation of at least one list element in said first list level.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-level List Detection Engine

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Multi-level List Detection Engine

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Abstract

Claims20