Flexible information input and operation selection system

A method for a computer to perform an operation associated with data on a display device which has been chosen by a user, comprising the steps of:

• providing a file having data intended to be displayed on said display device, at least a portion of said data containing no embedded link to other files;
• displaying said data of said file on said display device, said portion of said data being displayed in a manner indicating lack of said embedded link;
• providing a first database and a second database each containing a plurality of records, each record containing a keyword and at least one branch, each branch being associated with a program module;
• selecting one of said first and said second databases to be an active database;
• highlighting, by said user, desired data associated with said portion on said display device;
• comparing said highlighted data with said keywords in said selected database;
• if a match is found, selecting a branch in said selected database based on a predefined criterion;
• and
• executing said program module associated with said branch.

A computer system for performing an operation associated with data in a file intended to be displayed on a display device which has been chosen by a user, said data of said file having at least a portion containing no embedded link to other files;

• said system comprising:
• means for displaying said data of said file on said display device, said portion being displayed in a manner indicating lack of said embedded link;
• a database containing a plurality of records, each record containing a keyword and at least one branch, each branch being associated with a program module;
• means for allowing said user to highlight desired data associated with said portion on said display device;
• means for matching said highlighted data with said keywords;
• means for selecting a branch based on a predefined criterion if a match between said highlighted data and one of said keywords is found;
• and
• means for executing said program module associated with said branch.

A computer system for performing an operation associated with data in a file intended to be displayed on a display device which has been chosen by a user, said data of said file having at least a portion containing no embedded link to other files;

• said system comprising:
• means for displaying said data of said file on said display device, said portion being displayed in a manner indicating lack of said embedded link;
• a database containing a plurality of records, each record containing a keyword and at least one branch, each branch being associated with a program module;
• means for allowing said user to highlight desired data associated with said portion on said display device;
• a first computer program and a second computer program;
• said first computer program comprising:
• means for capturing said highlighted data;
• and
• means for sending said captured data to said second computer program;
• said second computer program comprising:
• means for receiving said captured data from said first computer program;
• means for matching said captured data with said keywords;
• and
• means for selecting a branch based on a predefined criterion if a match between said highlighted data and one of said keywords is found;
• and
• means for executing said program module associated with said branch.