Previewing an assembled document

A method to enable a user to preview a document, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a user interface;
• (b) inputting information, via the user interface, specifying a source file which contains content for a document;
• (c) inputting information, via the user interface, specifying an arrangement of physical components to assemble the document, the physical components including pages to be printed and at least one of:
• a tab page, a front cover, a back cover, and a binding;
• (d) inputting information, via the user interface, defining the pages to be printed, including information specifying selected content from the source file to be printed on said pages;
• and
• (e) generating and displaying an image of the document by combining digital images of at least some of the physical components, in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the information input in steps (c) and (d).

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer readable medium, said process steps to enable a user to preview a document, said process steps comprising steps to:

• (a) provide a user interface;
• (b) input, via the user interface, a user's selection and arrangement of physical components for assembling a document, the physical components including at least one of:
• a tab page, a front cover, a back cover, and a binding;
• (c) obtain digital images of at least some of the physical components specified by the information input in step (b);
• (d) generate an image of the document by combining the digital images of at least some of the physical components in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the information input in step (b);
• and
• (e) cause the image of the document to be displayed,
• wherein the information input in step (b) also specifies at least one printed page, includes a reference to a source file containing content, and includes an indication that content from the source file is to be printed on the at least one printed page.

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer readable medium, said process steps to enable a user to preview a document, said process steps comprising steps to:

• (a) provide a user interface;
• (b) input information, via the user interface, specifying a source file which contains content for a document;
• (c) input information, via the user interface, specifying an arrangement of physical components to assemble the document, the physical components including pages to be printed and at least one of:
• a tab page, a front cover, a back cover, and a binding;
• (d) input information, via the user interface, defining the pages to be printed, including information specifying selected content from the source file to be printed on said pages;
• and
• (e) generate and display an image of the document by combining digital images of at least some of the physical components, in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the information input in steps (c) and (d).

An apparatus to enable a user to preview a document, comprising:

• a processor for executing stored program instruction steps;
• and
• a memory connected to the processor for storing the program instruction steps,
• wherein the program instruction steps include steps to:
• (a) provide a user interface;
• (b) input, via the user interface, a user's selection and arrangement of physical components for assembling a document, the physical components including at least one of:
• a tab page, a front cover, a back cover, and a binding;
• (c) obtain digital images of at least some of the physical components specified by the information input in step (b);
• (d) generate an image of the document by combining the digital images of at least some of the physical components in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the information input in step (b);
• and
• (e) cause the image of the document to be displayed,
• wherein the information input in step (b) also specifies at least one printed page, includes a reference to a source file containing content, and includes an indication that content from the source file is to be printed on the at least one printed page.

An apparatus to enable a user to preview a document, comprising:

• a processor for executing stored program instruction steps;
• and
• a memory connected to the processor for storing the program instruction steps,
• wherein the program instruction steps include steps to:
• (a) provide a user interface;
• (b) input information, via the user interface, specifying a source file which contains content for a document;
• (c) input information, via the user interface, specifying an arrangement of physical components to assemble the document, the physical components including pages to be printed and at least one of:
• a tab page, a front cover, a back cover, and a binding;
• (d) input information, via the user interface, defining the pages to be printed, including information specifying selected content from the source file to be printed on said pages;
• and
• (e) generate and display an image of the document by combining digital images of at least some of the physical components, in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the information input in steps (c) and (d).

A method to enable a user to create and preview a document, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a user interface that enables a user to select physical components from a set of available physical components and to arrange the selected physical components, thereby inputting document information for assembling the document;
• (b) obtaining digital images of at least some of the selected physical components;
• (c) generating image data for the document by combining the digital images of at least some of the selected physical components in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the document information input in step (a);
• and
• (d) causing the image data for the document to be displayed,
• wherein the document information input in step (a) specifies at least one printed page, includes a reference to a source file containing content, and includes an indication that content from the source file is to be printed on the at least one printed page.

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer readable medium, said process steps to enable a user to create and preview a document, said process steps comprising steps to:

• (a) provide a user interface that enables a user to select physical components from a set of available physical components and to arrange the selected physical components, thereby to input document information for assembling the document;
• (b) obtain digital images of at least some of the selected physical components;
• (c) generate image data for the document by combining the digital images of at least some of the selected physical components in a manner so as to simulate an appearance of the document were the document to be physically assembled according to the document information input in step (a);
• and
• (d) cause the image data for the document to be displayed,
• wherein the document information input in step (a) specifies at least one printed page, includes a reference to a source file containing content, and includes an indication that content from the source file is to be printed on the at least one printed page.