Method and apparatus for creating stylesheets in a data processing system

A method in a data processing system for converting documents, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

• identifying source elements and corresponding target elements;
• presenting an initial target document derived from a source document using the source elements and corresponding target elements;
• receiving user input modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document;
• identifying differences between the initial target document and the final target document;
• and
• creating a stylesheet to convert source documents into target documents using the identified source elements and corresponding target elements and the identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.

A data processing system for creating a stylesheet, the data processing system comprising:

• first receiving means for receiving input identifying a conversion of source elements into target elements;
• displaying means for displaying a presentation of an initial target document from a source document in a graphical user interface using the conversion of source elements and target elements;
• second receiving means for receiving user input altering the presentation of the initial target document to form a target document;
• first generating means, responsive to the input, for generating a first stylesheet to convert the source document into an intermediate source document;
• creating means, responsive to generating the first stylesheet, for creating the intermediate source document;
• comparing means for comparing the intermediate source document with the target document to identify changes in the presentation to form identified changes;
• and
• second generating means for generating a second stylesheet based on the identified changes.

A data processing system for converting documents, the data processing system comprising:

• first identifying means for identifying source elements and corresponding target elements;
• presenting means for presenting an initial target document derived front a source document using the source elements and corresponding target elements;
• receiving means for receiving user input modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document;
• second identifying means for identifying differences between the initial target document and the final target document;
• and
• creating means for creating a stylesheet to convert source documents into target documents using the identified source elements and corresponding target elements and the identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for creating a stylesheet, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for receiving input identifying a conversion of source elements into target elements;
• second instructions for displaying a presentation of an initial target document from a source document in a graphical user interface using the conversion of source elements and target elements;
• third instructions for receiving user input altering the presentation of the initial target document to form a target document;
• fourth instructions, responsive to the input, for generating a first stylesheet to convert the source document into an intermediate source document;
• fifth instructions, responsive to generating the first stylesheet, for creating the intermediate source document;
• sixth instructions for comparing the intermediate source document with the target document to identify changes in the presentation to form identified changes;
• and
• seventh instructions for generating a second stylesheet based on the identified changes.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for converting documents, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for identifying source elements and corresponding target elements;
• second instructions for presenting an initial target document derived from a source document using the source elements and corresponding target elements;
• third instructions for receiving user input modifying presentation of the initial target document to form a final target document;
• fourth instructions for identifying differences between the initial target document and the final target document;
• and
• fifth instructions for creating a stylesheet to convert source documents into target documents using identified source elements and corresponding target elements and identified differences between the initial target document and the final target document.