Automatic republication of data

A method for automatically republishing native data from a native data file into a published file, at least one native data element having previously been published into the published file and a publish object list having been associated with the native data file, the publish object list including at least one publish object indicating whether a selected native data element is to be automatically republished, identifying the location of the selected native data element in the native data file, and identifying the location of the published data element in the published file, the method comprising:

• subsequent to initially publishing the selected native data element, determining that the native data file has been resaved;
• in response to determining that the native data file has been resaved, stepping through each publish object in the publish object list;
• determining from the publish object that the selected native data element is to be automatically republished;
• in response to determining that the selected native data element is to be automatically republished, retrieving the published file and republishing the selected native data element into the published file;
• wherein the publish object is identified by a unique identifier;
• wherein the published data element within the published file is identified by the unique identifier;
• wherein the publish object further indicates a reference to the location of the selected native data element within the native data file;
• and
• wherein republishing the selected native data element into the published file further comprises:
• locating the published data element within the published file by way of the unique identifier;
• deleting the published data element;
• locating the native data element within the native data file by way of the publish object;
• translating the native data element into a published file format;
• and
• replacing the published data element with the translated native data element.

A system comprising

• a memory for storing the native data file and the application program for editing the native data elements;
• an input device for generating input signals;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to the memory and the input device for executing the application program and computer-executable instructions for a method of automatically republishing native data elements, which represent portions of a native data file associated with an application program, into at least one published file, the method comprising:
• creating a publish object for each native data element published, wherein the publish object is a data structure with a plurality of data elements comprising a unique identifier, an identification of the native data element being published, a location of the native data element within the native data file, an identification of the published file where the native data element was initially published, a location of the published file, and a designation of whether the native data element is to be automatically republished upon a resave of the native data file;
• subsequent to initially publishing the native data element, determining that the native data file has been resaved,
• in response to determining that the native data file has been resaved, determining from each publish object whether the native data element is to be automatically republished, and
• in response to determining that at least one native data element is to be automatically republished, retrieving the published file and republishing each native data element corresponding to a publish object indicating that the native data element is to be automatically republished into the published file.

A method for automatically republishing a portion of native data from a native data file associated with an application program into published data within a published file, comprising:

• creating a publish object list, when initially publishing a portion of native data into a published file;
• creating a publish object for each portion of native data published, wherein the publish object is a data structure with a plurality of data elements comprising a unique identifier, an identification of the portion of native data being published, a location of the portion of native data within the native data file, an identification of the published file where the portion of native data was initially published, a location of the published file, and a designation of whether the portion of native data is to be automatically republished upon a resave of the native data file;
• incorporating the publish object into the publish object list;
• subsequent to initially publishing the portion of the native data, determining that the native data file has been resaved;
• in response to determining that the native data file has been resaved, determining from the publish object in the publish object list that the portion of the native data is to be automatically republished;
• and
• in response to determining that the portion of the native data is to be automatically republished, retrieving the published file and republishing the portion of the native data into the published file.