Method, system, and apparatus for providing a document preview

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to expose a preview handler interface to an electronic mail client application, the preview handler interface to expose at least one method for initializing a preview handler and loading a previewer for generating a document preview, the preview handler to:

• receive a request from the electronic mail client application to generate a visual preview of an attached document of an electronic mail message within the electronic mail client application;
• transmit a query including a file extension of the attached document to the electronic mail client application in response to the request;
• receive a response to the request from the electronic mail client application;
• identify a previewer for the document type of the attached document for generating the visual preview of the attached document within the electronic mail client application from a plurality of separately executable previewers based on the response to the query provided by the electronic mail client application, wherein:
• each previewer of the plurality of previewers is separately executable from each other previewer and is registered with the preview handler as a previewer for previewing documents of a particular document type within the electronic mail client application, and
• the plurality of previewers includes at least one of a word processor application program and a spreadsheet application program that is registered with the preview handler as a previewer for previewing documents of the document type of the attached document, capable of providing the visual preview of the attached document within the electronic mail client application, and capable of being launched by the electronic mail client application for editing the attached document;
• load the word processor application or the spreadsheet application as the previewer for the document type of the attached document for providing the visual preview of the attached document, wherein the word processor application or the spreadsheet application is designated by the electronic mail client application as a loaded previewer for generating visual previews of other documents of the document type of the attached document when loaded;
• and
• transmit a request to the loaded previewer instructing the loaded previewer to load the attached document and to generate the visual preview of the attached document within the electronic mail client application, wherein the loaded previewer provides one or more interfaces for receiving user input and allowing the visual preview of the attached document to be paged through and navigated within the electronic mail client application.

A computer-implemented method for providing a document preview on a computer, the method comprising:

• exposing a preview host interface at an electronic mail client application running on the computer, the preview host interface comprising:
• a get previewer method through which a preview handler transmits a query to the electronic mail client application and receives a response to the query from the electronic mail client application, the preview handler transmitting the query in response to receiving a request from the electronic mail client application to generate a visual preview of an attached document of an electronic mail message within the electronic mail client application, the query including a file extension of the attached document for requesting the electronic mail client application to identify a previewer designated by the electronic mail client application for generating the visual preview of the attached document based on the file extension of the attached document, the response to the query from the electronic mail client application comprising an identity of a previewer if the electronic mail client application designates a previewer for the document type of the attached document,
• a get previewer class identifier method through which the preview handler may transmit a subsequent query to the electronic mail client application if the get previewer method does not return an identity of a previewer, the response to the subsequent query from the electronic mail client application comprising a previewer class identifier if the electronic mail client application does not designate a previewer for the document type of the attached document, wherein:
• the preview handler is to identify a previewer for the document type of the attached document for generating the visual preview of the attached document from a plurality of separately executable previewers based on the response from the electronic mail client application,
• each previewer of the plurality of previewers is separately executable from each other previewer and is registered with the preview handler as a previewer for previewing documents of a particular document type, and
• the plurality of previewers includes at least one of a word processor application program and a spreadsheet application program that is registered with the preview handler as a previewer for previewing documents of the document type of the attached document within the electronic mail client application, capable of providing the visual preview of the attached document, and capable of being launched by the electronic mail client application for editing the attached document,
• a get interface method through which the preview handler may obtain pointers to other interfaces provided by the electronic mail client application, and
• a done loading method through which the preview handler may inform the electronic mail client application that the attached document to be visually previewed has been loaded;
• and
• loading the word processor application or the spreadsheet application as the previewer for the document type of the attached document for providing the visual preview of the attached document within the electronic mail client application, wherein:
• the word processor application or the spreadsheet application is designated by the electronic mail client application as a loaded previewer for generating visual previews of other documents of the document type of the attached document when loaded, and
• the loaded previewer provides one or more interfaces for receiving user input allowing the visual preview of the attached document to be paged through and navigated within the electronic mail client application.

A computer-implemented method for providing a document preview on a computer, the method comprising:

• providing a preview handler callable by an electronic mail client application running on the computer, the preview handler to:
• receive a request from the electronic mail client application to generate a visual preview of the an attached document within the electronic mail client application,
• transmit a query including a file extension of the attached document to the electronic mail client application,
• receive a response to the query from the electronic mail client application,
• identify a previewer for a document type of the attached document for generating the visual preview of the attached document from a plurality of separately executable previewers based on the response to the query received from the electronic mail client application, wherein:
• each previewer of the plurality of previewers is separately executable from each other previewer and is registered with the preview handler as a previewer for previewing documents of a particular document type within the electronic mail client application, and
• the plurality of previewers includes at least one of a word processor application program and a spreadsheet application program that is registered with the preview handler as a previewer for previewing documents of the document type of the attached document, capable of providing the visual preview of the attached document, and capable of being launched by the electronic mail client application for editing the attached document, and
• load the word processor application or the spreadsheet application within the electronic mail client application as the previewer for the document type of the attached document for providing the visual preview of the attached document, wherein:
• the word processor application or the spreadsheet application is designated by the electronic mail client application as a loaded previewer for generating visual previews of other documents of the document type of the attached document when loaded, and
• the loaded previewer provides one or more interfaces for receiving user input allowing the visual preview of the attached document to be paged through and navigated within the electronic mail client application;
• and
• launching the word processor application or the spreadsheet application that was loaded as the previewer for the document type of the attached document in order to edit the attached document in response to user input received while the visual preview of the attached document is displayed within the electronic mail client application.

A system for providing a document preview in an host application hosting an electronic mail system, the system comprising:

• an electronic mail user interface generated by the host application and configured to display selected electronic mail items to a user, at least one of the selected electronic mail items including first and second attachments, the first attachment comprising a word processing document and the second attachment comprising a spreadsheet document, wherein the electronic mail user interface receives a selection from a user to preview an attachment from among the first and second attachments;
• a preview handler associated with the host application and configured to receive a request from the host application to generate a visual preview of the user-selected attachment;
• a plurality of previewers associated with the preview handler, the plurality of previewers each being independently executable and including a previewer user interface, the previewer user interface of each previewer allowing the visual preview of the user-selected attachment to be paged through and navigated within the host application, the plurality of previewers including at least a first previewer capable of generating a visual preview of a word processing document and a second previewer capable of generating a visual preview of a spreadsheet document, and wherein the second previewer comprises a spreadsheet application program;
• wherein the preview handler is configured to, in response to receiving the request to generate a visual preview of the user-selected attachment, transmit a request including a document type of the user-selected attachment, thereby selecting a previewer from among the plurality of previewers.

A method for providing a document preview on a computer, the method comprising:

• providing a host application executing on a computer, the host application including an electronic mail user interface provided within the host application and configured to display selected electronic mail items to a user, at least one of the selected electronic mail items including first and second attachments, the first attachment comprising a word processing document and the second attachment comprising a spreadsheet document,
• receiving a selection from a user at the electronic mail user interface to generate a visual preview of the first attachment;
• in response to receiving the selection, calling a preview handler from the host application, the preview handler transmitting a first preview request including a document type of the first attachment to the host application, and selecting a first previewer from a plurality of separately executable previewers to be loaded that is associated with the document type of the first attachment for generating the visual preview of the first attachment within the host application;
• in response to the first preview request from the preview handler, loading the first previewer and instructing the first previewer to display the first attachment within the host application, wherein the first previewer is configured to generate a visual preview of a word processing document and includes one or more user interfaces within the host application;
• receiving user input at the one or more user interfaces of the first previewer to page through and navigate the first attachment within the host application;
• receiving a selection from a user at the electronic mail user interface to generate a visual preview of the second attachment within the host application;
• in response to receiving the selection, calling a preview handler from the host application, the preview handler transmitting a second preview request including a document type of the second attachment, and selecting a second previewer from a plurality of separately executable previewers to be loaded that is associated with the document type of the second attachment for generating the visual preview of the second attachment within the host application;
• in response to the second preview request from the preview handler, loading the second previewer and instructing the second previewer to display the second attachment, wherein the second previewer comprises a spreadsheet application and is configured to generate a visual preview of a spreadsheet document, the second previewer including one or more user interfaces;
• receiving user input at the one or more user interfaces of the spreadsheet application to navigate and edit the second attachment;
• wherein the first and second previewers are separately executable from each other and independently launched from and hosted within the host application.