Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

David L Luebbert

Eric Robert Berman

Thomas W Saxton

David R McKinnis

Daniel H Padwa

A method is disclosed for integrating a plurality of discrete subprograms with a main program. The method enables the main program to integrate any discrete subprogram stored in its directory with the main program. The method includes the step of identifying each discrete subprogram stored in the directory of the main program and creating a cross reference array to enable the main program to access the plurality of subprograms. In addition to creating the cross reference array, an event reference list of the main program is updated, enabling commands of the subprogram to be given key and menu assignments, thereby further integrating the subprogram with the main program. Similarly, the subprogram can be removed from the main program simply by deleting the subprogram from the directory of the main program. Further features of the subject invention include a method for enabling the subprogram to request the main program to perform main program functions, and a method for limiting the number of subprograms loaded in the address space of the computer.

Method for integrating a discrete subprogram into a main program

A method and word processing system for handling text pasted into a document that uses a foreign character set or code page. The code page used by text pasted into a document is preserved when that is displayed and edited. The word processing system keeps track of the appropriate code page for each run of text in the document using a piece table and a data block for the file(s) in which each piece of text is stored. Each document that is created has a piece table that includes an array of character positions and a corresponding array of data records. Each piece referenced in the array of character positions includes adjacent characters of text that are stored in a common file. When a file is opened to paste text into the document, the word processing system creates a file control block for that file, which includes a default code page identifier. The array of data records for each piece includes a pointer to the file control block. For any run of text that uses a code page different than the default for the file, an exception block is created. By referencing the default code page and any exception block, the word processing system determines the appropriate code page to be applied when text is displayed and edited. Foreign code page characters are translated into the native code page characters in the display buffer, but references to the foreign code pages are preserved when the document is stored, so that the characters encoded using the foreign code page are not lost or changed in the document.

Method for handling different code pages in text

A method and word processing system for handling text pasted into a document that uses a paragraph delimiter different than that employed by the word processing system. A computer system (10) that is generally conventional in design executes a word processing program that efficiently handles text pasted into a word processing document, even though that text uses a paragraph delimiter different than the native paragraph delimiter of the word processing system. The document opened by the word processing system has a corresponding piece table that includes an array of character positions and an array of data records. Each piece of the piece table represents adjacent characters that stored together in a file, and each record or PCD in the array of data records corresponds to a different piece in the piece table. When a file is opened to select text that will be pasted into the word processing document, a corresponding entry is made in the piece table that includes pointers to a file control block (FCB) for the opened file. The FCB indicates the type of paragraph delimiter used for that text. Thus, the word processing system tracks the appropriate paragraph delimiter used and translates any foreign paragraph delimiter to the native delimiter when displaying the text for editing. When the document is saved to a file, the paragraph delimiter associated with the text is translated to the native paragraph delimiter used by the word processing system.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

David L Luebbert