WO2000049520A1

WO2000049520A1 - Creating hypermedia content for a web site

Info

Publication number: WO2000049520A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/000548
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Russ; Ben Willis; Ian Christopher Kegel; Mark Bagley; Rachel Berry
Original assignee: British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Priority date: 1999-02-17
Filing date: 2000-02-16
Publication date: 2000-08-24
Also published as: AU2561600A; AU777775B2; CA2363006A1; EP1155373A1; WO2000049519A1; AU771925B2; CA2363006C; JP2002537602A; JP2002537603A; AU2561300A; JP4481507B2; EP1161730A1; HK1043841A1; CA2363135A1

Abstract

Hypermedia content for a web site is created making use of a computer configuration such as a personal computer (PC1a) that has an operating system (14) in which files are configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer (17) that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content. The viewer (17) for the operating system is used (step S1) to establish a hierarchical structure of files (Fig. 5) corresponding to content for the web site, and then a conversion program module (29) is run (step S2) to convert the file contents into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure. After locally previewing the hypermedia with a browser (50) the content is uploaded (step S3) to a server to establish the web site.

Description

Creating hypermedia content for a web site

Description

This invention relates to creating hypermedia content for a web site.

It is known that data in the form of hypermedia such as hypertext, is often written in the hypertext language HTML and arranged in web pages that are provided by a server connected through a network to a client. The client may comprise a personal computer or other processing device capable of presenting the data retrieved from the server to a user. The network may comprise a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or may comprise the Internet. For example, the World Wide Web comprises many servers connected over the Internet in a web, which have addresses in the form of universal resource locators (URL).

The hypertext information is arranged in web pages which include hyperlinks to allow the user to establish a link to another web page, which may be located on the same or a different server, the routing to the document being achieved by use of a URL in the web page at the hyperlink.

Web clients typically access the hypermedia information using a browser. An overview of the World Wide Web and HTML is given in Chapter 1 of "HTML 3.2 and CGI Unleashed" J. December and M. Ginsberg 1996 (ISBN 1-57521-177-7) . Although HTML is usually used to prepare web pages, they can also be created in other markup languages.

Web pages can display text, graphics and files of other descriptions such as video images, animated graphics and audio samples. Hypermedia have the significant advantage that the client can rapidly transfer viewing from one document to another by using a mouse to click on hyperlinks in the document, permitting the user to transfer from one web site to another, which may be at different physical locations.

As well known in the art, markup languages such as HTML define the location and format of hypermedia included in the web page. For example, the page may include text in a particular font and at a particular location defined by.HTML markers on the page. In order to create a web site, individual web pages may be written by a programmer in HTML but this is a time consuming exercise and a number of alternative approaches have been implemented hitherto.

HTML converter programs are available which translate documents into HTML. For example, a document prepared in the wordprocessor format can be converted into HTML by the use of such a conversion program. Sometimes, templates are used which define the layout of a page in HTML, into which the user can insert text or other data such as images, in order to create a web page with a particular look and feel.

Often HTML editors are used to create and edit hypertext. Many editors provide a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) way to create and edit HTML files, without actually having to type the individual HTML marker tags which define the position and style of item in each web page. Such HTML editors comprise an application program software package which needs to be loaded onto the computer. The editor establishes a database of HTML files that can be edited and amended using a viewer. The relationship between the individual pages of the web can be displayed graphically.

One example of an HTML editor is FrontPage by Microsoft Corporation. This provides a viewer which allows features such as hyperlinks and graphics to be dropped onto a web page without having to write lines of code in HTML. The editor is provided with a database for storing the web pages and the links between them produced when using the viewer. When a web site has been created using FrontPage, the resulting HTML code can be uploaded to a server from the editor's database. Other HTML editors include PageMill by Adobe Corporation, for use with Macintosh hardware and Webmaster Pro from HeyerTech Inc.

Although HTML editors such as FrontPage, enable high quality web sites to be produced in HTML, the use of the editor requires a certain amount of training and the editor needs to be purchased as an additional package which is loaded onto the computer as an application program, to provide the viewer, the database and other functionality. Such editors enable relatively large web sites to^' be created and maintained effectively but they are not particularly suited to creating and editing relatively small web sites, making them unattractive for example, to users who wish to establish a personal web site or small business users who wish to establish a relatively small web site.

According to the invention there is provided a method of creating hypermedia content for a web site, making use of a computer configuration that has an operating system wherein files are configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content, the method being characterised by using the viewer of the operating system to establish a hierarchical structure of files corresponding to content for the web site, and running a conversion program module to convert the file contents into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure.

The hierarchical file structure may include file folders and at least one of the folders may contain a template file defining a predetermined configuration for hypermedia at a node in the web site corresponding to the folder, and the conversion program module produces a web page corresponding to the template for the node.

The template may be selected from a library thereof, for example by using the file viewer, to place the selected template in a selected folder.

Thus, according to the invention, instead of using a bespoke viewer and associated database in an application program overlying the operating system, the invention makes use of the viewer provided with the operating system and a conversion program module converts the file content into corresponding hypermedia. Accordingly, a person with limited knowledge of HTML, and with no knowledge of specialised HTML editors, can produce a web site by establishing a hierarchical file structure using the operating system viewer and the program module automatically converts the files into corresponding, linked web pages. The invention also includes a conversion program module operable to create hypermedia content for a web site, by running on a computer configuration that has an operating system wherein files are selectively configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content, characterised by the module being operable to convert a hierarchical configuration of files corresponding to content for the web site previously assembled in the operating system using the viewer, into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure.

The invention further includes a library of templates for use in the aforesaid method

In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of client and server workstations connected in a network;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the software running on workstation PC la of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a hierarchical file structure provided by the operating system shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic flow diagram of the steps involved in generating hyperme^'dia for a web site on PC la, in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a screen shot of the hierarchical file structure for the web site when viewed with a file viewer;

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a node page of the web site and viewed in a browser, together with a corresponding partial view of the file structure when viewed in the file viewer as per Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the home page of the web site when viewed in the web browser;

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a file classification process which occurs at a node when producing hypermedia for the web site from the file structure; Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of the process carried out to apply a node template to a folder of the file structure;

Figure 10 illustrates how a text document template is applied to individual files in the folder; Figure 11 illustrates how a plugin in the template is processed in order to create a HTML corresponding to the template;

Figure 12 illustrates how a graphics file is located and inserted, Figure 13 illustrates in more detail how a plugin for a document file is processed; Figure 14 is a process diagram for link templates; and Figure 15 is a schematic flow diagram for uploading the hypermedia produced by the conversion program to a specified site in the network.

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional network in which a plurality of client workstations in the form of personal computers (PCs) la, lb, lc are connected by means of a network 2 to a server 3 which may also be a PC or a dedicated server, as well known in the art. The network 2 may comprise the world-wide web (WWW) a LAN or a WAN.

The basic components of PC la are shown in schematic block diagrammatic form. PC la comprises a screen 4 such as a cathode ray tube or plasma display, keyboard 5, mouse 6, a storage device 7, typically a floppy disc drive 7a, a hard disc 7b, a CD or DVD ROM drive 7c, processor 8, RAM 9, ROM 10 and network connections 11 such as a modem or ISDN interface or, if the network is a local network a suitable network card. The aforementioned components are interconnected by a common bus 12 as well known in the art.

A schematic illustration of the software running on the PC is shown in Figure 2. As well known in the art, a basic input output system (BIOS) 13 provides information interchange between the various components of the PC la shown in Figure 1. An operating system 14 controls operation of the BIOS 13. The operating system includes a file handling system 15 and a graphical user interface (GUI) 16. An example of such an operating system is Microsoft™ Windows e.g. Windows 98™ . As well known in the art, programs and data are arranged in files, which are grouped in directories referred to herein as folders. The file handling system 15 of the operating system 14 allows files to be organised in a hierarchical structure. This structure can be viewed using a file viewer 17 associated with the operating system 14. The file viewer 17 in one example comprises Microsoft Windows Explorer that is supplied with the Windows 98™ operating system.

The operating system 14 allows application programs 18 to be run on the computer.

As well known in the art, the application programs can take a multiplicity of different forms. For example, the application programs may include a wordprocessor such as Microsoft Word™ or programs written by other software suppliers. Also, spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel ™ and presentation programs such as Microsoft Powerpoint™ can be run as application programs 18.

The application programs can also include a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or Netscape Navigator. As known in the art, these browsers are used to display hypertext media derived from web sites e.g. from web sites at the server 3 shown in Figure 1.

A schematic illustration of a hierarchical folder and file structure for PC la is shown in Figure 3. At the top of the hierarchical structure is a folder 20 labelled

"Desktop" . This provides an overview of the files that are accessible by the PC la. Beneath the top of the hierarchical structure is a lower level of folders or subfolders, shown to the right of folder 20, comprising folders 21 and 22. Folder 21 is referenced "My Computer" and contains all of the files held locally on the PC la. Folder 22 includes details of the folders available through the network 2 shown in Figure 1.

The next lower level in the hierarchical structure comprises subfolders 23, 24 and 25. The folder 23 comprises files held on a floppy disk when inserted into the floppy disk drive 7a of Figure 1. Folder 24 is a repository for files held on the hard disk 7b shown in Figure 1 and folder 25 is a repository for files available through the CD/DVD ROM drive 7c of Figure 1. With reference to the folder 24, the next lower level comprises folders 26, 27 and 28 which respectively contain program files, documents and programs for running Microsoft Windows™ . Each of the folders 26, 27 and 28 itself contains subfolders and each of the subfolders contains individual files which may comprise programs or documents or other data.

Program file folder 26 is shown to have a subfolder 29 which contains files for a web site conversion program module according to the invention, and an associated template library as explained in more detail hereinafter.

This general, hierarchical structure of folders is well known in the art and the configuration shown in Figure 3 comprises a typical example of the format used in Microsoft Windows™ . The usual file viewer 17 of Figure 2 enables a display such as shown in Figure 3 to be produced of the folders and file structure. As well known in the art, file viewers such as Microsoft Windows™ Explorer allow file management to be achieved, by permitting files to be dragged and dropped into the folders shown in Figure 3. The file viewer also allows folders to be opened and named, and provided with subfolders according to a desired hierarchical structure, as well known in the art.

In accordance with the invention, the file viewer 17 is used to establish an hierarchical file structure corresponding to web pages for a web site such that the file content can be converted into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks corresponding to the file structure. An overview of the web creation process is given in Figure 4. At step SI, the hierarchical file structure is set up using the viewer 17. Then, at step S2, a conversion program module is run, which converts the file structure established in step SI into hypermedia, with web pages corresponding to the files of the file structure and links between them corresponding to the hierarchy of the file structure. At step S3, the hypermedia produced by step S2 is uploaded to a server to provide a web site. In the present example, the hypermedia is uploaded to server 3 shown in Figure 1 although it will be appreciated that the web site can be established at any convenient server location including PC la itself. Once uploaded, the web site can be viewed using a web browser as previously described.

Overview of file structure and web site

In order to explain the relationship between the file structure established by the viewer 17 and the corresponding web pages, an example will now be given of a web site entitled "Lemon Catering" . The web site is configured to offer menus for different meals to a customer, who can use the web site to order a meal selected from the menus. Referring to Figure 5, for step Si, (Figure 4) the file structure for the Lemon Catering web site is set up using the file viewer 17, in this example Microsoft Windows™ Explorer. The hierarchical relationship of the folders that form the basis of the web site, is shown in Figure 5. As well known in the art, the Windows Explorer viewer 17 includes a left hand window 30 that shows the hierarchical folder structure, and a right hand window 31 that shows the individual files included within a particular folder. In the usual way, the files within a particular folder are revealed by clicking on the folder concerned in the left hand window 30 with the mouse, so as to open the folder such that its files are displayed individually in the right hand window 31. As well known in the art, Microsoft Windows Explorer is provided with a drop down menu (not shown) under the button entitled "File" , referenced 32, which allows the user to create, edit and delete folders and subfolders so as to create the hierarchical file structure for the web site. This process is well known per se to those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that content files for the individual folders can readily be dragged and dropped using the mouse, into individual folders of the hierarchical folder structure shown in window 30. The dragged and dropped files can be obtained from local folders or sub-folders for "My Computer" 21 or from sub-folders for the Network folder 22, or even as downloads from other locations.

The hierarchical folder structure for the "Lemon Catering" web site will now be considered in more detail. It comprises a root folder 33 named "Lemon Source" with the following sub-folders on the next lower level of the hierarchy: "About Us" 34, "Contacts" 35, "Products" 36 and "Services" 37. For the next lower level of the hierarchy, the folder "Products" 36 has associated sub-folders "Meals" 38 and "Snacks" 39. . For the next lower level of the hierarchy, the folder "Meals" 38 has associated sub-folders "Breakfast" 40, "Evening Meal" 41 and "Lunch" 42.

Each folder constitutes a node in the web site and as will be explained in detail hereinafter, gives rise to an HTML web page corresponding to the node, with links to other ones (HTML web pages) of the nodes corresponding to the file hierarchy. Thus the top level folder , referred to herein as the 'root' folder "Lemon Source" 33 corresponds to the Home Page of the web site, and has hyperlinks to node pages corresponding to folders 35 - 39, which in turn have hyperlinks to node pages corresponding to the sub-folders according to the hierarchy shown in Figure 5.

One or more of the folders may contain text files which each provide an HTML web page that has a hyperlink to the node page corresponding to the folder containing the text file. By way of example, the folder "Meals" 38 in Figure 5 is shown open and its contents are shown in the right hand window 31. The folder contents include a word processor text file 43 "Booking Form for all Menus.doc, and text files 44, 45 and 46 corresponding to the text of individual menus. The folder 38 also includes a text file 47 referred to as a comment file with a file suffix ".cmt" with text for inclusion on the node page, and a graphics file 48 for inclusion on the node page, as will be explained later.

Figure 6 is a view of the node web page 49 that is produced from the "Meals" folder 38 when viewed with a web browser. In this example the Microsoft Internet Explorer™ web browser is utilised although others may be used such as the

Netscape Navigator™ . As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, an HTML template is applied to the contents of folder 38 so as to produce a corresponding node web page. The browser has a viewing window 50 which displays the web page corresponding to folder 38.

The web page 49 includes hyperlinks hi corresponding to the hierarchical folder structure. As previously explained, the folder 38 contains files 43-46 (Figure 5) and, in the node web page 49 of Figure 6, hyperlinks b/43-b/46 are provided to web pages corresponding to the document files 43-46. Thus the hyperlinks b/43-b/46 can be considered as document links.

The web page 49 also includes hyperlinks which permit the user to move through the hierarchical folder structure. Hyperlink hi 33 labelled "Home" provides access to the Home Page of the web site, which in this example corresponds to root folder 33 "Lemon Source" shown in the window 30 of the file viewer 17.

The web page 49 further includes hyperlink b/36 labelled "Back" which provides access to the web page corresponding to the next node up in the hierarchical file structure, corresponding to the "Products" folder 36 shown in Figure 5. In terms of the folder hierarchy, the "Products" folder 36 can be considered as a parent for the "Meals" folder 38 and so the hyperlink b/36 can be considered as a parent link.

Referring to the window 30 in Figure 5, it will be seen that the "Meals" folder 38 is at one level up in the hierarchical folder structure from the folders 40, 41 and 42, entitled "Breakfast", "Evening Meal" and "Lunch" . These folders can be considered in terms of the hierarchy as children in relation to the "Meals" folder 38. In the displayed web page 49 of Figure 6, hyperlinks b/40, b/41 and b/42 are provided to web pages corresponding to the folders 41, 42 and 43 and can be considered as child links.

From Figure 5, it can be seen that the "Meals" folder 38 and the Snacks" folder "39 share a common parent folder "Products" 36 and a hyperlink to the so-called cousin folder 39 is provided in web page 49 in Figure 6 by hyperlink b/39, which can be considered as a cousin link.

Also, as shown in Figure 6, a hyperlink b/51 which enables the user to e-mail comments in respect of the web page, is provided. The operation of this hyperlink is conventional and will not be described further herein.

It will therefore be understood that the user can navigate through the hierarchical structure of the web site by using the links displayed on each web page, the links being set up in accordance with the hierarchical file structure established using the file viewer 17 associated with the operating system which, in this example, comprises Microsoft Windows Explorer.

5 Template files

The "look and feel" of the web pages that make up the web site is determined by template files placed in the file structure. The template files are designed to provide a quick and easy way of applying a uniform look to pages of the web site and template files may be provided in a library so that the user can select a particular

10 look for the web site. As previously explained, the web site is arranged with the links corresponding to the hierarchical structure of the files, but the look of the pages corresponds to the templates placed in the file structure. The content of the pages is thus separate from the look of the pages, and the links are also separate, being derived from the file structure.

;;

Thus, the folders in the hierarchical file structure can be considered as nodes and a template is provided to give each node a particular layout and appearance. Furthermore, a template is provided for document files so that these can be given an individual, common appearance different from the node.

20 The template files comprise a template for the Home Page of the web site, a node template that can be used for each folder shown in the window 30 of Figure 5 and a document template for individual document files corresponding to files 43-46 in window 31 of Figure 5.

25 The template files are pre-written in HTML and make use of plugins, as will be described in detail later. The user can choose a particular template file configuration from the library and the template files are dragged and dropped using viewer 17 into the Home Page folder namely "Lemon Source" folder 33 shown in Figure 5. In this example, the template files have a suffix " .tpl" and an example of

30 templates for use at the home page, folders and documents is shown below.

An example of the HTML for the Home page template lemon. tpl is as follows:

<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Welcome to Lemon Catering</TITLE> </HEAD> <' — Globals

<IMG SRC="Logo.g f" BORDER=0 ALT="logo"> <BR> <FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 sιze=2

><I>' 'Comment¹ ' </I></FONT> <P>

<FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 size =6 ><B> ' ' ChildLinks plain honz ' ' </B></FONT> </CENTER>

</TD> </TR> </TABLE> </CENTER>

</BODY> </HTML>

This corresponds to a home page layout as shown in Figure 7.

It will be seen that in the aforementioned template, an image file Logo.gif is included. In the existing templates e.g. in the template library, the convention adopted is that the file contains a non-meaningful object and that the templates are configured so that the user can replace the files by bespoke files, for example a company logo or other image information pertinent to the web site concerned. In the example shown in Figure 7, the user has replaced the original non-meaningful Logo.gif file by a bespoke lemon logo image file. These changes can be easily made by the user, by dragging, dropping and renaming a suitable image file into the "Lemon Source" folder 33.

HTML corresponding to a template node.tpl, which is applied to the node pages, is as follows:

<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>' 'Title node¹ '</TITLE> </HEAD> <' — Globals

<TABLE COLS=3 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0 "

CELLPADDING="0" wιdth=100%>

<TR>

<TD alιgn="center"> <FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 size =4 XB> ' 'HomeLmk bracket honz' ι</BX/FONT>

</TD>

<FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 size =4 ><B> ' ' ParentLmk back honz¹ '</B></FONT>

</TD>

><B>' 'Feedback' '</BX/FONT> </TD>

</TABLE>

' ' Documentlmage ' ' <TD>

<PXF0NT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 sιze=4xB>' 'Comment' '</BX/FONT> </P> <P>

<FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 sιze=4 > ' ' DocumentLinks plain vert alphaup none no no no all¹ '</FONT> </P>

<FONT FACE=Aπal COLOR=#000000 sιze=4XB>For more details, see :</BX/FONT>

<BRXUL>

<FONT FACE=Aπal COLOR=#000000 sιze=4> ' ' ChildLmks bulletlist vert ' ' </FONT> </UL>

</TD> </TR> </TABLE> <HR>

<TR>

¹ 'CousinLinks bottom honz yes' '

</TR>

</TABLE>

</CENTER>

</BODY>

</HTML>

This corresponds to the node page layout as shown in Figure 6.

An example of a template document.tpl that can be used for the document files 43- 46 is as follows:

<TITLE>' 'Title document' '</TITLE>

</HEAD> <' — Globals >

<TABLE COLS=l BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0 "

CELLPADDING="0" wιdth=100%> <TR>

¹ ' Documentlmage ' '

<TD>

<TD ALIGN=top > <FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 sιze=6

><B>' 'Comment' '</Bx/FONT>

<FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 sιze=6 ><B> " DocumentFile none no' '</BX/FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR>

<TD COLSPAN=2 ALIGN=top > <CENTER> <FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 size =4 ><B> ' ' HomeLmk plain vert ' ' </BX/FONT>

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

<FONT FACE=Arιal COLOR=#000000 size =4 ><B> ' ' ParentLmk back vert ' '</B></FONT> &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

<FONT FACE=Arial COLOR=#000000 size =4 >.<B> ! ! CousinLinks plain vert yes ! ! </Bx/FONT> </CENTER> <BR> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </CENTER>

</BODY> </HTML>

Although not shown specifically in the in the drawings, the look and feel of a web page produced using the document template document.tpl is consistent with that of the Home page and node pages produced by the templates lemon.tpl and node.tpl.

The aforementioned three template files are provided in the root "Lemon Source" folder 33 and act to provide a default look for the entire web site but can be selectively overridden by the user if it is desired to give web pages corresponding to individual nodes or files a different appearance. If a further template is placed in one of the folders, then the further template will then be used to provide the default look for that folder and folders or documents below it in the file structure. This can be achieved, for example for a node, by including an individual node template in the corresponding folder, which will override the hierarchy provided by the node template in the Home Page "Lemon Source" folder 33. Thus, for a user with minimal knowledge of HTML, templates from the template library in folder 29 - (Figure 3) provide a quick and easy way of applying a common style to a web site, with the template being selected by the user from the library and dragged and dropped into the root folder of the web site - folder 33 in this example. However, more sophisticated users can adapt and modify individual parts of the web site as desired e.g. by placing different template files in individual folders of the file structure. The template may be individually written in HTML, selected by the user from a library, or downloaded from a remote server, depending on the skill level of the user. Conversion program module

As previously described, the conversion program module, which converts the various files and folders shown in window 30 into hypermedia, resides in program subf older 29 shown in Figure 3.

When the user is satisfied that the hierarchical file structure displayed by the file viewer 17, is satisfactory, the program module is run to convert the file structure into corresponding hypermedia (step S2 of Figure 4). This will now be described in more detail. The program module includes a conventional tree creeper which moves hierarchically downwardly through the file structure, folder by folder, converting the folder contents into corresponding hypermedia, making use of the previously described templates. An example of a suitable tree creeper is given in computer programming algorithm literature, for example: [http://www.cs.hope.edu/ ~alganim/ccaa/tree.html] . Other examples of searching routines which can be used for this purpose are described in "Handbook of

Algorithms and Data Structures in Pascal and C " Gaston Gonnet, Ricardo Baeza-Yates Addison Wesley; ISBN: 0201416077, Chapter 3 : Searching Algorithms.

An overview of the process carried out for each folder will now be described. Referring to Figure 8, at step S2.1, all the files of the folder are identified and at step S2.2, classified according to their file suffixes. Files with the " .tpl" suffix are identified as templates for use in producing the individual web pages. These are shown schematically as block 51. Files which are to be uploaded without conversion to the web site are identified as block 52. For example, files which are in the Microsoft Powerpoint format or other application software files such as spreadsheets, can be loaded to the web site for use as subsequent downloads by users running local copies of the application program rather than browsing by means of a web browser. Text files with the .txt, .htm or .doc suffix are identified in block 53. These files are subsequently converted using the templates previously described, into HTML for the web site, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The various processes carried out at each folder or node will now be described in more detail. Referring to Figure 9, HTML for the node web page is produced using an aforementioned node template. As mentioned previously, the node template can be placed in the relevant folder by the user in order to achieve a particular look for the node concerned. If no node template has been inserted by the user, the node template for the next highest level is used, which can be considered as an "inheritance" of the template, and, if there is no template specified for the next higher level, the routine moves up the file structure so that if necessary, the node template held in the Home Page "Lemon Source" file 33 (Figure 6) is used. Thus, at step S2.3, a search for the node template file in the node concerned is carried out and, if it does not exist, at step S2.4 the search is carried out at a higher level in the file structure and the process is repeated if necessary at higher levels until a suitable node template is found. When the node template is found, it is then used to create HTML as shown at step S2.5. The HTML comprises in effect the menu page associated with the node or folder, of the type shown and described in relation to Figure 6, with a set of hyperlinks to child topics, its parent node and the Home Page, as specified by the template.

Figure 10 illustrates the process carried out to convert document text files (block 53 of Figure 8) into corresponding HTML for inclusion as web pages in the web site. At step S2.6, an individual file is reviewed from the list of files obtained at S2.1 (Figure 8). At step S2.7, the file is reviewed to determine whether it is a text document i.e. with a suffix .txt. If not, the next file is obtained at step S2.6. When .txt file is located, a corresponding document template is sought at step S2.8. As previously described, document templates document.tpl can be placed in a particular node (folder). If however no document template is provided, the process goes back up one level of the hierarchical file structure at step S2.10 to seek a corresponding document template and the process is repeated until an appropriate template is found. This provides a default template at a higher level in the file structure, which can be selectively overridden by the user in the event that a particular template is required at a particular node, or for a particular document. The overriding is achieved by the user placing a bespoke document template in the folder containing the document concerned. The corresponding HTML is then created using the template,^' at step S2.9. As well known in the art, the creation of HTML is achieved by applying HTML tags from the template document to the text of the file obtained at step S2.6. Thus, the text is marked up so as to take up the attributes prescribed by the HTML tags.

It will be understood that corresponding routines for different text file types can be used. Thus a corresponding routine can be run for text documents produced in Microsoft Word™ with step S2.7 checking to see if the documents have a file suffix .doc signifying a Word text file.

Plugins

Plugins can be used in the HTML of each of the different types of templates in order to insert particular information into the corresponding web page. The plugins are identified in the HTML code by ϋxxxϋ. The instruction given within the exclamation marks causes data to be fetched and inserted in the relevant place in the web page produced by the template. Examples of plugins are set out in Table 1 below and examples of the use of such plugins is given hereinbefore in the HTML snippets corresponding to the templates lemon. tpl, node.tpl and document.tpl.

Table 1

estination o er

A process for creating HTML from a template containing plugins is illustrated in Figure 11. When a template is being parsed at step S2.ll and found to contain a plugin, at step S2.12, then the entire reference to the plugin is replaced, including the exclamation marks, by new HTML that corresponds to the function defined by the plugin, at step S2.13, according to the rules set out in Table 1.

A process for handling graphical file references will now be described with - reference to Figure 12. If the template contains graphic file references, i.e. references to files with the suffix .gif or the like, a search is carried out for them at step S2.14. The search is initially carried out in the current folder and if not located, the search moves up one level in the hierarchical folder structure. This search process is repeatedly carried out at higher levels until the corresponding file is found, as illustrated by step S2.15. At step S2.16, the graphic is inserted, into the web page. For example, considering the Home page shown in Figure 7, the HTML template lemon. tpl given above includes reference to "Logo.gif" . This file is included in the "Lemon Source" folder 33 and results in the image 54 being included in the Home Page shown in Figure 7. If any of the node templates refer to "Logo.gif" then the file is located and inserted into the corresponding HTML for the node according to the process shown in Figure 12.

Also the plugin ϋDocumentlmageϋ can be used to import a graphical file into HTML produced by a template. When used in a within a node template, this plugin will insert a reference to an image which has the same name as the current folder. By way of example, referring to Figure 6, the plugin ϋDocumentlmageϋ is used in the template node.tpl with the result that the file "meals.gif" 48 which has the same name as the folder Meals 36 produces a corresponding image 48 in the displayed web page 49 shown in Figure 6. When used within a document template, for eaxmple document.tpl above, the plugin ϋDocumentlmagel! will insert a reference to an image which has the same name as the current document.

As previously described, the document template document.tpl produces individual web pages for documents held within the folder. The plugin UDocumentFile

(parameter list)!! specified in Table 1 is configured to take the text of a particular document file and insert it into the web page, replacing the plugin reference in the template. Use of this plugin can be seen in the example of HTML for the template document.tpl given above. When the plugin UDocumentFile(parameterlist)!! is included in a document template, an HTML web page can be produced with the format of the template and the content of the document file. This process is illustrated in Figure 13, which can be considered as a more detailed discussion of steps S2.8 and S2.9 shown in Figure 10.

Thus, at step S2.9.1, where a document template is located that contains the plugin UDocumentFile(parameterlist)!!, a corresponding document text file is fetched at step S2.9.2. The document is checked at step S2.9.3 to see whether it contains HTML tags already. If so, the file is inserted together with its HTML tags in its entirety in the location of the plugin in the template, at step S2.9.4. However, if the document file contains text which has not already been marked up e.g. a .txt file, suitable HTML paragraph formatting is inserted at step S2.9.5.

As can be seen from Table 1, some plugins are capable of creating the HTML representing a list of items such as hyperlinks to documents (in the case of UDocumentLinks(parameterlist)U).

Links and link templates

As can be seen from Table 1, the parameter <link> is used in a number of the plugins. This enables hyperlinks to be set up between the web pages according to the hierarchical file structure, by using appropriate plugins as per Table 1 in the aforementioned templates. Thus, for example the plugins HHomelink!!, ϋCousinLinksϋ, ϋParentlinkϋ and ϋChildlinksϋ as shown in Table 1 can be used for example as shown in the HTML for the templates lemon. tpl and node.tpl described above to provide corresponding hyperlinks between pages of the web site in accordance with the hierarchical file and folder structure. In order to provide programming flexibility, fragments of HTML referred to herein as "link templates" can be used to extensibly format the specific information provided by the plugins. Considering for example a plugin which defines a hyperlink, such as the plugin !!Childlinks<link><dir>ϋ shown in Table 1, the link parameter < Erik > allows particular text or and/or an image to be associated with the link as displayed in the resulting web page. In this example, the link templates are stored as files containing HTML fragments, with the suffix .lpl and contain instructions that insert the specific information within the fragment, which is then inserted in the web page by the plugin.

Table 1 shows that the link parameter can be in a number of standard forms - the link template allows further flexibility, as described above.

Figure 14 illustrates how the link templates are used to generate HTML. When processing a node or document template, and a plugin with the link parameter is parsed, the link parameter is checked at step S2.17 to determine whether it is in one of the standard forms specified in Table 1. If so, HTML corresponding to the link is formatted according to the standard formats listed in Table 1, e.g. plain, image, table or table with images. This is shown at step S2.18. The corresponding HTML code is outputted at step S2.19.

If, however, a link template is detected at step S2.17, a search is made in the corresponding folder of the hierarchical file structure for the link template at step S2.20. If the link template is not found, the search is carried out at the next level up in the hierarchical folder structure at step S2.21 and the process is repeated at successive higher levels of the structure until the relevant link template is found.

Then, at step S2.22, the link template is examined to determine the specified URL text and image to be associated therewith. At step S2.23, the specific information such as URL, image and appropriate text are inserted into the link template, which in turn is inserted into the relevant plugin so as to produce HTML code as shown at step S2.24.

Comment files .cmt As shown in Table 1, the templates may include a plugin entitled ϋCommentϋ which is used to insert text into the web pages. The plugin is used to incorporate text from files with a suffix .cmt. The plugin has a different effect for node templates and document templates. When used in a node template, the plugin inserts the contents of all files with the suffix .cmt which do not have the same names as document files in the relevant folder. An example of given in Figure 5. The open "Meals" folder 38 includes a comment file entitled Meals. cmt 47. The name of this file is thus different from the names of the other text files in the folder, namely files 43 - 46. The plugin ϋCommentϋ in the template file node.tpl given above is operative to take the text from the file Meals. cmt and insert it at a predetermined location in the HTML corresponding to the node page for the folder Meals 38. This is shown in Figure 6 and the text from the file Meals. cmt 47 is shown at location 47 in Figure 6.

The plugin ϋComment!! is used in a different way in document templates. When used in a document template, the plugin will insert the contents of a single .cmt file with the same name as the document. This enables comment files to add text to a document in a web page corresponding to the document file.

Running conversion program - step S2 Figure 15 shows the process of running the conversion program in more detail. At step S2.25, the source folder for the hierarchical folder structure is specified. In this example, the source folder comprises root folder 33 "Lemon Source" shown in Figure 5.

At step S2.26 the destination folder for the web site is specified. As previously explained, this can be at any suitable location either on the same computer or at a different location in the network. For example, the destination may be a folder at the server 3 shown in Figure 1. At step S2.27, the user has the option of producing a local preview of the web site or uploading HTML for the web site to the specified server. The local preview option allows the user to check the web site before recompiling it for uploading to the specified server.

At step S2.28, the system checks to see which option was selected. If the local preview option is selected, the conversion program module is run at S.2.29 and HTML web pages and other associated hypermedia are produced corresponding to the hierarchical folder structure of Figure 5, as previously described, with the hyperlinks pointing to a predetermined local destination folder on the computer that allows a local preview with a web browser. If the user is not satisfied with the web pages, the configuration of the folder structure can readily be amended with the viewer 17 and the preview process repeated until the desired result is achieved.

Then, when ready, the hypermedia can be produced in a form that is suitable for uploading to the destination folder of the server. The option to upload to the server is then selected at S2.27, so that at step S2.30, the conversion program is run and the resulting HTML web pages and other associated hypermedia are produced corresponding to the hierarchical folder structure of Figure 5, with the hyperlinks pointing to the destination folder specified at step S2.26. The hypermedia is then uploaded to the server at step S3.1.

If the user is not fully satisfied with the configuration of the web site, the file viewer 17 can be re-opened and the files or their links can be easily edited. It will be appreciated that the hierarchy of the files can easily be changed using the standard editing functions provided with the file viewer 17. When the user is satisfied with the amendments made, the process of Figure 15 can be run again so that the changes can quickly and easily be incorporated into the HTML code for the web site.

The resulting web pages include hyperlinks, graphics and other information according to the files and templates included in the folder structure of Figure 5. As previously explained, not all of the files will necessarily contain text. Some may contain spreadsheet and presentation files as may be created by Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint. These files need not necessarily be converted into HTML but may be uploaded in a link-only format so that the user can access them by way of downloading the relevant files to a locally held copy of the application program so that the presentation program files or spreadsheets can be run locally as a download. However, the majority of web pages can be displayed using a conventional web browser 50 in the manner previously described.

Many modifications and variations will be evident to those skilled in the art. Whilst in the described example, the file viewer comprises Microsoft Windows Explorer, many different versions of file viewer could be used. For example, for earlier versions of Windows, File Manager may be used. Also, if the programs are handled in later versions of DOS, the well known DOSSHELL file viewer can be used. It will be appreciated that operating systems other than Windows have their own proprietary file viewer systems, which can be similarly used in accordance with the invention.

Also, whilst the hypermedia has been described in relation to HTML, it will be appreciated that other web markup languages can be used.

The conversion program module can be supplied to users on conventional storage media such as a floppy disc or CD ROM and also can be provided to customers as a download from a server e.g. through the Internet.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to wired network systems but can be used also with wireless, mobile networks, and run on mobile telephones and other mobile web hardware.

Claims

1. A method of creating hypermedia content for a web site, making use of a computer configuration that has an operating system wherein files are configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content, the method being characterised by using the viewer of the operating system to establish a hierarchical structure of files corresponding to content for the web site, and running a conversion program module to convert the file contents into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure.

2. A method according to claim 1 including using the viewer to transfer files of content for the web site from other file locations of the computer configuration, into the hierarchical structure of files for the web site.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the computer configuration is operable to run a plurality of different application programs with individual file formats, and the hierarchical structure for the web site includes files in a plurality of said different formats, the method including using the conversion program module to convert the files of the different formats into a form suitable for use as hypermedia on the web site.

4. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the hierarchical structure includes a file folder, and at least one underlying layer containing at least one file sub-folder, and the conversion program module produces web pages corresponding to the folder and any subfolders with hyperlinks between them corresponding to the folder hierarchy.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the folder contains a template file defining a predetermined configuration for hypermedia at a node in the web site corresponding to the folder, and the conversion program module produces a web page corresponding to the template for the node.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the conversion program module produces a web page corresponding to the template for a node corresponding to the sub folder.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the conversion program module searches the subfolder to determine if it contains a template file defining a predetermined configuration for hypermedia at a node in the web site corresponding to the subfolder and the produces a web page corresponding to the template for a node corresponding to the sub folder.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein if no template file is found in the subfolder, the conversion program module searches said folder to find a template file to be applied to the subfolder.

9. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the template file includes a plugin for inserting predetermined hypermedia from different files into the web page produced by the template.

10. A method according to wherein the plugin defines a link and the conversion program module produces a hyperlink in the web page produced by means of the template with a configuration defined by the link.

11. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the folder or the subfolder contains a document template for defining a predetermined configuration for hypermedia at a web page in the web site corresponding to a text document in the folder or subfolder.

12. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 10 inclding providing a library of said templates and using the file viewer to transfer a selected one or more of the templates from the library to the one or more of the folders.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the folder structure includes a root folder and sub-folders depending therefrom, and including placing at least one of the templates in the root folder.

14. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the computer configuration comprises a network and including arranging the files in the hierarchical structure for the web site, using the file viewer, from different file locations in the network.

15. A method according to any preceding claim including uploading the hypermedia for installation on a server for the web site.

16. A method according to claim 15 including providing a local preview of the hypermedia before uploading it to the server.

17. A method according to any preceding claim including causing the conversion program module to be downloaded to the computer configuration from a remote server.

18. A computer configuration for creating hypermedia content for a web site, the configuration that having an operating system wherein files are configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content, characterised by a conversion program module operable to convert a hierarchical configuration of files corresponding to content for the web site previously assembled in the operating system using the viewer, into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure.

19. A conversion program module operable to create hypermedia content for a web site, by running on a computer configuration that has an operating system wherein files are selectively configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content, characterised by the module being operable to convert a hierarchical configuration of files corresponding to content for the web site previously assembled in the operating system using the viewer, into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure.

20. A program module according to claim 17 recorded on a recording medium insertable into the computer configuration to be loaded therein.

21. A program module according to claim 17 configured as a download to be downloaded from a server to the computer configuration.

22. A template library including a plurality of templates configured for use in a method of creating hypermedia content for a web site, the method making use of a computer configuration that has an operating system wherein files are configurable in a hierarchical structure and the operating system is provided with a viewer that provides a visual display of the hierarchical structure and an indication of the file content, the method including using the viewer of the operating system to establish a hierarchical structure of files corresponding to content for the web site, and running a conversion program module to convert the file contents into hypermedia for the web site with hyperlinks therein corresponding to the file structure wherein the folder contains at least one template file from said library defining a predetermined configuration for hypermedia at a node in the web site corresponding to the folder, and the conversion program module produces a web page corresponding to the template for the node.