Abstract A system for creation and completion of goal oriented electronic forms creates a graphical image data file which defines: a graphical image of a form for display and printing; a graphical image of tree branches, tree nodes, and conclusions in association with fields of the form; reading and writing links between form fields and data sources and destinations; and links to other forms which, with the original form, comprise a related stack of forms. The system includes a form creation mode and a run time mode. The trees are defined by an application developer using the form creation mode to establish both qualitative and quantitative relationships between the various fields on the forms thereby providing the basis for the goal oriented prompting for the application user using the run time mode.
A goal oriented electronic form system comprising: means for generating and means for using form data files which define: a graphical image of at least one goal oriented form for display on a monitor; a graphical image of at least one decision tree discretely associated with fields of a form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: each said decision tree comprises branch objects and conclusion objects; and wherein said objects define logical relations and/or mathematical operations which are the basis for goal oriented prompting within a form and among forms of a set of forms as defined in said form data files.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system for generating form data files further comprises: means for selectively defining data links between selected fields of one or more forms and a variety of different data sources/destinations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said data links are selectively defined as being reading and/or writing links.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said variety of data sources/destinations include: a file of a relational data base; and an ASCII data file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said variety of data sources/destinations includes a dynamic data exchange link (DDE) to an application program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said system comprises means for detecting a request for a link to a non-existant data source/destination; and means for creating a data base in which the fields correspond in name and characteristics to the fields named in said link request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said means for generating comprises a form tool and a tree tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said means for defining data links comprises a link tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system comprises a form creation mode of operation for generating and using said graphical images; and a run time mode of operation with facilities limited to use, but not alteration, of said form data files.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 9 wherein: said run time mode of operation comprises means for selecting a field of a form; and means for selectively displaying a decision tree assigned to that field.
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