Patent ID: 7337395

Claim:
A computer system for modification of stored hierarchical data files, comprising: a memory configured to store a customizing table that includes a plurality of data sets, each data set unique to a particular one of a plurality of hierarchical data file types; and a processor configured to convert data between a first format and one of a plurality of user-modifiable document formats, wherein: when the data is in the first format, the data is arranged as an hierarchical document; when the data is in the user-modifiable document format, the data is arranged as a plurality of data elements, the arrangement configured to provide a document context; the conversion includes a first conversion and a second conversion; in the first conversion, the processor is configured to convert, according to one of the data sets, the data between the first format and a second format; in the second conversion, the processor is configured to convert the data between the second format and the user-modifiable document format, the data set not required for the second conversion; when the data is in the second format, the data is arranged as the plurality of data elements, the arrangement configured to provide the document context; when a download-button is selected, the processor is configured to convert the data from the first format to the second format, and then from the second format to the user-modifiable document format; when an upload-button is selected, the processor is configured to convert the data from the user-modifiable document format to the second format, and then from the second format to the first format; and the processor is configured to: open a hierarchical data file for a first user in a change-mode, and open the hierarchical data file for a second user in a display-mode and bar the second user from opening the hierarchical data file in the change-mode when the first user enters the change-mode for the hierarchical data file, the upload-button selectable when in the change-mode and not selectable when in the display-mode, the download-button selectable when in one of the display-mode and the change-mode.