Calculation of properties of objects/shapes across versions of applications

摘要

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a self-describing file is generated and utilized to provide applications with the ability to properly preserve unknown file content. A self-describing file may contain, or be associated with, an extension section that provides information that an application can use to properly calculate unknown file content. The extension section may include functions of formulas that the application can use to calculate values for data that the application would not otherwise support. This allows for the content of the self-describing file to be modified by an application that does not support all of the capabilities of the file while maintaining the integrity of the file and user experience when the file is subsequently accessed by a full featured application.

主权项

1. A method for creating a self-describing file by a first application, the method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device, a command to create the self-describing file; writing, by the computing device, a first portion of data to the self-describing file, wherein the first portion of data is natively supported by a second application; writing, by the computing device, a second portion of data to the self-describing file, wherein the second portion of data is not natively supported by the second application; providing, by the computing device, an extension element that includes information related to the second portion of data of the self-describing file, wherein the information is used by the second application to manipulate the second portion of data when the second application accesses the self-describing file; and storing, by the computing device, the self-describing file, wherein the stored self-describing file comprises the extension element.