Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed is a process and apparatus for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file that is stored on a storage medium. The active file will preferably have a different format than the external file. The apparatus includes a primary data structure that has plurality of standard fields and an extended field. At least some of the plurality of standard fields and the extended field are preferably associated with an element of data transferred between the active file and the external file. The primary data structure will have a directive field that is set by the application when a data transfer between the files is desired. A translator configured to extract the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application is provided. The translator is further configured to place the extracted data into the primary data structure when the application sets the directive field to implement at least one of the plurality of standard fields, thereby operating in a standard mode. On the other hand, the translator is configured to allocate a secondary data structure and place the extracted data into the secondary data structure when the application sets the directive field to implement the extended field, and thereby operating in an extended mode.

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First Claim