FRAMEWORK FOR CONSTRUCTING SHARED DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE COLLABORATIVELY ACCESSED BY MULTIPLE USERS

A Shared Document Framework for use by an application program provides collaborative access to a shared document by means of a caucus service associated with the shared document. The caucus service receives messages from caucus members and broadcast transmits them to all caucus members in global order. The Framework includes shared document class information, from which a shared document instance may be created. The shared document class information includes program code logic for creating a local copy of the document being shared; program code logic for causing the application program to join the caucus service as a member; program code logic for receiving a command binding from the application program and sending it to the caucus service as a message; and program code logic, responsive to a command binding broadcast by the caucus, for applying the received command binding to the document when the application program did not send the command binding and for applying the original command binding when the application program did send the command binding.