CUSTOMIZABLE ELECTRONIC INVOICE WITH OPTIONAL SECURITY

A method on a data processing server for creating customizable electronic documents in a client-server computer network having one or more data processing servers electronically connected to a plurality of data processing clients. In one embodiment, the method provides the sender with the ability of defining, via one or more interface controls, which portions of an electronic bill are changeable and modifiable by one or more recipients. This permits the subsequent users the authority to only modify the fields as controlled by the sender. In another embodiment, the system permits tracking of changes made by each subsequent recipient of the bill compared with the original billing data. In another embodiment, the method provides the recipient a user preference file which controls how the bill is laid-out by the user. The combination of the sender's interface controls and the optional user preference files provides billing data to a plurality of recipients where the permissible fields to be modified or filled in are controlled by the sender and at the same time allow users to view billing data in views defined by each user in a personal preference file. In another embodiment, authenticity and tracking history is added to the customizable electronic bill. The authenticity permits the recipient to verify the sending source and permits the sending source to view and subsequent changes or modifications made by the subsequent recipients. In yet another embodiment, a system is disclosed for carrying out the above method on both a client and a server system.