27. A method in a computer system for implementing a rich text edit field in a dialog window, the computer system having an application program having code for inserting and displaying data in document structures, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: creating a dialog window; allocating space in the dialog window for the rich text edit field; allocating a document structure for storing data that is placed in the rich text edit field; associating the allocated document structure with the rich text edit field; initializing the allocated document structure according to initial format characteristics; displaying the dialog window with the rich text edit field; in response to receiving user input of data for the rich text edit field, invoking the code for inserting and displaying data; and under control of the invoked code for inserting and displaying data, inserting the received data in the allocated document structure associated with the rich text edit field, such that the received data is displayed in the rich text edit field according to the initial format characteristics.
31. The method of claim 27, the application program having a rich text edit control for implementing the rich text edit field, wherein the document structure is defined by the application program and wherein the step of allocating the document structure for storing data that is placed in the rich text edit field is performed by the rich text edit control.