19. A system for processing a hierarchically structured document, comprising: means for creating a first dictionary having a first set of information including key-value pairs when processing a predetermined hierarchical level of the document; means for creating a first dictionary reference to the first dictionary for the predetermined hierarchical level; means for processing a structure element of a subsequent hierarchical level of the document, wherein said subsequent hierarchical level is lower in the hierarchical structure of the document than the predetermined hierarchical level; means for copying the first dictionary reference to a second dictionary reference for the structure portion of the subsequent hierarchical level; means for processing a content portion of the subsequent hierarchical level; means for copying the second dictionary reference to a third dictionary reference for the content portion of the subsequent hierarchical level; means for creating a second dictionary for the subsequent hierarchical level, when processing the content portion of the subsequent hierarchical level, said second dictionary having a second set of information including key-value pairs; means for changing the third dictionary reference to refer first to the second dictionary and subsequently to the first dictionary; and means for searching for an entry in a dictionary when processing content of the subsequent hierarchical level by searching the second dictionary by locating the second dictionary using the third reference and then searching the first dictionary using the third reference, without referring to the first reference.
19. A system for processing a hierarchically structured document, comprising: means for creating a first dictionary having a first set of information including key-value pairs when processing a predetermined hierarchical level of the document; means for creating a first dictionary reference to the first dictionary for the predetermined hierarchical level; means for processing a structure element of a subsequent hierarchical level of the document, wherein said subsequent hierarchical level is lower in the hierarchical structure of the document than the predetermined hierarchical level; means for copying the first dictionary reference to a second dictionary reference for the structure portion of the subsequent hierarchical level; means for processing a content portion of the subsequent hierarchical level; means for copying the second dictionary reference to a third dictionary reference for the content portion of the subsequent hierarchical level; means for creating a second dictionary for the subsequent hierarchical level, when processing the content portion of the subsequent hierarchical level, said second dictionary having a second set of information including key-value pairs; means for changing the third dictionary reference to refer first to the second dictionary and subsequently to the first dictionary; and means for searching for an entry in a dictionary when processing content of the subsequent hierarchical level by searching the second dictionary by locating the second dictionary using the third reference and then searching the first dictionary using the third reference, without referring to the first reference. 21. A system according to claim 19, further comprising: means for creating a data structure used for keeping track of hierarchical levels of the document; wherein each of the dictionary references is referenced within the data structure used for keeping track of hierarchical levels of the document; and wherein said searching step is performed without referring to references within said data structure for keeping track of hierarchical levels except for at a highest hierarchical level which is being processed.