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Method and apparatus for encoding data using check bits for additional data protection, in addition to the time-varying maximum transition run code which eliminates data patterns producing long runs of consecutive transitions. The check bits are inserted into codewords in preselected locations. The

Method and apparatus for encoding data using check bits for additional data protection, in addition to the time-varying maximum transition run code which eliminates data patterns producing long runs of consecutive transitions. The check bits are inserted into codewords in preselected locations. The time-varying maximum transition run code does not permit more than j transitions beginning from an even-numbered sample period and does not permit more than j+l transitions beginning from an odd-numbered sample period, wherein j>1. This time-varying maximum transition run constraint is preserved even after the check bits are inserted, regardless of the bit values of the check bits.

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Method and apparatus for encoding data using check bits for additional data protection, in addition to the time-varying maximum transition run code which eliminates data patterns producing long runs of consecutive transitions. The check bits are inserted into codewords in preselected locations. The

Method and apparatus for encoding data using check bits for additional data protection, in addition to the time-varying maximum transition run code which eliminates data patterns producing long runs of consecutive transitions. The check bits are inserted into codewords in preselected locations. The time-varying maximum transition run code does not permit more than j transitions beginning from an even-numbered sample period and does not permit more than j+l transitions beginning from an odd-numbered sample period, wherein j>1. This time-varying maximum transition run constraint is preserved even after the check bits are inserted, regardless of the bit values of the check bits. maintained in a file in local storage, and further including computer-executable instructions for downloading the file from a remote source. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the download occurs automatically. 16. In a computer system including a software product having error messages, a method comprising: maintaining a file of updated error message information; receiving an indication of an error; searching the file for message information corresponding to the error, and if found, using the found message information to provide an error message, including filling in text to a blank field within text of the found message information, and if not found, providing an error message from the software product. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the indication includes receiving an error identifier corresponding to the error message of the software product, and searching the file includes using the error identifier in the search. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein searching the file includes using a file identifier corresponding to a dynamic link library of the software product. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising constructing a string for searching the file based on the file identifier and an error identifier. 20. The method of claim 16 wherein using the found message information includes evaluating the found message information to determine whether to append text in the found message information to text of the error message of the software product. 21. The method of claim 16 wherein using the found message information includes evaluating the found message information to determine whether to overwrite text of the error message of the software product with text in the found message information. 22. The method of claim 16 wherein using the found message information includes evaluating the found message information to determine whether at least one condition in the data is met. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the found message information includes a link to a source of additional information. 24. The method of claim 16 wherein maintaining a file of updated error message information includes, receiving the file from a remote source, and storing the file at a local storage of the computer system. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein receiving the file from the remote source includes, downloading the file from an Internet site. 26. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising: a first set of information identifying an error; a second set of information corresponding to an updated error message, and a third set of information indicating whether the updated error message will overwrite an existing error message of a software product or will be combined with data of the existing error message. 27. The computer-readable medium having stored thereon the data structure of claim 26, wherein the first set of information includes an errorcode and a file identifier. 28. The computer-readable medium having stored thereon the data structure of claim 26, wherein the second set of information includes a string of text. 29. The computer-readable medium having stored thereon the data structure of claim 26, further comprising, a fourth set of information representative of a match condition indicating whether the updated error message is applicable. 30. The computer-readable medium having stored thereon the data structure of claim 26, wherein the second set of information includes a link to another source of data. 31. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, comprising: selecting errors in a software product for updating error message information therein; storing in a file the updated error message information for the errors selected, along with information identifying whether to replace existing error messages of a software product or combine the error messages of the software product with the updated error message information; and providi ng the file to at least one user of the software product. 32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 including further computer-executable instructions for, removing the updated error message information for at least one previously selected error. 33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 including further computer-executable instructions for, storing in the file at least one link to another source of information. 34. In a computer system including a software product having error messages, a system comprising: a dynamic error messages file of updated error message information; an error handler for receiving an errorcode from the software product indicative of an error; a search mechanism associated with the error handler for searching the dynamic error messages file for information corresponding to the errorcode and providing a search result; and a user interface connected to the error handler for outputting a selected error message based on the search result. 35. The system of claim 34 wherein the error handler interprets the search result to determine whether to output an existing error message of the software product. 36. The system of claim 35 wherein the error handler outputs the existing error message via the user interface if the search result indicates that no updated error message corresponds to the errorcode. 37. The system of claim 35 wherein the error handler outputs an updated error message via the user interface if the search result indicates that an updated error message corresponds to the errorcode. 38. The system of claim 35 wherein the error handler outputs an updated error message via the user interface if the search result indicates that an updated error message corresponds to the errorcode and that the updated error message should replace the existing error message. 39. The system of claim 35 wherein the error handler outputs an updated error message and the existing message of the software product via the user interface if the search result indicates that an updated error message corresponds to the errorcode and that the updated error message should be combined with the existing error message. 40. The system of claim 34 further comprising an additional source of information, and wherein the error handler outputs an updated error message having a link to the additional source of information. 41. The system of claim 34 wherein the dynamic error messages file is formatted in a text-based format. 42. The system of claim 34 wherein at least one existing error message of the software product is maintained in a dynamic link library of the product. 43. In a computer system, a method, comprising: receiving an indication of an error having an existing error message associated therewith; locating updated error message data corresponding to the existing error message; evaluating a replacement instruction associated with the updated error message data to determine whether to combine the updated error message data with the existing error message or replace the existing error message with the updated error message data; and a) if the replacement instruction associated with the updated error message indicates that the updated error message is to be combined, outputting a combined error message including information corresponding to the existing error message and the updated error message data; and b) if the replacement instruction associated with the updated error message indicates that the updated error message is to be replaced, outputting an error message including information corresponding to the updated error message data. 44. The method of claim 43 wherein the updated error message data includes the replacement instruction, and wherein evaluating the replacement instruction includes searching a file of dynamic error message information that includes text to output and the replacement instruction. 45. The method of claim 45 wherein locating data includes constructing a string comprising a c