MYWIHGQN \12. File 111011011 work/Pace Manager
Contents
1. and video amplifier 909 which are con ventional convert pixel data stored in video memory 903 to raster signals suitable for use by monitor 910 Monitor 910 is of a type suitable for displaying graphic images having a resolution of 1120 pixels wide by 832 pixels high Thus it is seen that a graphic interface configuration utility is provided that allows graphic elements in the interface to be linked to variables or functions in any one of a number of programming elements One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow What is claimed is 1 In a computer system having a visual display on which an application program is represented by a graphic image said application program having at least one program routine having variables and action por tions said application program being executed through a graphical program interface that provides a program window on said display said program window contain ing graphic elements representing user inputs and out puts said graphic image and graphic elements being capable of being moved on said display by a suer graphical program interface configuration system for aliowing a programmer to define said graphical pro gram interface said system comprising programmer controllable2. facility is provided within programs that run on such systems Thus within the word processing program referred to above various graphic elements are arranged within various windows which can be opened with the mouse and the various graphic ele ments invoke various functions of the program e g create a new document retrieve an existing document delete a document print a document These graphic interface features within applications programs are cre ated by the writer of the program based on knowledge of the operating system of the computer for which the software is written More recently it has been known to provide as part of the operating system of some computers a graphic interface configuration utility that allows users to create graphic interfaces for their own application programs 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 by using a set of tools provided in a palette toolbox that appears on the screen when the utility is in use The tools include line drawing functions the ability to apply certain colors or shading to certain elements placed on the screen and the ability to place boxes and other items e g buttons at desired locations on the screen The ability to create fields into which text or variables e g for mathematical formulae can be entered is also avail able For example a user may have written a simple program to give as a result the sum of two numbers x and y entered by the end
3. graphical definition means for allowing a programmer to define said program window programmer controllable graphical placement means for for allowing a programmer to place at least one of said graphic elements in said program window programmer centrollable graphical connection means for allowing a programmer to logically des ignate any of said at least one graphic element as an input output element for any one of said at least one program routine 2 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 1 wherein said at least one graphic element represents an input field for a variable and said programmer controllable graphical connection means is for logically designating said graphic element as an input output element for a variable in said program routine 3 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 1 wherein said at least one graphic element represents an action for selection by a user and said programmer controllable graphic connection means is for logically designating said graphic element as an input element for an action portion in said pro gram routine 4 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 1 wherein said programmer controlla ble graphical connection means comprises means for graphically displaying a logical designation established between said graphic element and said program routine 5 163 130 11 5 The graphical program interface configuration system of cla
4. program is represented by a graphic image said application program having at least one program routine having variables and action portions said application program being executed through a graphical program interface that provides a program window on said display said program window containing graphic elements representing user inputs and outputs said graphic image and graphic elements being capable of being moved on said display by a user a graphical program interface configuration method for 60 65 12 allowing a programmer to define said graphical pro gram interface said method comprising the steps of allowing a programmer to graphically define said window allowing a programmer to graphically place at least one of said graphic elements in said window allowing a programmer to graphically logically des ignate any of said at least one graphic element as an input output element for any one of said at least one program routine 13 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 12 wherein said at least one graphic element represents an input field for a variable and said graphical logical designation step is for logically desig nating said graphic element as an input output element for a variable in said program routine 14 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 12 wherein said at least one graphic element represents an action for selection by a user and said graphical logical designat
5. unhighlighted and the system returns to test 607 to check for further clicking of the mouse button If at test 611 the pointer is not over the name of an action in the right hand column of the inspector win dow then at test 613 the system checks to see if the 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 8 the pointer is over the connect button then at step 617 the system invokes the connection making routine of FIG 8 below FIG 7 is a flow diagram of the outlet selection rou tine referred to above which is invoked at step 615 in FIG 6 The routine is entered at step 70 when the mouse button is clicked while the pointer is over the name of an outlet in the left hand column of the inspec tor window The system checks at test 71 to see if the outlet that the pointer is over is already connected to a screen object If the outlet that the pointer is over is already connected to a screen object then any connect ing lines and frame that may be visible are removed from the screen at step 72 new connecting lines be tween the program and the screen object connected to the outlet are displayed at step 73 and a frame is drawn around the object connected to the outlet at step 74 From step 74 or if at test 71 the outlet that the pointer is over is not already connected to a screen object the system proceeds to test 75 to see if the outlet the pointer is over is the target outlet If the outlet the pointer is over is not the targ
6. visible it is made visible at step 601 and in any event the system checks at test 602 to see if the inspector window is in the connection mode If the inspector window is not in the connection mode then it is set to the connection mode at step 603 and in any event the available program outlets are displayed at step 604 in the left hand column of the inspector win dow At test 605 the system tests to see if any of the displayed outlets are already connected If any of the displayed outlets are connected then at step 606 an asterisk is displayed next to each one that is connected and in any event the system checks at test 607 to see if the mouse button has been clicked If the mouse button has not been clicked the system continues to test for a click at test 607 If the mouse button has been clicked then the system checks at test 608 to see if the pointer is within the inspector window If the pointer is not within the inspector window then all connecting lines are removed from the screen at step 609 and the main con nection routine ends at step 610 If at test 608 the pointer is within the inspector win dow then the system checks at test 611 to see if the pointer is over the name of an action in the right hand column of the inspector window If the pointer is over the name of an action in the right hand column of the inspector window then at step 612 the action under the pointer is highlighted and any previously highlighted action is
7. 10 1992 Sheet 2 of 11 5 163 130 FIG 2 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 3 of 11 5 163 130 FIG 3 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 4 of 11 5 163 130 INSPECTOR 400 CONNECTIONS OUTLETS ACTIONS OF OF SOURCE DESTINATION eres 402 2 405 50 FIG 4 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 5 of 11 5 163 130 INSPECTOR 400 CONNECTIONS DESTINATION 500 TARGET gt TIME DIVIDE 1 FIG 5 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 6 of 11 5 163 130 502 501 505 E POINTER VARIABLE NAME FUNCTION NAME 505 FIG 5A U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 7 of 11 5 163 130 760 ENTER WHEN MOUSE BUTTON 16 DOWN AND CONTROL KEY 19 DOWN WITH THE POINTE OVER PROGRAM REPRESENTATION OR OVER A BUTTON TO BE DEFINED HA POINTER MOVED ARE THERE PRE EXISTING CONNECTING LINES DISPLAY CONNECTING LINES BETWEEN PROGRAM REPRESENTATION OR BUTTON AND POINTER 19 POINTER OVER SOME OBJECT TO WHICH OR BUTTON CAN BE CONNECTED 67 HIDE CONNECTING LINES No 1 INSPECTOR WINDOW DRAW FRAME AROUND OBJECT VIABLE 601 Yes INSPECTOR WINDOW 602 16 INSPEC WINDOW YES SET NSPE WINDOW N CONNECTION MODE 605 ess 604 ARE ANY OUTLETS DISPLAY PROGRAM OUTLETS ALREADY CONNECTED soe FE DISPLAY ASTERISK NEXT TO ONTLET IN LEFT COLUMN INSPECTOR WI
8. D TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION DATED Nov 10 1992 INVENTOR S Jean Marie Hullot It is certified that error appears in the above indentified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below Item 57 Abstract line 1 is should be deleted Column 1 line 6 abandoned should be now abandoned Column 3 line 7 graphic should be graphic Claim 1 column 10 line 35 suer should be user column 10 line 43 for second occurrence should be deleted Claim 3 column 10 line 60 graphic should be graphical Signed and Sealed this Twelfth Day of April 1994 aie BRUCE LEHMAN Attest Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks Attesting Officer
9. NDOW NAME FIG 6 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 8 of 11 5 163 130 WAG THE MOUSE BUTTON BEEN 607 608 POIN IN INSPECTOR WINDOW oli NE 4 POINTER OVER THE OF AN ACTION IN THE RIGHT COLUMN 7 607 HIDE CONNECTING UNES 10 HIGHLIGHT THE ACTION UNDER THE POINTER AND UNHIGHLIGHT ANY PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED ACTION fold h i 15 PON OVER THE NAME Or A OUTLET IN THE LEFT COLUMN 614 LYes NO HIGHLIGHT THE OUTLET UNDER THE POINTER AND 0 7 POINTER OVE WNHIGHUGHT ANY PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHT THE CONNECT BUTTON TE OHIE e15 ic INVOKE OUTLET 617 fELECTION ROUTING INVOKE CONNECTION MAKING ROUTINE FIG 6A U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 9 of 11 5 163 130 RUE e MOUSE BUTTON 9 CLICKED HE NAME OF AN OUTLET IN THE COLUMN OF THE INSPECTOR WINDOW 71 THE OUTLET ALREADY CONNECTED HIDE CONNECTING LINE AND FRAME IF ANY V OUTLET THE E EMPTY THE RIGHT TARGET OUTLET A MN IN THE INSPECTOR WINDOW IF IT ES o ALREADY HOW CONNECTING LINES BETWEEN PROGRAM AND DISPLAY ACTION EN OBJECT CONNECTED 7 OUTLET APPOGUIATED WITH OF PROGRAM BUTTON IN RIGHT DLUMN 4 OF INSPECTOR WINDOW Ay reda t A OUTLET OF PROGRAM ANY ACTIONI ALREADY CONNECTED DISPLAY ASTERISK NEXT ACTION NAME FIG 7 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sh
10. United States Patent Hullot 54 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A GRAPHIC INTERFACE 75 Inventor Jean Marie Hullot La Celle Saint Cloud France 73 Assignee NeXT Computer Inc Redwood City Calif 21 Appl No 879 126 2 Filed May 5 1992 Related U S Application Data 63 Continuation of Ser No 419 764 Oct 11 1989 aban doned 51 Int C15 airsoii eie 06 15 20 52 128 395 148 58 Field of Search 395 144 149 395 155 157 159 161 US005163130A 11 Patent Number 5 163 130 4 Date of Patent Nov 10 1992 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 315 315 2 1982 Kossiakoff 364 518 4 860 204 8 1989 Gendron et al 364 518 X 4 885 717 12 1989 Beck etal 364 900 4 914 568 4 1990 Kodosky et al 364 200 Primary Examiner Heather R Herndon Attorney Agent or Firm Laurence S Rogers Jeffrey H Ingerman 57 ABSTRACT A graphic interface configuration system is allows a user to create a graphic interface for a computer pro gram in which graphic elements in the interface are linked to variables or functions in any one of a number of programming elements 21 Claims 11 Drawing Sheets a 10 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 1 of 11 5 163 130 FIG U S Patent Noy
11. a simple program as described above for taking two numbers x and y as inputs and displaying their sum as the result r As shown in FIG 1 display 10 shows the interface configuration system menu 11 from which the user has already selected the new application function a palet te toolbox 12 from which the user has selected a win dow three boxes and a button and a file window 13 displaying information regarding files being worked on Specifically file window 13 contains a graphic element 130 representing myProgram which has no visual counterpart a graphic element 131 representing my Window which is the window 14 being defined by the user and three graphic elements 132 in the shape of suitcases which represent various file characteristics The user can open and close myWindow 14 by clicking on its representation 131 The user has defined my Window 14 to contain a field 140 preceded by a text label x a field 141 preceded by a text label a field 142 preceded by a text label r and a button 143 labelled The program is used by moving the pointer to field 140 and clicking the mouse button thus allowing entry of the value x then doing the same with field 141 to enter the value y then moving the pointer to button 143 and clicking which invokes the functional portion of myProgram causing the sum of x and y to be displayed in field 142 In order to have the program work in this way it is necessary to l
12. al or mag netooptical storage technology or any other available mass storage technology These components are inter connected via conventional bidirectional system bus 907 Bus 907 contains 32 address lines for addressing any portion of memory 902 and 903 System bus 907 also includes a 32 bit data bus for transferring data be tween and among CPU 901 main memory 902 video memory 903 and mass storage 906 In the preferred embodiment of system 900 CPU 901 is a Motorola 68030 32 bit microprocessor but any other suitable microprocessor or microcomputer may alternatively be used Detailed information about the 68030 micro processor in particular concerning its instruction set bus structure and control lines is available from MC68030 Users Manual published by Motorola Inc of Phoenix Ariz Main memory 902 of system 900 comprises eight megabytes of conventional dynamic random access 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 65 10 memory although more or less memory may suitably be used Video memory 903 comprises 256K bytes of conventional dual ported video random access mem ory Again depending on the resolution desired more or less such memory may be used Connected to a port of video memory 903 is video multiplex and shifter circuitry 908 to which in turn is connected video ampli fier 909 Video amplifier 909 drives cathode ray tube CRT raster monitor 910 Video multiplex and shifter circuitry 908
13. d action portions and b if a selected one of said displayed variables and action portions has a graphic element logically designated as an input output element therefor cancelling logical designation of said graphic element as an input output element for said selected one of said displayed variables and action por tions i 10 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 9 wherein said programmer invocable actuation means changes its appearance according to whether or not said selected one of said displayed vari ables and action portions has a graphic element logi cally designated as an input output element therefor 11 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 8 wherein said programmer controlla ble graphical connection means comprises means for if a selected one of said displayed variables and action portions is subject to a pre existing logical designation of a second graphic element in said program window as an input output element therefor terminating the graphical display of an attempted logical designation established between said graphic element and said one of said variables and action portions and graphically displaying said pre existing logical designation between 5 10 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 said second graphic element and said one of said vari ables and action portions 12 For use in a computer system having a visual display on which an application
14. e is a selected outlet If there is no selected outlet then the system returns to test 607 of the main connec tion routine to await further mouse clicks If at test 81 there is a selected outlet the system checks at test 82 to pointer is over the name of an outlet in the left hand column of the inspector window If the pointer is over the name of an outlet in the left hand column of the inspector window then at step 614 the outlet under the pointer is highlighted and any previously highlighted outlet is unhighlighted and at step 615 the system in vokes the outlet selection routine of FIG 7 below If at test 613 the pointer is not over the name of an outlet in the left hand column of the inspector window then at test 616 the system checks to see if the pointer is over the connect button If the pointer is not over the con nect button then the system returns to test 607 to check for further clicking of the mouse button If at test 616 60 65 see if the selected outlet is the target outlet If the selected outlet is not the target outlet then at test 83 the system checks to see if the outlet is already con nected If the outlet is already connected then at step 84 the outlet is disconnected from the highlighted screen object and the asterisk is removed from next to the name of the outlet in the left hand column of the inspec tor window The label of the connect button is then changed to Connect at step 85 a
15. ection process FIG 7 is a flow diagram of a portion of the process implemented by another portion of the connection pro cess of the system and method of the present invention FIG 8 is a flow diagram of a portion of the process implemented by another portion of the connection pro cess of the system and method of the present invention and FIG 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary hardware configuration for a computer on which the system and method of the present invention are implemented DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the graphic interface configuration system of the present invention can be used on computers using any number of programming languages it is best suited to computers running object oriented programming languages such as those described above and the pre ferred embodiment of the invention is designed for a computer whose graphic interface is written in the ob ject oriented C programming language Therefore the discussion that follows will be tailored at least in part to object oriented programming and to object oriented C programming in particular It is to be understood how ever that the present invention is not limited to systems that run object oriented programming languages The graphic interface configuration system of the present invention is a self contained utility that is sepa rate from the underlying programs for which it is used to create interfaces The underlying programs can be wr
16. eet 10 of 11 5 163 130 80 ENTER WHEN MOUSE BUTTON 19 CLICKED WITH POINTER OVER THE CONNECT BUTTON et THERE A SELECTED ouret ESA ad 82 le OUTLET THE TARGET OUTLET 89 9 THE OUTLET ALREADY CONNECTED 83 NO 19 THERE A 4 amp LECTED ACTION DISCONNECT OUTLET AND REMOVE THE ASTERISK NEXT TO IT NAME 1 THE ELECTED ACTION NO WITH A PROGRAM BUTTON CONNECTION THROUGH THE TARGET CONNECT THE OUTLET OF THE PROGRAM TO THE HIGHLIGHTED EN OBJECT AND DISCONNECT TARGET OUTLET Coney aa aire 19K AND REMOVE THE ASTERISK T 7TERI FROM AHOUATED ACTION NEXT TO 179 NAME 80 AAOCIATE SELECTED ACTION WITH 4 PROGRAM BUTTON CONNECTION THROUGH THE TARGET OUTLET DISPLAY AE NEXT TO ACTION NAME AND REMOVE ANY OTHER ASTERIKKS 8 CHANGE LABEL ON CONNECT BUTTON TO CONNECT 87 CHANGE LABEL ON CONNECT BUTTON TO DISCONNECT 0 FIG 8 U S Patent Nov 10 1992 Sheet 11 of 11 5 163 130 FIG 9 207 910 CRT VIDEO mux anot 208 SHIFTER V DE O MEMORY 901 MAN MEMORY KEY BOARD 5 163 130 1 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING GRAPHIC INTERFACE This is a continuation of application Ser No 07 419 764 filed Oct 11 1989 abandoned entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A GRAPHIC INTERFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to compu
17. esired variables Jt is then necessary to connect any action buttons such as button 143 to the program structures that perform the desired functions Such connections are established by a process that is similar to that for linking fields to variables except that instead of positioning the pointer over the program representation in file window 13 and drawing a line to the desired field one starts with the pointer on the desired button Again the mouse button is held down while CTRL is being pressed and a line is drawn not shown from button 143 to representation 130 of my Program in file window 13 which becomes highlighted as did field 140 in the process described above In this case the display in inspector window 30 is slightly different as shown in FIG 5 The user is really interested in connecting an action to myProgram How ever in the preferred embodiment of the invention 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 6 only variables or outlets can be connected to a pro gram Therefore when an action is to be connected it must be connected through a special variable known as Target which is one of the variables that will be displayed in subwindow 404 during the action connec tion process as shown in FIG 5 The listing for the variable Target will be marked by an arrow 500 pointing toward action subwindow 405 where various possible actions available through corresponding struc tu
18. et outlet then no actions should be visible in the right hand column of the inspector win dow and at step 76 any actions that may have been visible in the right hand column of the inspector win dow from a previously highlighted target outlet are removed from the screen The system then returns to test 607 of the main connection routine to await further mouse clicks If at test 75 the outlet the pointer is over is the tar get outlet then at step 77 any action or actions associ ated with the button highlighted on the screen are dis played in the right hand column of the inspector win dow At test 78 the system tests to see if any of the displayed actions are already connected to other pro gram segments If none of the displayed actions are already connected to other program segments then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection rou tine to await further mouse clicks If any of the dis played actions are already connected to other program segments then at step 79 an asterisk is displayed next to the name of each action so connected and then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection rou tine to await further mouse clicks FIG 8 is a flow diagram of the connection making routine referred to above which is invoked at step 617 in FIG 6 The routine is entered at step 80 when the mouse button is clicked while the pointer is over the connect button At test 81 the system checks to see if ther
19. he graphical program interface configuration system in cludes graphical definition means for creating the win dow graphical placement means for placing at least one of the graphic elements in the window and graphical connection means for logically connecting each graphic element to any one of a number of program elements BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like refer 5 163 130 3 ence characters refer to like parts throughout and in which FIG 1 shows a screen display presented to a user of the graphic interface configuration system and method of the present invention FIG 2 shows another screen display presented to a user of the graphic interface configuration system and method of the present invention FIG 3 shows another screen display presented to a user of the graphic interface configuration system and method of the present invention FIG 4 shows a portion of the screen display of FIG 3 FIG 5 shows another form of the display of FIG 4 FIG 5A shows a table of information stored in accor dance with the present invention FIGS 6 and 6A hereinafter collectively referred to as FIG 6 are a flow diagram of a portion of the process implemented by the system and method of the present invention when a user begins the conn
20. he pointer has moved If the pointer has moved then at test 62 the system tests to see if there are pre existing connecting lines If there are pre existing connecting lines they are removed 5 163 130 7 from the screen at step 63 Whether or not there were preexisting connecting lines new connecting lines be tween program representation 130 or button 143 and pointer 20 are displayed at step 64 and the system re turns to test 61 to check for further pointer movement If at test 61 the pointer has not been moved then the system checks at test 65 to see if the mouse button has been released If the mouse button has not been re leased the system returns to test 61 to continue check ing for pointer movement If at test 65 the mouse button has been released then at test 66 the system checks to see if the pointer is over a type of object to which the program represented by element 130 if the connecting line starts there or the button depicted at 143 if the connecting line starts there can be connected If the pointer is not over an object to which a connection can be made then at step 67 all connecting lines are re moved from the screen and the main connection routine ends at step 68 If at test 66 the pointer is over an object to which a connection can be made then at step 69 a frame is dis played around the object and the system checks at test 600 to see if the inspector window is visible If the in spector window is not
21. hical variable and action portion displaying step comprises an actuation step of a if a selected one of said displayed variables and action portions does not have a graphic element logically designated as an input output element there for logically designating said graphic element as an input output element for said selected one of said dis played variables and action portions and b if a se lected one of said displayed variables and action por tions has a graphic element logically designated as an input output element therefor cancelling logical desig nation of said graphic element as an input output ele ment for said selected one of said displayed variables and action portions 21 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 19 wherein said graphical designation step comprises if a selected one of said displayed vari ables and action portions is subject to a pre existing logical designation of a second graphic element in said 5 163 130 13 program window as an input output element therefor terminating the graphical display of an attempted logi cal designation established between said graphic ele ment and said one of said variables and action portions 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 65 14 and graphically displaying said pre existing logical des ignation between said second graphic element and said one of said variables and action portions UNITED STATES PATENT AN
22. im 4 wherein said programmer controlla bie graphical connection means further comprises means for graphically highlighting said graphic element and said program routine while said logical designation is displayed 4 6 graphical program interface configuration system of claim 4 wherein said graphical connection means further comprises means for graphically display ing said variables and said action portions for which said graphical element can be designated as an input output element 7 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 6 wherein said graphical variable and action portion display means comprises means for in dicting if any one of said variables and action portions has a graphic element logically designated as an input output element therefor 8 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 6 wherein said graphical variable and action portion display means comprises means for se lecting one of said displayed variables and action por tions 9 The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 8 wherein said graphical variable and action portion display means comprises actuation means for a if a selected one of said displayed variables and action portions does not have a graphic element logi cally designated as an input output element therefor logically designating said graphic element as an input output element for said selected one of said displayed variables an
23. ink fields 140 142 to the variables in my Program representing x y and r and to link button 143 to the functional portion of myProgram In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inven tion such linkage or connection is established as fol lows To link a field to a variable in a program the user selects the program by moving the pointer 20 to the representation of that program in file window 13 al though not the case in FIG 1 there maybe more than one program from which to choose and clicking the mouse button while holding down the control CTRL key on the computer keyboard While continuing to hold the mouse button down the control key can be released the user moves the mouse toward the field of interest drawing a line 21 as shown in FIG 2 from the program representation When the line reaches the field of interest e g field 140 and the user releases the mouse button the field is highlighted as shown in FIG 3 At that point a new window 30 appears on display 10 unless it was already present from a previous activ ity Window 30 is called the inspector window and it is shown in more detail in FIG 4 In this mode of opera tion i e the linking or connection mode the func tion of inspector window 30 is to display the variables and function routines of the program to which graphic elements are to be connected and to facilitate the mak ing of such connections Inspector window 30 has a mode
24. ion step is for logically designating said graphic element as an input element for an action portion in said program routine 15 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 12 wherein said graphical designation step comprises graphically displaying a logical designa tion established between said graphic element and said program routine 16 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 15 wherein said graphical designation step further comprises graphically highlighting said graphic element and said program routine while said logical designation is displayed 17 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 15 wherein said graphical designation step further comprises graphically displaying said vari ables and said action portions for which said graphical element could be designated as an input output ele ment 18 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 17 wherein said graphical variable and action portion displaying step comprises indicating if any one of said variables and action portions has a graphic element logically designated as an input output element therefor 19 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 17 wherein said graphical variable and action portion displaying step comprises selecting one of said displayed variables and action portions 20 The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 19 wherein said grap
25. itten before or after the interface is created and are generally capable of being executed without an inter face created by the present invention or even without any graphic interface at all A user of the present invention may invoke the graphic interface configuration system either before after the underlying program an interface for which is to be created has been written If the program has not been written the present invention allows the user to define the existence of certain variables and functions sufficiently to allow the user to construct the necessary graphic interface At the same time it creates a skeletal program in which the variables and data structures are defined so that the user can go back afterwards and define the remainder of the program The remainder of the discussion will assume that the program has been written and that the interface configuration system of the invention has available to it knowledge of the pro 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 gram structure How that knowledge is acquired will be discussed below FIG 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a com puter display that is seen when a user has entered the graphic interface configuration system of the invention has identified to the system the program file for which the interface is to be created and has created the inter face display screen In this case the user program named myProgram is
26. nd then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection routine to await further mouse clicks If at test 83 the outlet is not already connected then at step 86 the outlet is con nected to the highlighted screen object and an asterisk is displayed next to the name of the outlet in the left hand column of the inspector window The label of the con 5 163 130 9 nect button is then changed to Disconnect at step 87 and then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection routine to await further mouse clicks If at test 82 the outlet is the target outlet then at test 88 the system checks to see if there is a highlighted action in the right hand column of the inspector win dow If there is not a highlighted action in the right hand column of the inspector window then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection routine to await further mouse clicks If there is a highlighted action in the right hand column of the inspector win dow then at test 89 the system checks to see if the highlighted action is associated with a program button connection through the target outlet If the high lighted action is associated with a program button con nection through the target outlet then at step 800 the target outlet is disconnected and the asterisk next to the name of the associated action in the right hand col umn of the inspector window is removed from the screen The label of the connect button i
27. o the interface and a list of connections For each connection in the connection list the system stores as part of the graphic interface configuration file a table 501 shown in FIG 5A containing the type of connection 502 outlet or target action its source 503 for an outlet or destination 504 for a target action in the form of a pointer to the correct object in the object list and the name 505 of the outlet variable or action object When the configuration file including one or more tables 501 has been saved the work of the graphic interface configuration system of the invention is com plete When the user writes the program for which the interface is constructed whether before or after the interface has been constructed the first line must be an instruction to load and execute the graphic interface configuration file Execution of the configuration file loads the correct files makes the appropriate connec tions based in part on the tables 501 and displays the correct windows and other graphic elements so that the end user of the program is faced only with the inter face FIG 6 is a flow diagram of a routine hereinafter referred to as the main connection routine which is invoked at step 60 when a user presses a mouse button while the CTRL key is down and pointer 20 is over a program representation such as graphic element 130 or Over a screen button object such as button 143 At test 61 the system checks to see if t
28. one program is involved It would be desirable to be able to provide a graphic interface configuration utility that would allow fields in the interface to be linked to variables in an underlying program It would also be desirable to be able to provide a graphic interface configuration utility that would allow graphic elements in the interface to be linked to vari ables or functions in any one of a number of program ming elements SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a graphic interface configuration utility that allows fields in the interface to be linked to variables in an underlying pro gram It is also an object of this invention to provide a graphic interface configuration utility that allows graphic elements in the interface to be linked to vari ables or functions in any one of a number of program ming elements In accordance with this invention a graphic interface configuration utility is provided for use in a computer system having a visual display on which an application program is represented by a graphic image the applica tion program having at least one program element hav ing variables and action portions and the application program being executed through a graphical program interface that provides windows on the display which windows contain graphic elements representing user inputs The graphic image and graphic elements are capable of being moved on said display by a user T
29. res in myProgram are listed To connect the action Plus to button 143 the user highlights the variable Target then the action Plus and clicks on nect button 403 As in the case of variables an asterisk or other flag not shown is displayed next to the name of a connected action and when it is highlighted nect button 403 becomes a Disconnect button Simi larly existing connections to a program will be dis played if a connected action is highlighted In the case referred to above when a program al ready exists its characteristics are made available to the graphic interface configuration system of the present invention through a facility in the preferred embodi ment of the operating system known as the workspace manager The workspace manager provides a window 15 shown in FIG 1 in which representations of various available files are displayed By highlighting representa tion 150 of myProgram dragging it to File Window 13 and dropping it into that one of suitcases 132 labelled classes the user makes the characteristics of myPro gram known to the graphic interface configuration system When a graphic interface has been configured and the user signifies completion of the configuration process by selecting Save from menu 11 the graphic interface configuration system stores the graphic interface con figuration in a file containing a list of all programming objects related t
30. s then changed to Connect at step 85 and then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection routine to await further mouse clicks If at test 89 the highlighted action is not associated with a program button connection through the target outlet then at step 801 a target outlet program connection is made the highlighted action is associated with that connection an asterisk is displayed next to the name of the action in the right hand column of the inspector window and any other asterisks in the right hand column of the inspector window are re moved from the screen The label of the connect button is then changed to Disconnect at step 87 and then the system returns to test 607 of the main connection rou tine to await further mouse clicks HARDWARE SYSTEM While the present invention may advantageously be implemented on nearly any conventional computer system an exemplary computer system 900 on which the present invention is implemented is shown in FIG 9 FIG 9 shows a preferred embodiment of a hardware system 900 implementing the present invention as part of a computer system In FIG 9 system 900 includes CPU 901 main memory 902 video memory 903 a key board 904 for user input supplemented by a conven tional mouse 905 for manipulating graphic images ac cording to the present invention and mass storage 906 which may include both fixed and removable media using any one or more of magnetic optic
31. subwindow 400 which displays the mode of operation of inspector win dow 30 which has several different modes of operation As shown in FIG 4 inspector window 30 is in the 5 163 130 5 connection mode Inspector window 30 also has com ment subwindow 401 which displays different com ments depending on the mode of operation and on what portion of inspector window 30 is highlighted Inspec tor window 30 also has two buttons 402 403 which initiate functions when clicked on with the mouse But ton 402 labelled Revert has no function and in fact is disabled in connection mode Button 403 labelled Connect serves a connect disconnect function as described in more detail below in connection mode Finally inspector window 30 has two subwindows 404 405 respectively labelled Outlets of Source and tions of Destination which respectively list the vari ables and program function routines available for con nection With the variables of myProgram displayed in sub window 404 the user moves the pointer to the desired variable and clicks to highlight it not shown The user then moves the pointer to the connect disconnect but ton 403 which is then labelled Connect and clicks That establishes the connection between the variable and the field in myWindow that is highlighted At that point a flag such as asterisk 406 appears next to the variable name in subwindow 404 indicating that that
32. ters having graphical ly oriented user interfaces More particularly this in vention relates to such computers which provide the facility for users to create their own graphic interfaces for application programs that they write Most particu larly this invention relates to a system and method for allowing users to link graphic elements of interfaces that they create to specific variables and functions in their application programs Computer systems are known in which the operating system provides a graphic interface with the computer user The user can run application programs manipu late files and perform substantially all other functions needed by the average user by manipulating graphic images on the computer s display either by using cursor control keys and other keyboard keys or by using a cursor controlling peripheral device such as a joystick mouse or track ball In such a system programs are frequently repre sented by small graphic images that identify the pro grams to the user For example a word processing program might be represented by a graphic image ofa piece of paper having lines of text on it and a writing instrument such as a pencil or a quill pen writing on the page A program is invoked by moving the cursor or a pointer to the graphic image representing the program e g by using a mouse and then pressing the appropri ate button e g the mouse button or the Enter key on the keyboard Similar
33. user Therefore the user would use the graphic interface configuration utility to create three fields on the screen one for x one for y 60 65 2 and one for the result as well as a button to invoke the part of the program that performs the calculation In order for such an interface to function the fields must be linked to the appropriate variables in the underlying program and the button must be linked to the appropri ate code for performing the desired function here addition The known graphic interface configuration utility provided a way for those links to be made in the case of the functional button but not in the case of the variable fields The program itself had to link the vari ables to the variable fields Furthermore graphic interface oriented computers frequently use object oriented programming languages such as object oriented C or objective FORTRAN In such programming languages programs are divided into a plurality of programming elements known as objects In the known graphic interface configuration utility when a particular window and its contents are defined any button type graphic elements in the win dow could be linked to portions of a single program ming element or object but not to different objects which frequently limits the ability of the user to config ure an interface to achieve a desired result This is also a limitation when standard programming languages are used and more than
34. variable is connected and not available for other con nections At the same time the label of the connect dis connect button changes to Disconnect not shown If when inspector window 30 is first opened there are already connected variables listed in subwindow 404 from a previous connection operation then aster isk 406 will already be displayed for each connected variable and if the user highlights a variable that is already connected a line like line 21 will be displayed showing the connection to myProgram This allows connections to be checked either to make sure they are correct or to find out what they are If the user had drawn line 21 intending to connect an unconnected variable but highlights a connected variable by mis take line 21 will disappear and will be replaced by a line between the field to which that variable is con nected and myProgram In the preferred embodiment line 21 has to be redrawn by the user before field 140 can be connected to another variable although it may be possible to provide an Undo function that will unhighlight the already connected variable and restore line 21 automatically Again whenever a connection is displayed button 403 will be labelled Disconnect and the user has the option of clicking that button to discon nect the variable or ignoring the Disconnect button and choosing another variable The above process can be repeated until all fields are connected to the d
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