Graphical aid for generating object setup scripts

• US 20070162891A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mao, Michael, Johnson, Brett, Lau, Yat, Burner, Dell, Wickham, Daina
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for automatically generating object setup scripts. A form is presented to a user in a graphical user interface. The user provides input in a set of fields within the form, which is received and validated. A set of object setup scripts are then generated based on the user input to the form. To generate the set of object setup scripts based on the user input an analysis is performed on the set of fields as a set of objects, and at least one variable is set to hold the value of the set of objects. String manipulations are used to obtain the values in the set of fields, and the values are entered into the set of object setup scripts.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for automatically generating object setup scripts, the computer implemented method comprising:

presenting a form to a user in a graphical user interface;

receiving user input in a set of fields within the form;

validating the user input; and

generating a set of object setup scripts based on the user input.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the set of object setup scripts based on the user input further comprises:

analyzing the set of fields as a set of objects;

setting at least one variable to hold the value of the set of objects;

using string manipulations to obtain the values in the set of fields; and

entering the values into the set of object setup scripts.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the form is a graphical checklist that provides a visual relationship between one or more fields within the set of fields.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the visual relationship is distinguished by at least one of color, font, or shading.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating instructions for how to run the set of object setup scripts.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the form is created using a scripting language.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the form is presented in a reader.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically populating unpopulated fields within the set of fields based on the user input.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically populating unpopulated fields upon identification of a request to populate the unpopulated fields with sample entries.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the form is one of a display customized script, a procedure, a customized document, or a customized form.

11. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications system connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to present a form to a user in a graphical user interface;

receive user input in a set of fields within the form;

validate the user input; and

generate a set of object setup scripts based on the user input.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executing the set of instructions to generate the set of object setup scripts based on the user input includes the processing unit executing the set of instructions to analyze the set of fields as a set of objects;

set at least one variable to hold the value of the set of objects;

use string manipulations to obtain the values in the set of fields; and

enter the values into the set of object setup scripts.

13. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the form is a graphical checklist that provides a visual relationship between one or more fields within the set of fields.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the visual relationship is distinguished by at least one of color, font, or shading.

15. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to generate instructions for how to run the set of object setup scripts.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the form is created using a scripting language.

17. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the form is presented in a reader.

18. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to automatically populate unpopulated fields within the set of fields based on the user input.

19. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to automatically populate unpopulated fields upon identification of a request to populate the unpopulated fields with sample entries.

20. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the form is one of a display customized script, a procedure, a customized document, or a customized form.

21. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for automatically generating object setup scripts, the computer program product including;

computer usable program code for presenting a form to a user in a graphical user interface;

computer usable program code for receiving user input in a set of fields within the form;

computer usable program code for validating the user input; and

computer usable program code for generating a set of object setup scripts based on the user input.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the computer usable program code for generating the set of object setup scripts based on the user input further includes:

computer usable program code for analyzing the set of fields as a set of objects;

computer usable program code for setting at least one variable to hold the value of the set of objects;

computer usable program code for using string manipulations to obtain the values in the set of fields; and

computer usable program code for entering the values into the set of object setup scripts.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the form is a graphical checklist that provides a visual relationship between one or more fields within the set of fields.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the visual relationship is distinguished by at least one of color, font, or shading.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, further including:

computer usable program code for generating instructions for how to run the set of object setup scripts.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the form is created using a scripting language.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the form is presented in a reader.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, further including:

computer usable program code for automatically populating unpopulated fields within the set of fields based on the user input.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, further including:

computer usable program code for automatically populating unpopulated fields upon identification of a request to populate the unpopulated fields with sample entries.

30. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the form is one of a display customized script, a procedure, a customized document, or a customized form.