XML-based control and customization of application programs

• US 20070245340A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Trivedi, Vishal, Cohen, Dror, Rubinfeld, Ronen, Nun, Yiftach, Rachamim, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Operation of a computer system is governed by an executable application and settings set forth in an XML document to which the application refers during execution. When an application is published for installation, it includes the application and a base XML document. Portions of the base XML document are marked as editable during installation. During installation, an installation manager review the base XML document, identifies editable portions therein and reads installation settings data therefor. The installation manager may generate a modified XML document representing the settings of the base XML document and any modified settings obtained for installation. Modified settings data may be obtained from an operator, from a computer system on which installation occurs or from a dataset representing settings data obtained in prior installations.

Claims

1. An integrated computer application, comprising:

an executable application program; and

an XML document containing;

parameter definitions that configure the base application'"'"'s operation, and

instruction references identifying parameter definitions of the XML document that are eligible to be modified by a user of the integrated computer application.

2. The integrated computer application of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of input modules, each having input interfaces adapted to solicit input data of a respective type, wherein at least one instruction reference within the XML document addresses a corresponding input module.

3. The integrated computer application of claim 1, further comprising an installation wizard to review the XML document for instruction references, query an operator for modifications and generate a second XML document from the first XML document and any operator-provided modifications.

4. An installation method for a computer application, comprising:

installing a core application program on a client computer system,

reading a source XML document which contains parameter definitions that are to be used by the core application program to control runtime behavior of the application program,

identifying portions of the source XML document which contain parameter definitions that should be alterable during installation,

for the identified portions, reading parameter selections representing installation preferences for the alterable parameter definitions, and

storing on the client computer system an installed XML document representing parameter definitions from the source XML document and any installation preferences that override the alterable parameter definitions.

5. The installation method of claim 4, wherein the reading of parameter selections comprises querying an installation operator and receiving operator input in response thereto.

6. The installation method of claim 4, wherein the reading of parameter selections comprises reading system parameter data from the client computer system.

7. The installation method of claim 4, further comprising

comparing the identified portions to a rule set representing portions replaced by parameter selections in prior installations and

wherein, upon a match with the rule set, the reading of parameter selections comprises reading the parameter selections from the rule set.

8. The installation method of claim 4, wherein the source XML document contains tag references to identify portions therein that contain alterable parameter definitions.

9. The installation method of claim 4, wherein the tag references contain pointers to application modules that manage reading of the parameter selections representing the installation preferences.

10. The installation method of claim 4, further comprising detecting patterns among the parameter selections and, generating rules corresponding to detected patterns to govern future installations.

11. A development method for a computer application, comprising:

developing a core application program,

reading a source XML document which contains parameter definitions that are to be used by the core application program to control runtime behavior of the application program,

identifying portions of the source XML document which contain parameter definitions that should be alterable during installation,

marking the source XML document so that the identified portions can be distinguished from the remainder of the source XML document, and

storing with the core application program a marked XML document representing the source XML document updated with the markings.

12. The development method of claim 11, wherein the identifying of alterable portions comprises querying user and receiving user input in response thereto.

13. The development method of claim 11, wherein the identifying of alterable portions comprises reading a reference file which contains a list of at least one portion that should be alterable during installation.

14. The development method of claim 11, wherein the marking of the source XML document comprises adding tag or attribute references which identify the alterable portions.

15. The development method of claim 11, wherein the marking of the source XML document comprises adding tag or attribute references which identify the unalterable portions.

16. A computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon that, when executed, causes a computer system to:

install a core application program on a client computer system,

read a source XML document which contains parameter definitions that are to be used by the core application program to control runtime behavior of the application program,

identify portions of the source XML document which contain parameter definitions that should be alterable during installation,

for the identified portions, read parameter selections representing installation preferences for the alterable parameter definitions, and

store on the client computer system an installed XML document representing parameter definitions from the source XML document and any installation preferences that override the alterable parameter definitions.

17. A computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon that, when executed, causes a computer system to:

read a source XML document which contains parameter definitions that are to be used by a core application program to control runtime behavior of the application program,

identify portions of the source XML document which contain parameter definitions that should be alterable during installation,

mark the source XML document so that the identified portions can be distinguished from the remainder of the source XML document, and

store a marked XML document representing the source XML document updated with the markings.