Method and apparatus for forms generation

• US 5,091,868 A
• Filed: 05/09/1988
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westcorp Software Systems Incorporated (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: Westcorp Software Systems Incorporated (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Pickens, David S., Quinn, Susan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US07/191,336
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 364/523, 364/518, 364/521, 364/900 MS File, 340/706, 340/712, 379/368
• US Class Current: 715/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forms generation is disclosed including a central workstation on which a form layout is designed with forms generation software, is used to generate an object code output program which corresponds to the form layout. The object code output program can be utilized by independent workstations to print forms without requiring each independent workstation to be equipped with the forms generation software used by the central workstation to design the form layout.

Claims

1. A forms generation system comprising:

a. first means for generating a form disk file;

b. second means for reading said form disk file and generating a macro disk file and an instruction disk file based on data contained in said form disk file;

c. third means for generating a screen layout disk file and a data variables disk file, said third means including means for calculating data position placement information of data variables, means for entering data types and data descriptions, and means for updating said instruction disk file with said data position placement information, said data types, and said data descriptions;

d. fourth means for reading said form instruction disk file and said data variables disk file and generating a source code form program, said source code form program being capable of driving a laser printer to produce a form based on information contained in said macro file and said instruction file; and

e. fifth means for compiling said source code form program into an object code output program.

2. A forms generation system comprising:

a. at least one workstation having an input unit, a processing unit and a display unit;

b. software control means for controlling said workstation to create an object code output program corresponding to a particular form, wherein said software control means includes means for generating a macro disk file and an instruction disk file, means for creating a screen layout on said display unit and generating a screen layout disk file corresponding to said screen layout, source means for generating a source code program corresponding to said form, and compiling means for compiling said source code program into said object code form program which is capable of driving a printing unit to reproduce said form based on the information contained in said macro disk file and said instruction disk file; and

a printing unit coupled to said workstation and means for running said object code form program in said workstation to print said form with said printing unit.

3. A forms generation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said software control means further comprises means for creating a screen layout on said display of said workstation and generating a screen layout disk file corresponding to said screen layout.

4. A forms generation system comprising:

a. a plurality of workstations, including at least one workstation designated as a central workstation, said plurality of workstations comprising an input unit, a processing unit, and a display unit;

b. software control means for controlling said central workstation to generate an object code output program corresponding to a form, wherein said software control means includes means for generating a macro disk file and an instruction disk file, means for creating a screen layout on said display of said central workstation and generating a screen layout disk file corresponding to said screen layout, source means for generating a source code program corresponding to said form, and compiling means for compiling said source code program into said object code program which is capable of driving said printing unit to produce said form based on the information contained in said macro disk file and said instruction disk file;

c. at least one printing unit coupled to said plurality of workstations; and

d. means for loading and running said object code output program in said plurality of workstations to drive said printing unit to produce said form.

5. A forms generating system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plurality of workstations includes individual workstations and further comprising data transmission means for transmitting said object code output program from said central workstations to said individual workstations.

6. A method of generating forms comprising the steps of:

a. reading a form input disk file containing data related to a predetermined form and generating a form macro file and a form input instruction file from the data contained in the input disk file;

b. generating a screen layout disk file corresponding to a desired screen layout to be displayed on a display unit;

c. generating a source code form program capable of driving a printing unit to reproduce said predetermined form based on data contained in said macro file and said form instruction file, and to selectively generate said desired screen layout based on data contained in said screen layout disk file; and

d. compiling said source code form program to generate an object code output form program.

7. A method of generating forms as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of generating a data variable disk file to permit data variables to be input in said screen layout, when said source code form program is generated in step (d) to utilize said screen layout disk file.