System and method for configuring a graphic interface

• US 5,163,130 A
• Filed: 05/05/1992
• Issued: 11/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Next Software Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NeXT Computer, Inc. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Hullot, Jean-Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Application Number:
  US07/879,126
• Time in Patent Office: 189 Days
• Field of Search: 395/144-149, 395/155, 395/157, 395/159, 395/161
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A graphic interface configuration system is allows a user to create a graphic interface for a computer program in which graphic elements in the interface are linked to variables or functions in any one of a number of programming elements.

Claims

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 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 suer, a graphical program interface configuration system for allowing a programmer to define said graphical program interface, said system comprising:

programmer-controllable 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-controllable graphical connection means for allowing a programmer to logically designate 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 program routine.

4. The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 1 wherein said programmer-controllable graphical connection means comprises means for graphically displaying a logical designation established between said graphic element and said program routine.

5. The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 4, wherein said programmer-controllable graphical connection means further comprises means for graphically highlighting said graphic element and said program routine while said logical designation is displayed.

6. The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 4, wherein said graphical connection means further comprises means for graphically displaying 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 indicting 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 selecting one of said displayed variables and action portions.

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 logically 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 and 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 portions.

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 variables and action portions has a graphic element logically designated as an input/output element therefor.

11. The graphical program interface configuration system of claim 8 wherein said programmer-controllable 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 said second graphic element and said one of said variables and action portions.

12. For use 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 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 allowing a programmer to define said graphical program 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 designate 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 designating 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 designation 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 designation 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 variables and said action portions for which said graphical element could be designated as an input/output element.

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 graphical 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 therefor, logically designating said graphic element as an input/output element for said selected one of said displayed variables and 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 portions.

21. The graphical program interface configuration method of claim 19 wherein said graphical designation step comprises, 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 said second graphic element and said one of said variables and action portions.