Graph-based programming system and associated method

• US 5,255,363 A
• Filed: 06/19/1990
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation 8005 SW Boeckman Road Wilsonville
• Original Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Seyler, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Application Number:
  US07/540,610
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 395/145, 395/146, 395/148, 395/149, 395/156, 395/155, 395/159, 395/164, 395/162, 395/161, 340/799
• US Class Current: 715/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A graphical programming system with a spreadsheet base for enabling users to create graphical programs for displaying and manipulating data. The system architecture supports direct entry of information into cells and cell extension to display all information entered into a cell in one view. The architecture further supports modified formulas known as actions that execute only after being independently initiated by a user or another process. Conditional functions known as "watchers" are also provided. Watchers contain procedures to perform and permit a program created with the system to monitor data and respond to it. For ease of understanding, information within cells may be represented graphically by objects such as buttons and meters. The objects may be user-designed or provided by the programming system. They are selected via pop-up menus and list windows within the system'"'"'s user interface.

Claims

1. A graphical programming system, comprising:

an array of memory elements, each element for storing information;

means for displaying the memory elements as display areas of an initial size on a grid and for displaying options for manipulating the elements;

means for displaying a cursor over a memory element as information is entered therein;

entry means for entering information directly into a selected memory element;

means for displaying information within the memory element as the information is entered; and

means for adjusting the size of the display area of the memory element, if necessary, to provide for simultaneous display of all of the entered information within the area of the memory element.

2. The programing system of claim 1 wherein the display area of a memory element has length and width and the adjusting means comprises means for extending the length of the display area.

3. The programming system of claim 1 wherein the entry means comprises means for positioning the cursor over the displayed memory element at a point where information is to be entered.

4. The programming system of claim 1 wherein the array of memory elements comprises cells of a spreadsheet.

5. The programming system of claim 1 including means for displaying a menu bar for listing options and windows for displaying specific choices under each option, a window appearing in response to selection of an option from the menu bar.

6. In a program system having an array of memory elements each capable of storing information including functions, a method of executing a conditional function, comprising:

putting on a first list a memory element whose value has been changed;

putting on a second list a memory element having a conditional function which refers to a memory element on the first list;

removing the memory element from the first list;

calculating the conditional function;

changing the value of any memory element as required by the conditional function;

putting on the first list a memory element whose value has been changed by the conditional function; and

repeating the rest of the above cycle of steps until a conditional function no longer changes the value of a memory location, thereby causing the first list to remain empty.

7. The method of claim 6 including marking a conditional function once it has been calculated to prevent its recalculation until first list is empty and the method ends.

8. A computer-assisted method for assisting a user in entering information into a spreadsheet-based graphical programming system, the system including an array of memory elements represented as cells on a display device, comprising:

displaying an array of cells on the display device, each cell having a display area of an initial size;

providing a cursor for selecting a cell for the entry of characters therein;

displaying entered characters directly in the display area of a selected cell; and

adjusting the size of the display area of the cell, if necessary, to provide for simultaneous display of all of the entered characters within the area as the characters are entered.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting the display area comprises extending the length of the cell to accommodate additional characters.

10. The method of claim 8 including reducing the display area of the cell to its original size once character entry is complete.