System and method for construction of language independent print format statements through use of data structures for arbitrary ordering of print parameters

• US 5,339,240 A
• Filed: 06/28/1991
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaverson, Arthur J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, GAIL O
• Application Number:
  US07/724,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 364/419, 364/419.14, 395/275
• US Class Current: 715/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A system for controlling the printing of a message having a plurality of strings of text and a plurality of parameters includes means for designating the locations of the strings of text, and the locations and formats of the parameters within the message. The system also includes means for switching the locations and the formats of the parameters after they have been designated, which may include a permutation specifier.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the printing of a message having a plurality of strings of text and a plurality of parameter values disposed therein, comprising:

means for designating in a print statement the locations of the parameter values within the message;

means for formatting a printing of the parameter values at the designated locations within the message; and

means for reordering the parameter values within the message after the locations of the parameter values have been designated in the print statement without altering the locations of the parameter said print statement.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for reordering includes a permutation specifier.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for reordering further includes means for representing each of the parameter values.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for designating includes a plurality of format specifiers.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for formatting includes a plurality of format specifiers.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises means for storing translations of messages in all of the languages in which the message is to be printed.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the means for storing includes a language-dependent file for each language in which the message is to be printed.

8. A system for controlling the printing of a message having a plurality of strings of text and a plurality of parameters disposed therein, comprising:

means for assigning a value to each of the parameters;

first means for designating the locations of the strings of text within the message;

second means for designating in a print statement the locations of the parameters within the message;

third means for designating the formats of the parameters within the message; and

means for switching the locations and formats of the parameters within the message after the locations and formats of the parameters have been designated in the print statement without altering the locations and formats of the parameters in said print statement.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for switching includes a permutation specifier.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for switching further includes means for representing each of the parameters.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the second means for designating includes a plurality of format specifiers.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the third means for designating includes a plurality of format specifiers.

13. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the system further comprises means for storing translations of messages in all of the languages in which the message is to be printed.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for storing includes a language-dependent file for each language in which the message is to be printed.

15. A method of controlling the printing of a message having a plurality of strings of text and a plurality of parameter values disposed therein, comprising the following steps:

designating in a print statement the locations of the parameter values within the message;

formatting a printing of the parameter values at the designated locations within the message; and

reordering the parameter values within the message after the locations of the parameter values have been designated in the print statement without altering the locations of the parameter values in said print statement.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the parameter values within the message are reordered through the use of a permutation specifier.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the step of representing each of the parameter values.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the locations of the parameter values within the message are designated through the use of a plurality of format specifiers.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the printing of the parameter values within the message is formatted through the use of a plurality of format specifiers.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of storing translations of messages in all of the languages in which the message is to be printed.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the translations of the message are stored in a language-dependent file for each language in which the message is to be printed.

22. A method of controlling the printing of a message having a plurality of strings of text and a plurality of parameters disposed therein, comprising the following steps:

assigning a value to each of the parameters;

designating the locations of the strings of text within the message;

designating in a print statement the locations of the parameters within the message;

designating the formats of the parameters within the message; and

switching the locations and formats of the parameters within the message after the locations and formats of the parameters have been designated in the print statement without altering the locations and formats of the parameters in said print statement.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the locations and formats of the parameters within the message are switched through the use of a permutation specifier.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the method further comprises the step of representing each of the parameter values.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the locations of the parameters within the message are designated through the use of a plurality of format specifiers.

26. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the formats of the parameters within the message are designated through the use of a plurality of format specifiers.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the method further comprises the step of storing translations of messages in all of the languages in which the message is to be printed.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the translations of the message are stored in a language-dependent file for each language in which the message is to be printed.