Method and system for specifying method parameters in a visual programming system

• US 5,537,630 A
• Filed: 12/05/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berry, Richard E., Tate, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/349,284
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/650, 395/700, 364/280-280.1, 364/280.4, 364/280.5, 364/280.7, 364/267-267.8, 345/156, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/33 Intelligent editors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A method and data processing system for efficiently creating a program in an object oriented environment using a graphic user interface. An object is graphically displayed within the graphic user interface, wherein the object includes a method written in an object-oriented language. The method has a number of parameters. Each parameter is graphically displayed in the graphic user interface. Such display may be in response to a selection of the graphically displayed object. Each parameter is visually associated with the graphically displayed object. A list of selections is displayed for a parameter in the plurality of parameters in response to a selection of the parameter. Specification of the parameter using the list of selections by the user is permitted, wherein the parameter is specified using the list of selections is propagated to the method in the object oriented language used to create the object. A tree structure may be used to display associations between the parameters and displayed objects.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for efficiently creating a program in an object oriented environment using a graphic user interface, said method comprising:

graphically displaying an object, wherein said object includes a method written in an object-oriented language, said method having a plurality of parameters;

graphically displaying each parameter within said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of said graphically displayed object, wherein each parameter is visually associated with said graphically displayed object;

displaying a list of selections for a parameter in said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of an icon displayed for a parameter; and

permitting specification of said parameter using said list of selections, wherein said parameter is specified using said list of selections is propagated to said method in said language for said object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of graphically displaying an object comprises displaying an icon within said graphic user interface to represent said object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of graphically displaying each parameter comprises displaying an icon for each parameter within said plurality of parameters, wherein each icon represents one of said plurality of parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of graphically displaying each parameter further comprises displaying each icon for said plurality of parameters in a tree structure, wherein each icon in said tree structure has a graphic connection to said icon representing said object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of displaying a list of selections for a parameter comprises displaying a pop-up menu within said graphic user interface, wherein said pop-up menu displays said list of selections for selection by a user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of displaying a list of selections for a parameter comprises displaying a name of an object as a selection for said parameter within said list of selections.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of displaying a list of selections for a parameter comprises displaying variable as a selection for said parameter within said list of selections.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of displaying a list of selections for a parameter comprises displaying a constant as a selection for said parameter within said list of selections, wherein selection of said constant by a user allows said user to enter a number for said parameter.

9. A data processing system for efficiently creating a program in an object oriented environment using a graphic user interface, said data processing system comprising:

first display means for graphically displaying an object, wherein said object includes a method written in an object-oriented language, said method having a plurality of parameters;

second display means for graphically displaying each parameter within said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of said graphically displayed object, wherein each parameter is visually associated with said graphically displayed object;

third display means for displaying a list of selections for a parameter in said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of an icon displayed for a parameter; and

means for permitting specification of said parameter using said list of selections, wherein said parameter is specified using said list of selections is propagated to said method in said language for said object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first display means comprises means for displaying an icon within said graphic user interface to represent said object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said second displayed means comprises means for displaying an icon for each parameter within said plurality of parameters, wherein each icon represents one of said plurality of parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said third display means further comprises means for displaying each icon for said plurality of parameters in a tree structure, wherein each icon in said tree structure has a graphic connection to said icon representing said object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said third display means parameter comprises means for displaying a pop-up menu within said graphic user interface, wherein said pop-up menu displays said list of selection for selection by a user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said third display means comprises means for displaying a name of an object as a selection for said parameter within said list of selections.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said third display means comprises means for displaying variable as a selection for said parameter within said list of selections.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said third display means comprises means for displaying a constant as a selection for said parameter within said list of selections, wherein selection of said constant by a user allows said user to enter a number for said parameter.

17. A method in a data processing system for efficiently creating a program in an object oriented environment using a graphic user interface, said method comprising:

graphically displaying a plurality of objects, wherein said at least one object includes a method having a plurality of parameters;

selectively displaying each parameter in said plurality of parameters for said at least one object in association with said at least one object, wherein said plurality of parameters are displayed using a tree structure;

displaying a list of sources for a parameter within said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of said parameter; and

permitting specification of said parameter using said list of sources, wherein said parameter specified using said list of parameters is propagated to said method in said language for said object.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of graphically displaying a plurality of object comprises displaying an icon within said graphic user interface to represent each object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of selected displaying each parameter comprises displaying an icon within said tree structure for each parameter within said plurality of parameters, wherein each icon represents one of said plurality of parameters.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of displaying a list of sources for a parameter comprises displaying a pop-up menu within said graphic user interface, wherein said pop-up menu displays said list of sources for selection by a user.

21. A data processing system for efficiently creating a program in an object oriented environment using a graphic user interface, said method comprising:

first display means for graphically displaying a plurality of objects, wherein said at least one object includes a method having a plurality of parameters;

second display means for selectively displaying each parameter in said plurality of parameters for said at least one object in association with said at least one object, wherein said plurality of parameters are displayed using a tree structure;

third display means for displaying a list of sources for a parameter within said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of said parameter; and

specification means for permitting specification of said parameter using said list of sources, wherein said parameter specified using said list of parameters is propagated to said method in said language for said object.

22. A storage device readable by a data processing system and encoding data processing system executable instructions for the data storage device comprising:

means for graphically displaying a plurality of objects, wherein said at least one object includes a method having a plurality of parameters;

means for selectively displaying each parameter in said plurality of parameters for said at least one object in association with said at least one object, wherein said plurality of parameters are displayed using a tree structure;

means for displaying a list of sources for a parameter within said plurality of parameters in response to a selection of said parameter; and

means for permitting specification of said parameter using said list of sources, wherein said parameter specified using said list of parameters is propagated to said method in said language for said object, wherein said means are activated when said storage device is connected to and accessed by a data processing system.

23. The storage device of claim 22, wherein said storage device is a hard disk drive.

24. The storage device of claim 22, wherein said storage device is a ROM for use with said data processing system.

25. The storage device of claim 22, wherein said storage device is a floppy diskette.