Method and system for detecting undefined objects in an application

• US 5,557,731 A
• Filed: 12/28/1993
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, John S., Li, Shih-Gong
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US08/174,549
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/161, 395/600, 395/700, 395/50, 395/160, 395/155, 395/500
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for permitting a user to efficiently create an application utilizing a plurality of objects in a graphic user interface. A database is created to track objects selected by a user. The objects selected by a user for utilization in the application are registered in the database. The user is permitted to create definitions for the selected objects. An absence of a definition for one of the selected objects within the database is graphically indicated, wherein the user may efficiently identify objects requiring a definition.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for permitting a user to efficiently create an application utilizing a plurality of objects in a graphic user interface, said method comprising:

creating a database, wherein said database is utilized to track objects selected by a user;

registering particular ones of said plurality of objects selected by a user for utilization in said application in said database;

permitting said user to create definitions for said particular ones of said plurality of objects; and

graphically indicating an absence of a definition for one of said particular ones of said plurality of objects within said database, wherein said user may efficiently identify objects requiring a definition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of graphically indicating an absence is performed in response to said user attempting to terminate development of said application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of graphically indicating an absence is performed in response to said user requesting a search for an absence of a definition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps of creating, registering, permitting and graphically indicating are performed in an object-oriented environment.

5. A data processing system for permitting a user to efficiently create an application utilizing a plurality of objects in a graphic user interface, said data processing system comprising:

creation means for creating a database, wherein said database is utilized to track objects selected by a user;

registration means for registering particular ones of said plurality of objects selected by a user for utilization in said application in said database;

means for permitting said user to create definitions for said particular ones of said plurality of objects; and

indication means for graphically indicating an absence of a definition for one of said particular ones of said plurality of objects within said database, wherein said user may efficiently identify objects requiring a definition.

6. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein said indication means is responsive to said user attempting to terminate development of said application.

7. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein said indication means is responsive to said user requesting a search for an absence of a definition.

8. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein said database has a hierarchial tree structure.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein said hierarchial tree structure includes a plurality of nodes and links connecting nodes and wherein an object is a node and a link is an association between two objects.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said link defines a parent-child relationship between two objects.

11. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein said registration means includes storing a connection between two objects in said database.

12. A computer program product for permitting a user to efficiently create an application utilizing a plurality of objects in a graphic user interface, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means for creating a database, wherein said database is utilized to track objects selected by a user;

instruction means for registering particular ones of said plurality of objects selected by a user for utilization in said application in said database;

instruction means for permitting said user to create definitions for said particular ones of said plurality of objects; and

instruction means for graphically indicating an absence of a definition for one of said particular ones of said plurality of objects within said database, wherein said user may efficiently identify objects requiring a definition.

13. A data processing system for permitting a user to efficiently create an application in a graphic user interface, said data processing system comprising:

a display;

a processor;

processor means for creating a database including data for objects selected by a user;

processor means for creating a plurality of objects for utilization in an application;

processor means for registering particular ones of said plurality of objects selected by a user for utilization in said application in said database;

processor manipulation means, responsive to user input, for adding an object to said application and for defining an undefined object; and

processor search means for automatically searching said database in response to a request to detect a presence of an undefined object; and

processor indication means, responsive to a presence of an undefined object detected by said search means, for indicating said presence of an undefined object to said user on said display.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said processor indication means is responsive to said user attempting to terminate development of said application.

15. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said processor indication means is responsive to said user requesting a search for an absence of a definition.

18. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said processor registration means includes storing a connection between two objects in said database.

19. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein an undefined object is an object requiring a connection to another object.

20. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of objects are graphically presented to a user on said display screen.

21. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said processor indication means indicates said presence of an undefined object to said user on said display by presenting said undefined object in a list.

22. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said processor indication means indicates said presence of an undefined object to said user on said display by highlighting said undefined object.

16. The data processing system of 13, wherein said database has a hierarchial tree structure.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein said hierarchial tree structure includes a plurality of nodes and links connecting nodes and wherein an object is a node and a link is a connection between two objects.