Method-management system and process based on a single master message file

• US 5,835,918 A
• Filed: 07/01/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Walker, Kathryn, Mori, Robert F., Walls, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetting, Anton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US08/680,499
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 345/336-338, 395/761-762, 395/701-703, 364/400, 707/513, 707/500, 707/509
• US Class Current: 715/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A message management system produces files necessary for generating messages, localizing message catalogs, and displaying online help messages from a single master message file. Revisions and up-dates of the message system are performed by editing a single file, the master message file. A set of tools is provided to process the master message file to build the outputs.

Claims

1. A computer implemented message management method based on a single master message file holding the text for all messages and supporting information in one place, with the master message file having a plurality of message entries, each including a symbolic handle, message text, and help message text, the message management method comprising the steps of:

producing compiler header files from said master message file;

providing a symbolic handle of required message information to be displayed;

processing said provided symbolic handle and said header files to access said required information;

displaying the required message information accessed from said header files;

producing a help volume from said master message file, with said help volume having a plurality of entries each including help message text and a help message ID;

utilizing an accessed symbolic handle included in said required message information accessed from said array to specify an entry in said help volume holding required help message text associated with said required message information; and

selectively displaying said required help message text in response to user input.

2. A computer-implemented message management method based on a single master message file holding the text for all messages and supporting information in one place, with the master message file having a plurality of message entries, each including a symbolic handle, message text, and help message text, the message management method comprising the steps of:

producing compiler header files from said master message file, said compiler header files including an enumeration header file enumerating the symbolic handles of the entries in the master message file to create enumerated symbolic handles that act as integers, and a message array file having array elements, indexed by enumerated symbolic handles, with each array element including information from a master message file entry including the symbolic handle utilized to access the array;

utilizing said enumeration header file to create a indexing enumerated symbolic handle of required message information to be displayed;

utilizing said indexing enumerated symbolic handle to access an specified array element in said message array file, with an accessed array element including said required message information;

displaying the required message information included in said specified array element;

producing a help volume from said master message file, with said help volume having a plurality of entries each including help message text and a help message ID;

utilizing an included symbolic handle included in said specified array element to specify an entry in said help volume holding required help message text associated with said required message information; and

selectively displaying said required help message text in response to user input.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

producing a message catalog from said master message file for use by localization teams and for verification of message numbering.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

including a template in said master message file including lead-in characters for defining different portions of an master message file entry.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of utilizing further comprises the steps of:

forming an HTML link utilizing information derived from said included symbolic handle; and

displaying said HTML link with the required message information.

6. A computer-implemented message management method comprising the steps of:

providing a single master message file holding the text for all messages and supporting information in one place, with the master message file having a plurality of message entries, each including a symbolic handle, message text, and help message text;

producing compiler header files from said master message file, said compiler header files including an enumeration header file enumerating the symbolic handles of the entries in the master message file and a message array file having array elements, indexed by enumerated symbolic handles, with each array element including information from an master message file entry including the symbolic handle utilized to access the array;

utilizing said enumeration header file to create an indexing enumerated symbolic handle of required message information to be displayed;

utilizing said indexing enumerated symbolic handle access an specified array element in said message array file, with an accessed array element including said required message information;

displaying the required message information included in said specified array element;

producing a help volume from said master message file, with said help volume having a plurality of entries each including help message text and a help message ID;

utilizing an included symbolic handle included in said specified array element to specify an entry in said help volume holding required help message text associated with said required message information; and

selectively displaying said required help message text in response to user input.

7. A computer program product article of manufacture comprising:

a computer usable medium having a computer readable code embodied thereon for managing messages based on information stored in a single master message file holding the text for all messages and supporting information in one place, with the master message file having a plurality of message entries, each including a symbolic handle, message text, and help message text, the computer program product further comprising;

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect production compiler header files from said master message file, said compiler header files including an enumeration header file enumerating the symbolic handles of the entries in the master message file and a message array file having array elements, indexed by enumerated symbolic handles, with each array element including information from an master message file entry including the symbolic handle utilized to access the array;

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect utilizing said enumeration header file to create an indexing enumerated symbolic handle of required message information to be displayed;

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect utilizing said indexing enumerated symbolic handle access an specified array element in said message array file, with an accessed array element including said required message information;

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect displaying the required message information included in said specified array element;

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect producing a help volume from said master message file, with said help volume having a plurality of entries each including help message text and a help message ID;

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect utilizing an included symbolic handle included in said specified array element to specify an entry in said help volume holding required help message text associated with said required message information; and

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect selectively displaying said required help message text in response to user input.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

the computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect producing a message catalog from said master message file for use by localization teams and for verification of message numbering.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect forming an HTML link utilizing information derived from said included symbolic handle; and

computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to effect displaying said HTML link with the required message information.

10. A computer system comprising:

a computer readable storage medium for storing a single master message file holding the text for all messages and supporting information in one place, with the master message file having a plurality of message entries, each including a symbolic handle, message text, and help message text;

a display for displaying messages and help messages to a user; and

a processing system that is configured to process said master message file and display messages and help text by virtue of being configured to;

produce compiler header files from said master message file, said compiler header files including an enumeration header file enumerating the symbolic handles of the entries in the master message file and a message array file having array elements, indexed by enumerated symbolic handles, with each array element including information from an master message file entry including the symbolic handle utilized to access the array;

utilize said enumeration header file to create a indexing enumerated symbolic handle of required message information to be displayed;

utilize said indexing enumerated symbolic handle to access a specified array element in said message array file, with an accessed array element including said required message information;

display the required message information included in said specified array element on said display;

produce a help volume from said master message file, with said help volume having a plurality of entries each including help message text and a help message ID;

utilize an included symbolic handle included in said specified array element to specify an entry in said help volume holding required help message text associated with said required message information;

selectively displaying said required help message text in response to user input on said display.