Intuitive technique for visually creating resource files

• US 5,878,425 A
• Filed: 08/21/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Redpath, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/701,226
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/100, 707/103, 707/104, 395/701, 395/707
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A technique for permitting the visual building of a resource file is provided. A visual resource file builder file which includes a library of classes which correspond to keywords which may be included in a resource file. By selecting a visual representation of a keyword provided in a builder tool, a user is prompted to input keyword data relative to the selected keyword. Upon saving the input data, an instance of the keyword class (an object) is saved in the resource file. A graphical representation of the saved keyword object is displayed to the user in the graphical user interface for the builder tool. After the user has included one or more keyword objects in the resouce file, the user may convert the resource file into a standard text format resource file which may be utilized by computer programs written in many different computer languages.

Claims

1. A resource file builder tool including computer readable code included on media for enabling the creation of resource files, comprising:

a class library including a keyword class for each keyword includable in a resource file being developed, each of the keywords having a selectable iconic representation displayable in a graphical user interface of said resource file builder tool;

first subprocesses for permitting a user to select one of the keyword classes by selecting one of the iconic representations;

second subprocesses for prompting the developer to input keyword data for the selected keyword class;

third subprocesses for saving an instance of the selected keyword class having the input keyword data as instance data within the resource file; and

fourth subprocesses for determining whether the saved instance data affects the instance data for any other saved instance of any of the keyword classes within the resource file, and updating the instance data which is affected.

2. A visual resource file builder tool comprising computer readable code stored on media for permitting a developer to visually construct a resource file, comprising:

a plurality of keyword classes, one corresponding to each keyword includable in a resource file being developed;

selectable visual representations of each of said keyword classes;

first subprocesses for creating a properties sheet for display to the user which prompts the user to input keyword data upon selection of a visual representation of a keyword class;

second subprocesses for creating a keyword object of the keyword class after the developer has input keyword data into the properties sheet and saved the properties sheet, the keyword object including the input keyword data;

third subprocesses for creating a visual representation of the saved keyword object for display; and

fourth subprocesses for determining whether input keyword data saved with the keyword object affects other keyword data in any other keyword object, and updating the other keyword data in the other keyword objects if the keyword data is affected.

3. A visual resource file builder tool according to claim 2, further comprising fifth subprocesses which, upon selection of the visual representation of the keyword object, displays the properties sheet for the keyword object for permitting the user to modify the keyword data previously saved with the keyword object.

4. Computer readable code for providing national language support for an application using multiple resource files and a visual resource file builder which permits the review of a translated text in context prior to compiling or building the application, comprising:

a first resource file including a define keyword having define data which defines text in a target language for predetermined strings; and

a second resource file displayed in a visual format including visual representations for each keyword and its keyword data included in the second resource file, the second resource file including via an include keyword said first resource file and visually illustrating strings which are translated by the define keyword data in said first resource file as keyword data for a stringtable keyword included in said second resource file.

5. In a computing environment, a system for providing national language support for an application through the use of a translation resource file external to the application, comprising:

a translation resource file including text in a target language for predetermined strings; and

means for accessing said translation resource file from a resource file in the application, the resource file obtaining from said translation resource the text in the target language for the predetermined strings.