Method and apparatus for visually creating and testing object oriented components
First Claim
1. Apparatus for testing component class code with a visual builder, the apparatus implemented on a computer system having a memory and comprising:
- a parser responsive to the component class code for extracting a method having a parameter;
a compiler for creating a proxy component from the extracted method, wherein the parameter is expressed as a property of the proxy component;
visual builder which binds the proxy component property to another property in the component class code; and
a second mechanism for invoking the method using the value of the proxy component property as the parameter.
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Abstract
In order to test component class code with a conventional visual builder, a proxy component is created for each method, including constructors, in the component class code, which proxy component encapsulates the parameters of that method. In particular, parameters associated with a method are represented by properties of the proxy component created for that method. When each proxy component is displayed on the GUI of the visual builder, its properties, and consequently, the parameters of the underlying method, are visually editable and can be bound visually to other component properties using, for example, a mechanism in a conventional visual builder which links objects. Exceptions which occur during operation of the method are treated as events and can be visually passed to other components. Therefore, a program can be visually constructed and parameterized for runtime operation. In order to actually run components to test them a universal transport application under control of the proxy components provides a mechanism for manipulating local or remote objects in a “component-oriented” manner directly from the visual builder.
83 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for testing component class code with a visual builder, the apparatus implemented on a computer system having a memory and comprising:
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a parser responsive to the component class code for extracting a method having a parameter;
a compiler for creating a proxy component from the extracted method, wherein the parameter is expressed as a property of the proxy component;
visual builder which binds the proxy component property to another property in the component class code; and
a second mechanism for invoking the method using the value of the proxy component property as the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for testing component class code with a visual builder, the apparatus implemented on a computer system having a memory and comprising:
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(a) extracting a method having a parameter from the component class code;
(b) creating a proxy component from the extracted method, wherein the parameter is expressed as a property of the proxy component;
(c) binding with the visual builder the proxy component property to another property in the component class code; and
(d) invoking the method using the value of the proxy component property as the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
(b1) creating a proxy component from each constructor and method.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein a constructor proxy component includes a constructor and wherein the method further comprises the step of:
(e) using the constructor proxy component to instantiate a target object from the component class code in response to an invocation of the constructor.
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11. The method of claim 8 wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:
(d1) invoking the method in the component class code with a transport mechanism which is controlled by the proxy component.
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12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (d) further comprises the step of:
(d2) instantiating an event object encapsulating the method parameter in response to an invocation of the method.
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13. The method of claim 12 wherein step (d2) comprises the step of:
(d3) using the event object to control the component class code.
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14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:
(f) encapsulating exceptions which occur during operation of the method in an exception event object.
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15. A computer program product for testing component class code with a visual builder, the apparatus implemented on a computer system having a memory and comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:
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program code for extracting a method having a parameter from the component class code;
program code for creating a proxy component from the extracted method, wherein the parameter is expressed as a property of the proxy component;
program code incorporated into the visual builder for binding the proxy component property to another property in the component class code; and
program code for invoking the method using the value of the proxy component property as the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification