Generating a graphical user interface from a command syntax for managing multiple computer systems as one computer system

• US 6,806,890 B2
• Filed: 08/17/1999
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McBride, Kevin Michael, Patterson, Betty Joan, Spain, Kelly Ann, Audleman, Kevin Forbes
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Mylinh T
• Application Number:
  US09/375,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 345/760, 345/762, 345/966, 345/764, 345/749, 345/839, 345/716, 707/513, 707/102, 717/11, 717/1, 715/513, 709/220
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A graphical user interface can be automatically generated from a command syntax for managing multiple computer systems as one computer system. The command syntax is represented using an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) document file, an XML schema file, and a text description file. The XML document file, XML schema file, and text description file are maintained on a server and downloaded to a client as required. A user interface program uses the XML document, XML schema, and text descriptions to generate a “Wizard” that comprises the graphical user interface, wherein the Wizard provides a series of step-by-step dialogs for assisting the operator in creating a command from the command syntax.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a graphical user interface from a command syntax for managing at least one computer system, comprising:

(a) processing at least one eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file at a user interface program executed by a computer, wherein the XML file represents a command syntax for managing the computer systems; and

(b) generating one or more dialogs from the XML file for display to a user, wherein the dialogs are used for assisting the user in creating at least one command in the user interface program for managing the computer systems.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the XML files are selected from a group comprising an XML document file, XML schema file, and text description file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file are maintained on a separate computer and are downloaded to the computer as required.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file are modified on the server as the command syntax changes.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file represent a latest version of the command syntax.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface program processes the XML document using the XML schema to identify resource types, verbs, and keywords therein.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the text description file provides at least one text description that is used by the user interface program to construct the dialogs.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the text description file comprises at least one text description that is represented by tags that comprise concatenations of nested XML tag names in the XML document.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the XML document comprises one or more tags selected from a group comprising:

a root tag that is a global tag that provides a wrapper for all other tags,

a resource tag that is used to define a resource,

a verb tag that is used to define a verb,

a keyword tag that is used to define a keyword,

a list tag that is used within the keyword tag to define a list of options,

a compare tag that is used within the keyword tag to define a comparison between an operator and a variable,

an option tag that is used within the list tag to define optional selections for a keyword,

a variable tag that is used within the keyword and list tags to define a variable, and

an operator tag that is used within the compare tag to define an operator for a list of operators.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dialogs comprise a Wizard for use by the user in generating commands for the computer system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the Wizard displays a step-by-step series of dialogs for guiding the user in the use of the command syntax, so that the command syntax is easier to learn.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the commands are submitted to multiple computer systems.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface program is not sensitive to a format for the command syntax that are used to manage the computer systems.

14. A computer-implemented system for generating a graphical user interface from a command syntax for managing at least one computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer; and

(b) a user interface program, executed by the computer, for processing at least one eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file at a user interface program executed by a computer, wherein the XML represents a command syntax for managing the computer systems, and for generating one or more dialogs from the XML file for display to a user, wherein the dialogs are used for assisting the user in creating at least one command in the user interface program for managing the computer systems.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the XML files are selected from a group comprising an XML document file, XML schema file, and text description file.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file are maintained on a separate computer and are downloaded to the computer as required.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file are modified on the sewer as the command syntax changes.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file represent a latest version of the command syntax.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the user interface program processes the XML document using the XML schema to identify resource types, verbs, and keywords therein.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the text description file provides at least one text description that is used by the user interface program to construct the dialogs.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the text description file comprises at least one text description that is represented by tags that comprise concatenations of nested XML tag names in the XML document.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the XML document comprises one or more tags selected from a group comprising:

a root tag that is a global tag that provides a wrapper for all other tags,

a resource tag that is used to define a resource,

a verb tag that is used to define a verb,

a keyword tag that is used to define a keyword,

a list tag that is used within the keyword tag to define a list of options,

a compare tag that is used within the keyword tag to define a comparison between an operator and a variable,

an option tag that is used within the list tag to define optional selections for a keyword,

a variable tag that is used within the keyword and list tags to define a variable, and an operator tag that is used within the compare tag to define an operator for a list of operators.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the dialogs comprise a Wizard for use by the user in generating commands for the computer system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the Wizard displays a step-by-step series of dialogs for guiding the user in the use of the command syntax, so that the command syntax is easier to learn.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the commands are submitted to multiple computer systems.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interface program is not sensitive to a format for the command syntax that are used to manage the computer systems.

27. An article of manufacture embodying logic for performing a method for generating a graphical user interface from a command syntax for managing at least one computer system, comprising:

(a) processing at least one eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file at a user interface program executed by a computer, wherein the XML file represents a command syntax for managing the computer systems; and

(b) generating one or more dialogs from the XML file for display to a user, wherein the dialogs are used for assisting the user in creating at least one command in the user interface program for managing the computer systems.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the XML files are selected from a group comprising an XML document file, XML schema file, and text description file.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file are maintained on a separate computer and are downloaded to the computer as required.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file are modified on the server as the command syntax changes.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the XML document, XML schema, and text description file represent a latest version of the command syntax.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the user interface program processes the XML document using the XML schema to identify resource types, verbs, and keywords therein.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the text description file provides at least one text description that is used by the user interface program to construct the dialogs.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the text description file comprises at least one text description that is represented by tags that comprise concatenations of nested XML tag names in the XML document.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the XML document comprises one or more tags selected from a group comprising:

a root tag that is a global tag that provides a wrapper for all other tags,

a resource tag that is used to define a resource,

a verb tag that is used to define a verb,

a keyword tag that is used to define a keyword,

a list tag that is used within the keyword tag to define a list of options,

a compare tag that is used within the keyword tag to define a comparison between an operator and a variable,

an option tag that is used within the list tag to define optional selections for a keyword,

a variable tag that is used within the keyword and list tags to define a variable, and

an operator tag that is used within the compare tag to define an operator for a list of operators.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the dialogs comprise a Wizard for use by the user in generating commands for the computer system.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the Wizard displays a step-by-step series of dialogs for guiding the user in the use of the command syntax, so that the command syntax is easier to learn.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the commands are submitted to multiple computer systems.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the user interface program is not sensitive to a format for the command syntax that are used to manage the computer systems.