Graphical editor for program files
First Claim
1. A method for generating computer program files using a computer, including the steps of:
- forming a parse tree representation of a computer program file as a sequence of interconnected components, each of the components being respectively associated with at least one component editor among a plurality of component editors based on an attribute of the corresponding component, the plurality of component editors each being configured to perform a corresponding one of a plurality of editing functions based on a component attribute with which the corresponding component editor is respectively associated;
modifying a portion of said program file in said parse tree format by a user graphical interaction using a graphical editor to manipulate placement of at least one of the components and create a modified program portion in which the sequence of interconnected components are re-sequenced and relinked based on the user-manipulated placement of the at least one of the components;
displaying the at least one component editor corresponding to the at least one of the components in the modified program portion to enable the user to edit the at least one of the components with the corresponding component editor;
determining a remainder of said parse tree program file containing each component among the interconnected components not dependent on said modified program portion;
compiling only said modified program portion into said parse tree format, while maintaining said determined remainder of said parse tree program file in an unmodified state; and
re-forming the parse tree representation of said computer program file by integrating said modified and compiled program portion into said determined remainder of said parse tree program file that is maintained in the unmodified state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An editor for creating and editing user-guidance information employs multiple interrelated interfaces. One such interface allows the user to create a user-guidance sequence from a series of component script file module objects and panel display objects. Each object is assigned a graphical icon. The user constructs the sequence by stringing together the icons to implement the desired sequence. The user may maintain a customized file of frequently used component script files objects and panel display objects. The user may add an object from the customized file to a sequence currently being edited by “dragging” its associated icon from the file to the sequence. The user may perform editing on individual display objects within the above described sequence of display objects by “clicking” on one of the display objects. This invokes a separate editor which displays the contents of the display object. The editor operates on information in parse tree format.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for generating computer program files using a computer, including the steps of:
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forming a parse tree representation of a computer program file as a sequence of interconnected components, each of the components being respectively associated with at least one component editor among a plurality of component editors based on an attribute of the corresponding component, the plurality of component editors each being configured to perform a corresponding one of a plurality of editing functions based on a component attribute with which the corresponding component editor is respectively associated; modifying a portion of said program file in said parse tree format by a user graphical interaction using a graphical editor to manipulate placement of at least one of the components and create a modified program portion in which the sequence of interconnected components are re-sequenced and relinked based on the user-manipulated placement of the at least one of the components; displaying the at least one component editor corresponding to the at least one of the components in the modified program portion to enable the user to edit the at least one of the components with the corresponding component editor; determining a remainder of said parse tree program file containing each component among the interconnected components not dependent on said modified program portion; compiling only said modified program portion into said parse tree format, while maintaining said determined remainder of said parse tree program file in an unmodified state; and re-forming the parse tree representation of said computer program file by integrating said modified and compiled program portion into said determined remainder of said parse tree program file that is maintained in the unmodified state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer editor for generating computer program files using a computer, comprising:
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an input device for inputting a program file in a parse tree format into said computer editor, said program file including at least one sequence, said at least one sequence including at least one component; a graphical interface for graphically displaying said at least one sequence and its constituent at least one component; an editing interface for accessing a database including a stored library of components; a selection and moving means for selecting and moving by dragging and dropping at least one of said stored library of components to said at least one graphical sequence for placement by a user graphical interaction, each of said components being respectively associated with at least one component editor among a plurality of component editors based on an attribute of the corresponding component, the plurality of component editors each being configured to perform a corresponding one of a plurality of editing functions based on a component attribute with which the corresponding component editor is respectively associated; adding means for integrating said selected at least one of said stored library of components with said at least one sequence to form a modified sequence of interconnected components reconfigured and relinked based on the user placement; component editor displaying means for displaying the at least one component editor corresponding to said selected at least one of said stored library of components in said modified sequence to enable a user to edit said selected at least one of said stored library of components with the corresponding component editor; determining means for determining a remainder of said program file containing each component among the interconnected components not dependent on said modified sequence; compiling means for compiling only said modified sequence, while maintaining said determined remainder of said program file in an unmodified state; integrating means for integrating said modified sequence into said determined remainder of said program file, to re-form the parse tree format of said program file based on said modified sequence integrated into said determined remainder of said program file that is maintained in the unmodified state; and a text interface for displaying a textual representation of at least a portion of said integrated program file; wherein said text interface is invoked simultaneously with said graphical interface to textually and graphically represent changes based on the user graphical interaction, and wherein changes made to said at least one sequence in said graphical interface by dragging and dropping are substantially simultaneously depicted in corresponding portions of said program file presented in said text interface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for use in association with a computing device with a graphical display, comprising:
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an input module for inputting a program file in a parse tree format into said computing device, said program file including at least one sequence, said at least one sequence including at least one component; a graphical module for graphically displaying said at least one sequence and its constituent at least one component; an editing interface module for accessing a database including a stored library of components; a selection and moving module for selecting and moving by dragging and dropping at least one of said stored library of components to said at least one graphical sequence for placement by a user graphical interaction, each of said components being respectively associated with at least one component editor among a plurality of component editors based on an attribute of the corresponding component, the plurality of component editors each being configured to perform a corresponding one of a plurality of editing functions based on a component attribute with which the corresponding component editor is respectively associated; an adding module for integrating said selected at least one of said stored library of components with said at least one sequence to form a modified sequence of interconnected components reconfigured and relinked based on the user placement; a component editor displaying module for displaying the at least one component editor corresponding to said selected at least one of said stored library of components in said modified sequence to enable a user to edit said selected at least one of said stored library of components with the corresponding component editor; a determining module for determining a remainder of said program file containing each component among the interconnected components not dependent on said modified sequence; a compiling module for compiling only said modified sequence, while maintaining said determined remainder of said program file in an unmodified state; an integrating module for integrating said modified sequence into said determined remainder of said program file, to re-form the parse tree format of said program file based on said modified sequence integrated into said determined remainder of said program file that is maintained in the unmodified state; and a text module for displaying a textual representation of at least a portion of said integrated program file; wherein said text module is invoked simultaneously with said graphical module to textually and graphically represent changes based on the user graphical interaction, and wherein changes made to said at least one sequence in said graphical module by dragging and dropping are substantially simultaneously depicted in corresponding portions of said program file presented in said text module. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-readable recording medium containing programming code recorded thereon that causes a computer to generate computer program files, the computer, when executing the programming code, being configured to implement procedures comprising:
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forming a parse tree representation of a computer program file as a sequence of interconnected components, each of the components being respectively associated with at least one component editor among a plurality of component editors based on an attribute of the corresponding component, the plurality of component editors each being configured to perform a corresponding one of a plurality of editing functions based on a component attribute with which the corresponding component editor is respectively associated; modifying a portion of said program file in said parse tree format by a user graphical interaction using a graphical editor to manipulate placement of at least one of the components and create a modified program portion in which the sequence of interconnected components is re-sequenced and relinked based on the user-manipulated placement of the at least one of the components; displaying the at least one component editor corresponding to the at least one of the components in the modified program portion to enable the user to edit the at least one of the components with the corresponding component editor; determining a remainder of said parse tree program file containing each component among the interconnected components not dependent on said modified program portion; compiling only said modified program portion into said parse tree format, while maintaining said determined remainder of said parse tree format program file in an unmodified state; and re-forming the parse tree representation of said computer program file by integrating said modified and compiled program portion into said determined remainder of said parse tree program file that is maintained in the unmodified state. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification