Text file interface support in an object oriented application
First Claim
1. A method of processing a text file used to communicate between a computer application and a user, the method comprising the steps:
- describing a text format by using fragments of text from the text file for creating a plurality of templates, wherein each of the templates has literal fragments of the text file, and each of the templates includes substitution points;
when the format of the text file changes, changing the templates;
using macro classes to map data from the text file to the computer application;
embedding in each of the templates a call to one of the macro classes; and
using the templates as overlays to parse the text file into segments having data, or as a prototype to generate a segment of an output file;
using an interaction of the templates and the macro classes to describe a flow of control to process the text file, including the steps of;
when reaching said call in one of the templates, using said call to invoke one of said macro classes, using said invoked macro class to process the text file, and said invoked macro class then invoking another one of the templates to further process the text file, whereby the templates and the macro class describe a flow of control of the processing of the text file; and
wherein;
the macro classes include an input macro and an output macro; and
the using said macro classes to map data from the test file to the computer application includes;
using the input macro to read in a segment of the text file and to use said read in segment to initiate update processing of the computer application; and
using the output macro to derive data from the computer application and to format said derived data into the text file.
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Abstract
A method and system for processing a text file in a computer application. The method comprises the steps of
forming a template from fragments of the text file; using the template as an overlay for parsing incoming files, or as a prototype to generate a segment of an output file; and using a macro class to map data from the text file to an application. The macro class is embedded as a keyword within the template, so that when the template reaches the keyword, the template calls the macro class to further process the text file. The macro class may be used to reads in a segment of the text file and to use the segment to initiate application update processing. Also, the macro class may be used to derive data from the application and to format it into the text file. Preferably, an interface controller is provided to prevent structure clashes by placing text data into appropriate places in a complex object structure as the text file is processed.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of processing a text file used to communicate between a computer application and a user, the method comprising the steps:
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describing a text format by using fragments of text from the text file for creating a plurality of templates, wherein each of the templates has literal fragments of the text file, and each of the templates includes substitution points; when the format of the text file changes, changing the templates; using macro classes to map data from the text file to the computer application; embedding in each of the templates a call to one of the macro classes; and using the templates as overlays to parse the text file into segments having data, or as a prototype to generate a segment of an output file; using an interaction of the templates and the macro classes to describe a flow of control to process the text file, including the steps of; when reaching said call in one of the templates, using said call to invoke one of said macro classes, using said invoked macro class to process the text file, and said invoked macro class then invoking another one of the templates to further process the text file, whereby the templates and the macro class describe a flow of control of the processing of the text file; and
wherein;the macro classes include an input macro and an output macro; and the using said macro classes to map data from the test file to the computer application includes; using the input macro to read in a segment of the text file and to use said read in segment to initiate update processing of the computer application; and using the output macro to derive data from the computer application and to format said derived data into the text file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A processing system including a processing unit and a memory, for processing a text file used to communicate between a computer application and a user, the processing unit being configured for:
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describing a text format by using fragments of text from the text file for creating a plurality of templates, wherein each of the templates has literal fragments of the text file, and each of the templates includes substitution points;
when the format of the text file changes, changing the templates;using macro classes to map data from the text file to the computer application, wherein a call to one of the macro classes is embedded in each of the templates; using the templates as overlays to parse the text file into segments having data, or as a prototype to generate a segment of an output file; using an interaction of the templates and the macro classes to describe a flow of control to process the text file, by i) when reaching said call in said one of the templates, using said call to invoke one of said macros classes, ii) using said invoked macro class to process the text file, and iii) using the invoked macro class to invoke another one of the templates to further process the text file, whereby the templates and the macro classes describe a flow of control of the processing of the text file; and
wherein;the macro classes include an input macro and an output macro; and the using said macro classes to map data from the test file to the computer application includes; using the input macro to read in a segment of the text file and to use said read in segment to initiate update processing of the computer application; and using the output macro to derive data from the computer application and to format said derived data into the text file. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification