Method and apparatus for attaching an informational dialog to a java bean

• US 7,552,444 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Alcorn, John William, Knutson, James Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Andy
• Application Number:
  US10/851,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 719/316, 719/331, 719/332, 717/108, 717/120
• US Class Current: 719/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method in a data processing system for attaching an informational dialog to a program. The program is morphed to extend an existing interface to the program to become a dippable program. A dip is created, wherein the dip modifies runtime behavior of the existing interface of the dippable program to include an informational dialog. The dip is added to the dippable program, wherein the informational dialog is attached to the dippable program. The dialog is displayed just before the dippable program is displayed.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for attaching an informational dialog to a program, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

morphing the program, to extend an existing interface of the program to create a dippable program;

creating a dip for the dippable program, wherein the dip modifies runtime behavior of the existing interface of the dippable program to include an informational dialog; and

adding the dip to the dippable program, wherein the informational dialog is attached to the dippable program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is a Java bean.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is a plurality of beans.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational dialog is displayed prior to the dippable program displaying information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the informational dialog is dismissed in response to a selected action.

6. A method in a data processing system for attaching an informational dialog to a bean, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

creating the informational dialog;

creating a dip for the bean using the informational dialog, wherein the dip modifies the runtime behavior of an existing interface of the bean to include the informational dialog; and

attaching the dip to the bean.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of attaching comprises:

morphing the bean to extend an existing interface of the bean to create a dippable bean; and

attaching the dip to the dippable bean to create a dipped bean.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of creating comprises:

creating the informational dialog; and

setting properties for the informational dialog.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of setting properties includes:

selecting text for the informational dialog.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of setting properties includes:

selecting a graphical property for the informational dialog.

11. A computer system for attaching an informational dialog to a program, the computer system comprising:

a bus;

a bridge connected to the bus;

a memory connected to the bridge, wherein the memory comprises computer executable instructions;

a processor connected to the bridge, wherein the processor executes the computer executable instructions to direct the computer system to;

morph the program, to extend an existing interface of the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

create a dip for the dippable program, wherein the dip modifies the runtime behavior of the existing interface of the dippable program to include an informational dialog; and

add the dip to the dippable program to create a dipped program, wherein the informational dialog is attached to the dippable program.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the program is a plurality of beans.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the informational dialog is displayed prior to the dippable program displaying information.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the informational dialog is dismissed in response to a selected action.

15. A data processing system for attaching an informational dialog to a bean, the data processing system comprising:

a bus;

a bridge connected to the bus;

a memory connected to the bridge, wherein the memory comprises computer executable instructions;

a processor connected to the bridge, wherein the processor executes the computer executable instructions to direct the computer system to;

create an informational dialog;

create a dip for the bean using the informational dialog, wherein the dip modifies the runtime behavior of an existing interface of the bean to include the informational dialog; and

attach the dip to the bean.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein attach the dip to the bean comprises:

morphing the bean to extend an existing interface of the bean to create a dippable bean; and

attaching the dip to the dippable bean.

17. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the creating means comprises:

creating the informational dialog;

setting properties for the informational dialog.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the setting properties comprises:

selecting text for the dialog.

19. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the setting properties comprises:

selecting a graphical property for the dialog.

20. A computer program product for attaching informational dialog to a program, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable recordable type medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon, the computer executable instructions comprising;

first instructions for morphing the program to extend an existing interface of the program, wherein the program becomes a dippable program;

second instructions for creating a dip for the program, wherein the dip modifies runtime behavior of the existing interface of the dippable program to include an informational dialog; and

third instructions for adding the dip to the dippable program, wherein the informational dialog is attached to the dippable program.