System and method for changing defined user interface elements in a previously compiled program

A method for altering a graphical user interface in a previously compiled program using a user interface description file without modifying the compiled program, comprising the steps of:

• loading a user interface description file that contains definitions of graphical user interface objects from a storage location accessible to the compiled program, wherein the user interface description file is independent of the compiled program;
• and
• parsing the user interface description file into a configurable filter in the compiled program;
• validating the user interface description file in the configurable filter;
• and
• defining the compiled program's graphical user interfaces and the interaction between the user interfaces and the compiled program based on the user interface description file.

A system for changing a graphical user interface in a previously compiled program using a user interface description file, without modifying the compiled program, comprising:

• a user interface description file containing definitions for user interface objects, wherein the user interface description file is independent of the compiled program;
• a configurable input filter enabled to parse and validate the user interface description file as the user interface description file is read from a storage location;
• and
• wherein the compiled program is in communication with the configurable input filter, the compiled program being configured to instantiate the program's user interface objects based on the definitions received from the user interface description file.

A method of delivering software objects in a computing environment using a compiled software manager with user interface controls that can be modified without re-compiling the software manager, comprising the steps of:

• parsing user interface object definitions read from a user interface description file located in a storage location accessible to the software manager;
• translating the parsed user interface object definitions into an internal user interface program structure for the compiled software manager;
• and
• creating a software install image by manipulating a software install data image using user interface controls instantiated in the compiled software manager.

A system for delivering software objects in a computing environment using a compiled software manager with user interface controls that can be modified without re-compiling the software manager, comprising:

• a parsing means for parsing user interface object definitions read from a user interface description file located in a storage location accessible to the software manager;
• a translation means for translating the parsed user interface object definitions into an internal user interface program structure for the compiled software manager using defined user interface keywords in the user interface description file;
• and
• a generation means for creating a software install image by manipulating a software install data image using user interface controls instantiated in the compiled software manager, wherein the software install image can install a software package.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for changing defined user interface elements in a previously compiled program using a user interface description file without modifying the compiled program, the computer readable program code in the article of manufacture comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to load the user interface description file from a storage location accessible to the compiled program, wherein the user interface description file contains user interface definitions and is not linked into the compiled program;
• computer readable program code configured to parse the user interface description file to enable the user interface description file to be sent to a configurable filter in communication with the compiled program;
• computer readable program code configured to validate the user interface description file using the configurable filter;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to define the compiled program's user interfaces and the interaction between the user interfaces, the compiled program, and data structures for the compiled program based on the user interface description file.