Method of creating packages for a pointer-based computer system

A method of using a first computer system having a display screen displaying a first graphical user interface to create an application that can be executed and displayed through a second graphical user interface on a second computer system having a display screen sensitive to a pointer, a processor in communication with the display screen, and a memory in communication with the processor such that when the application is executing on the processor it can perform defined actions in response to interaction of the pointer with the display screen, the method comprising the following steps:

• displaying a first layout window on the first graphical user interface displayed on the display screen of the first computer system, the first layout window defining a representation of the display screen of the second computer system as it will appear when the application is executing on the second computer system;
• displaying a plurality of predefined views as manipulated by a user on the first layout window, each such predefined view defining a graphical interface element appearing on the display screen of the second computer system when the application is executing, the predefined views being located at regions of the first layout window corresponding to the locations of corresponding graphical interface elements appearing on the display screen of the second computer system when the application is executing on the second computer system, each view representing a template having a plurality of slots defining the structure or behavior of the view;
• displaying on the display screen of the first computer system a browser listing the views in the layout window and slots of a selected view, the browser also having a slot editor area displaying a graphical representation of a selected slot from the selected view;
• modifying the selected slot in response to editing commands performed on the graphical representation of the selected slot in the slot editor area;
• and
• building said application from views on said layout window.

A method of using a first computer system having a display screen displaying a first graphical user interface to create an application that can be executed and displayed through a second graphical user interface on a second computer system having a display screen sensitive to a pointer, a processor in communication with the display screen, and a memory in communication with the processor such that when the application is executing on the processor it can perform defined actions in response to interaction of the pointer with the display screen, the method comprising the following steps:

• displaying a proto layout window on the display screen of the first computer system, the proto layout window defining a representation of at least a portion of the display screen of the second computer system;
• displaying a user-defined arrangement of views on the proto layout window, each such view representing a component available from a palette displayed on the first computer system and each view defining a graphical interface element capable of appearing on the display screen of the second computer system when the application is executing;
• displaying a proto template which defines the user-defined arrangement of views on the proto layout window, the proto template corresponding to a collection of graphical interface elements appearing on the display screen of the second computer system when the application is executing, the proto template also being selectable from said palette and functioning as a predefined view;
• displaying a main layout window on the first graphical user interface displayed on the display screen of the first computer system, the main layout window defining a representation of the display screen of the second computer system as it will appear when the application is executing on the second computer system;
• displaying a view of the proto template on the main layout window on the display screen of the first computer system;
• and
• building said application from the views on said main layout window.

A method of using a first computer system having a display screen displaying a graphical user interface to preparing a package for use in routing files associated with an application to various locations in a second, pointer-based, computer system, the application including a second graphical user interface provided as a hierarchy of views, the method comprising the following steps:

• displaying a layout window on the first graphical user interface displayed on the display screen of the first computer system, the layout window defining a representation of a display screen of the second, pointer-based, computer system as it will appear when the application is executing on the second computer system;
• displaying a plurality of predefined view as manipulated by a user on the layout window, each such predefined view defining a graphical interface element appearing on the display screen of the second, pointer-based, computer system when the application is executing, the predefined views being located at regions of the layout window corresponding to the locations of corresponding graphical interface elements appearing on the display screen of the second, pointer-based, computer system when the application is executing on the second, pointer-based, computer system;
• linking a second layout window to a predefined view on the layout window, the second layout window itself having a plurality of predefined views defining graphical interface elements capable of appearing on the display screen of the second computer system when the application is executing;
• building said application from views on said layout window;
• identifying files associated with said application from a collection of files;
• recursively processing the views from the files associated with said application to form data parts and incorporate the data parts so formed into a package file.