US 5,652,884 A · Method and apparatus for dynamic update of an existing object in an object editor

Abstract

User interface objects are stored in a user interface object archive which is a database physically located in the shared library of an associated application program. In order to facilitate "localization", or preparation of an application developed in one language for use in an "area" or a locale which uses another language, the user interface objects are stored in a hierarchical locale tree within the archive. All objects are stored in the base or root of the hierarchy, but only those objects which require a translation are stored in an area associated with a more specific locale. At runtime, a complete collection of objects is assembled by starting at the desired locale and proceeding up the hierarchy level-by-level. Translated objects at lower levels of the hierarchy "override" those at higher levels so that the most complete translations of each object are obtained during this search. The user interface objects which are stored in an archive are actually created via a predefined "constructor" program, and, in order to allow newly-created user interface objects to use the predesigned constructor program, each user interface object is contained in a special "escort" object that interfaces with the constructor program. A user can edit an existing object, and change its class. This results in a new object of the new class being created. The existing attributes of the old object are transferred to the new object. Only the attributes known to the common base class or classes of the two objects are transferred. The new object is substituted for the old object, and the old object is deleted.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A user interface object archive system for use in an object-oriented programming (OOP) based computer system which builds user interface objects while a runtime environment is operational and which creates new application programs without halting said runtime environment, said archive system comprising:

(a) storage means for storing objects in a hierarchical locale tree, said locale tree having a root locale level associated with a first locale and at least one other locale level associated with a second locale;
(b) object creation means, operatively coupled to the storage means for creating a first user interface object class by initiating a user interface object editor, the first user interface object class being stored in the root locale level;
(c) object class change means, operatively coupled to the object creation means, for changing a class of the first user interface object by creating a second user interface object class;
(d) transfer means, operatively coupled to the object class change means, for transferring common instance data from the first user interface object class to the second user interface object class;
(e) object substitution means, operatively coupled to the transfer means and the storage means, for substituting the second user interface object class for the first user interface object class in the root locale level;
and
(f) object deletion means, operatively coupled to the storage means, for deleting the first user interface object class from the root locale level.

4 more elements

A method for use in an object oriented programming (OOP) based computer system which builds user interface objects while a runtime environment is operational and which creates new application programs without halting said runtime environment, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing objects in a hierarchical locale tree in a storage device, said locale tree having a root locale level associated with a first locale and at least one other locale level associated with a second locale;
(b) creating a first user interface object class by initiating a user interface object editor, the first user interface object class being stored in the root locale level;
(c) changing a class of the first user interface object by creating a second user interface object class;
(d) transferring common instance data from the first user interface object class to the second user interface object class;
(e) substituting the second user interface object class for the first user interface object class in the root locale level;
and
(f) deleting the first user interface object class from the root locale level.

4 more elements

A program storage device readable by a computer system tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer system to perform an object oriented programming (OOP) based method which builds user interface objects while a runtime environment is operational and which creates new application programs without halting said runtime environment, the method embodied on the storage device comprising the steps of:

(a) storing objects in a hierarchical locale tree in a storage device, said locale tree having a root locale level associated with a first locale and at least one other locale level associated with a second locale;
(b) creating a first user interface object class by initiating a user interface object editor, the first user interface object class being stored in the root locale level;
(c) changing a class of the first user interface object by creating a second user interface object class;
(d) transferring common instance data from the first user interface object class to the second user interface object class;
(e) substituting the second user interface object class for the first user interface object class in the root locale level;
and
(f) deleting the first user interface object class from the root locale level.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for dynamic update of an existing object in an object editor

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for dynamic update of an existing object in an object editor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15