System and method for performing type checking and class propagation of attributes in a graphical data flow program

A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class;
• displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• propagating said first class to said VISA attribute node in response to said displaying said wire;
• performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the VISA session;
• displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the VISA session;
• and
• displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said first class of the VISA session.

A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a first VISA class;
• changing said VISA attribute node icon from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session;
• and
• displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.

A system for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program, comprising:

• a computer system including a video screen and an input device;
• an instrument coupled to said computer system;
• means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session;
• means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• means for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• means for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• means for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session;
• and
• means for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.

A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising:

• instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session;
• instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• instructions for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• instructions for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• instructions for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session;
• and
• instructions for displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.

A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session;
• displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument;
• and
• preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.

A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class;
• displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• propagating said first class to said VISA attribute node icon in response to said displaying said wire;
• performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the VISA session;
• wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument;
• and
• preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.

A system for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program, comprising:

• a computer system including a video screen and an input device;
• an instrument coupled to said computer system;
• means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session;
• means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• means for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• means for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument;
• and
• means for preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.

A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising:

• instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session;
• instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• instructions for changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• instructions for performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• wherein said VISA session icon, said VISA attribute node icon and said wire comprise a virtual instrument;
• and
• instructions for preventing execution of said virtual instrument if one of said attributes is invalid for said second class.

A method for performing class propagation of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class;
• displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• and
• changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.

A system for performing class propagation of objects in a graphical program, comprising:

• a computer system including a video screen and an input device;
• an instrument coupled to said computer system;
• means for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• means for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• means for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class;
• means for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• and
• means for changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.

A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to an instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising:

• instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session;
• instructions for selecting a first class for the VISA session in response to user input;
• instructions for displaying on the screen a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, wherein said VISA attribute node icon is of a second class;
• instructions for displaying on the screen a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon;
• and
• instructions for changing said VISA attribute node to be of said first class of the VISA session in response to said displaying on the screen said wire.

A system for setting attributes of a VISA instrument, comprising:

• computer system including a video screen and an input device;
• said VISA instrument coupled to said computer system;
• means for displaying on the screen a graphical program including a VISA attribute node icon for setting one or more attributes of said VISA resource in response to user input;
• means for constructing execution instructions in the computer system for setting said attributes of said VISA resource, wherein said constructing is in response to said graphical program;
• means for executing said execution instructions on said computer system to set said attributes.

A method for creating an instrumentation control program in a graphical programming environment comprising an object manager and a program editor, wherein the program controls an instrument having characteristic attributes, wherein the program is operable to control the instrument independent of an interface type of the instrument, the method comprising:

• said program editor displaying on a display screen an icon representing said instrument;
• said program editor querying said object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon;
• said object manager parsing a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes;
• said object manager providing said list of attributes to said program editor;
• said program editor displaying on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.

A system for creating an instrumentation control program for controlling an instrument independent of an interface type, comprising:

• a computer system including a display screen and a user input device;
• an instrument having characteristic attributes coupled to the computer system;
• a program editor configured to display on said display screen an icon representing said instrument;
• a program editor configured to query said object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon;
• wherein said object manager is configured to parse a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes;
• wherein said object manager is configured to provide said list of attributes to said program editor;
• wherein said program editor is configured to display on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.

A computer-readable storage media for operating in a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, an input device, and a processor operably coupled to a VISA instrument, wherein the storage media includes a substrate having a physical configuration representing data, the storage media comprising:

• instructions for displaying on said display screen an icon representing said instrument;
• instructions for querying an object manager for a list of attributes of said instrument in response to user input directed toward said icon;
• instructions for parsing a class definition file containing said list of attributes to determine said list of attributes;
• instructions for providing said list of attributes;
• instructions for displaying on said display screen said list of attributes of said instrument.

A method for performing type checking of objects in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen displaying a VISA session icon which represents a VISA session of a first class, a VISA attribute node icon with one or more attributes of a VISA session control associated with said VISA session, and a wire connecting the VISA session icon and the VISA attribute node icon, the method comprising:

• changing said VISA session from said first class to a second class in response to user input;
• performing type propagation checking to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the VISA attribute node icon is valid for said second class of the VISA session;
• displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said second class of the VISA session;
• and
• displaying on the screen in a manner indicative of validity each of said one or more attributes which is valid for said second class of the VISA session.

A method for performing type checking in a graphical program in a computer system including a video screen, wherein a device is connected to the computer system, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a session icon which represents a session to the device;
• selecting a first class for the session in response to user input;
• displaying on the screen an attribute node icon with one or more attributes associated with said session;
• connecting the session icon and the attribute node icon;
• performing type propagation checking in response to said connecting to insure that each of the one or more attributes displayed in the attribute node icon is valid for said first class of the session;
• and
• indicating invalidity each of said one or more attributes which is invalid for said first class of the session.

A method for performing class propagation in a graphical program, wherein the graphical program executes in a computer system including a video screen, wherein a device is connected to the computer system, comprising:

• displaying on the screen a session icon which represents a session to the device;
• selecting a first class for the session in response to user input;
• displaying on the screen an attribute node icon with one or more attributes associated with said session, wherein said attribute node icon is of a second class;
• connecting the session icon and the attribute node icon;
• and
• changing said attribute node to be of said first class of the session in response to said connecting.