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US 6,687,897 B2Granted
XML based script automation
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorOlivier Guinart
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AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorOlivier Guinart
Estimating the term…
Systems, methods and data structures for encompassing scripts written in one or more scripting languages in a single file. The scripts of a computer system are organized into a single file using Extensible Language Markup (XML). Each script is delimited by a file element and the script's instructions are delimited by a code element within each file element. Other information, such as a name of the script and a functional description of the script may also be included in the file using other XML elements to delimit that information. The language in which a particular script is written is also included within the XML format. When a particular script is executed, the file is parsed to create a list of the script names or of the functional descriptions of the scripts. One or more scripts are selected and the code for those scripts is extracted from the file and executed by the appropriate scripting process. The scripting process that executes a particular script is identified from the scripting extension attribute that is included in the XML format of the file.
In a computer system that includes one or more scripts that can be selected for execution by a user, a method for facilitating the identification and selection of the one or more scripts for execution, the method comprising the acts of:
In a computer system that includes one or more scripts that can be selected for execution by a user, a method for facilitating the identification and selection of the one or more scripts for execution, the method comprising the acts of:
In a computer system having one or more scripts written in one or more scripting languages, a computer readable having stored thereon a data structure for encompassing the one or more scripts into a single file, the data structure comprising:
In a computer system having one or more scripts written in one or more scripting languages, a data structure for organizing the one or more scripts into a file, the data structure comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Abstract machines for program code execution, e.g. Java virtual machine [JVM], interpreters or emulators: runtime interpretation or emulation, e…
Computing and data processing
Term ended 5 Nov 2021 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer languages. More particularly, the present invention relates to scripting languages and specifically to the management of scripts using Extensible Markup Language (XML) to format the scripts into a single file regardless of the scripting language used for each individual script.
2. The Prior State of the Art
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system that provides a suitable operating environment for the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating various scripts that are location on a computer;
The present invention provides for encompassing one or more scripts into a single file. The present invention uses Extensible Markup Language (XML) to define or format scripts within the single file. Because XML is often used to convey data, the language in which each script is written does not have an impact on other scripts included in the file. However, the scripting language of each script may be identified within the XML format. Advantageously, the XML format allows other information about each script to be included in the file.
When it is necessary to execute a particular script, the file is parsed to separate identifiers that are presented to a user in a list. The identifiers can include the name of each script, a detailed description of each script, or the like or any combination thereof. When a script is selected from the list, that script's statements, instructions or code are parsed from the file and executed by the appropriate scripting process. Alternatively, each script's codes or statements can be parsed and separated before a particular script is identified.
While the schema or format of the file used to encompass the scripts of a computer system is described herein in terms of XML, it is understood that other file schemas or formats, such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) or the like or any combination thereof may be used as described herein.