System and method for developing software programs by way of multiple applications and users

A system for developing a program for operating at least one industrial process, the system comprising:

• a plurality of operator interfaces;
• means for storing information, wherein the stored information includes templates in at least one library, and projects having a plurality of objects, wherein the projects correspond to the at least one industrial process;
• means for governing access to the stored information so that each respective library and object is only accessible by way of a single operator interface at any given time;
• and
• means for processing the stored information when it is being accessed so that at least one of (1) the stored information is in a format that can be acted upon by an application program, and (2) modifiable portions of the stored information are identified.

A method of developing a program for operating at least one industrial process, the method comprising:

• receiving a first command from an operator interface to access a desired library of templates;
• retrieving from a repository stored information regarding the desired library;
• processing the stored information by way of a wrapper program in order to at least one of (1) obtain a desired subset of the stored information, (2) identify an application program that is capable of processing the stored information, and (3) reconfiguring at least a portion of the stored information so that it is capable of being processed by the application program;
• displaying at least one portion of the processed, stored information at the operator interface;
• receiving a second command from the operator interface to access a desired project;
• retrieving from the repository store information regarding the desired project;
• and
• receiving a third command from the operator interface to instantiate one of the desired template and another template based upon the desired template onto an object within the desired project.

A method for developing and retaining a program for controlling an industrial process, the method comprising:

• providing a database for storing data files;
• providing a graphical user interface capable of displaying graphical objects;
• displaying on the graphical user interface a plurality of the graphical objects in association with one another to represent the industrial process;
• receiving a selection of one of the graphical objects;
• determining whether data stored in a repository and associated with the selected graphical object is currently checked out by another;
• displaying the data associated with the selected graphical object when the data is determined to be not checked out by another.

A system for developing a program for operating at least one industrial process, the system comprising:

• a first operator interface;
• and
• a computer coupled to the operator interface, the computer including
• a memory and
• a processor;
• wherein the first operator interface is capable of displaying a plurality of graphical objects in associated with one another, wherein the associated graphical objects are representative of components of the industrial process;
• wherein the first operator interface is capable of receiving commands to display data associated with the respective graphical objects;
• and
• wherein, in response to one of the commands being provided to the first operator interface with respect to one of the graphical objects, a wrapper is actuated within the computer to determine an application that can be employed to access the data associated with that graphical object, so that the data can then be displayed at the operator interface by way of the application.