Method for integrating software components into a spreadsheet application
AssigneeThe MathWorks, Inc.
InventorJames Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for automatically integrating software components for use in a COM compliant application from functions developed outside of the COM compliant application environment. The method and apparatus provide a user interface and a build tool that allows the user to select desired functions and select desired locations in the COM compliant application and map those locations to inputs and outputs of the function and create the component automatically from the user's selections. The method and apparatus provide a graphical user interface for the user to direct a build tool to generate the desired component and integrate that component with the COM compliant application.
Claims20
In a selected programming environment practiced in an electronic device, a method for automatically integrating a plurality of functions into a spreadsheet application environment, said method comprising:
- selecting a plurality of functions from the selected programming environment;
- arranging the plurality of functions according to a determined order, the determined order identifying an order of execution;
- processing information about the plurality of functions;
- gathering calling information using the processing that allows the plurality of functions to be called from the spreadsheet application environment;
- generating meta data objects from the calling information, wherein the meta data objects include necessary information to construct a call to the plurality of functions;
- and
- integrating, automatically, the plurality of functions into the spreadsheet application environment, the integrating comprising:
- accessing the meta data objects,
- generating an executable program, the executable program callable by the spreadsheet application environment using the gathered information, the executable program including a callable set of instructions for executing the plurality of functions from the spreadsheet application environment in the determined order,
- calling the plurality of functions from the spreadsheet application environment using the meta data objects, and
- executing the plurality of functions in the determined order using the callable set of instructions.
An electronic device for use in practicing a technical computing environment, the technical computing environment for developing and performing engineering and scientific related functions, the electronic device comprising:
- an input device for use by a user;
- and
- a build tool responsive to inputs from the user for:
- selecting one or more functions from a first application program developed in a first technical computing programming environment,
- arranging the one or more functions according to a determined order, the determined order identifying an order of execution,
- generating meta data objects, wherein the meta data objects include necessary information to construct a call to the plurality of functions,
- integrating the one or more functions into a second application program developed in a second programming environment, the build tool automatically generating an executable program callable by the second application program, the executable program including a callable set of instructions for executing the one or more functions from the second application program in the determined order based on the meta data objects, and
- executing the one or more functions in the determined order using the callable set of instructions.
In an electronic device, a method for integrating functions into a spreadsheet application, the method comprising:
- browsing for the functions in a selected application environment;
- selecting a plurality of functions from the functions in the selected application environment;
- arranging the plurality of functions according to a determined order, the determined order identifying an order of execution;
- creating an object containing necessary information on classes contained in the plurality of functions to be called;
- and
- automatically integrating the plurality of functions into the spreadsheet application using the object to avoid manually integrating the plurality of functions, the integrating including:
- generating an executable program callable by the spreadsheet application, the executable program including a callable set of instructions for executing the plurality of functions from the spreadsheet application in the determined order, and
- placing the executable program in the spreadsheet application.
A device readable medium holding device executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
- rendering a user interface on a display device, the user interface allowing a user to browse and select a plurality of functions in a selected programming environment for integration into a spreadsheet application;
- accepting user selections via the user interface;
- arranging the plurality of functions according to a determined order, the determined order identifying an order of execution;
- processing information about the plurality of functions to construct objects that include calls and necessary information to class methods of one or more of the plurality of functions;
- and
- integrating the plurality of functions into the spreadsheet application, the integration of the plurality of functions into the spreadsheet application occurring automatically as guided by the user selections accepted via the user interface, the integrating including:
- generating an executable program callable by the spreadsheet application, the executable program including a callable set of instructions that reconstruct the calls to the class methods of the plurality of functions in the determined order based on the object, and
- placing the executable program in the spreadsheet application.
A device readable medium holding device readable instructions for performing a method in a selected programming environment practiced in an electronic device, the method automatically integrating a plurality of functions into a spreadsheet application environment, said method comprising:
- choosing a plurality of functions from the selected programming environment;
- arranging the plurality of functions according to a determined order, the determined order identifying an order of execution;
- processing information about the plurality of functions;
- gathering calling information using the processing that allows the plurality of functions to be called from the spreadsheet application environment;
- generating meta data objects from the calling information, wherein the meta data objects include necessary information to construct a call to the plurality of functions;
- and
- integrating, automatically, the plurality of functions into the spreadsheet application environment, the integrating comprising:
- accessing the meta data objects,
- creating an executable program callable by the spreadsheet application environment using the gathered information, the executable program including a callable set of instructions for executing the plurality of functions from the spreadsheet application environment in the determined order,
- calling the plurality of functions from the spreadsheet application environment using the meta data objects, and
- executing the plurality of functions in the determined order using the callable set of instructions.
An electronic device for use in practicing a selected application environment, the selected application environment for developing and performing engineering related functions and scientific related functions, the electronic device comprising:
- an input device that receives user inputs;
- and
- a processor for:
- executing instructions for a build tool, the build tool for:
- receiving the user inputs,
- browsing for the engineering related functions or the scientific related functions in a selected application environment,
- selecting a plurality of engineering related functions or the scientific related functions,
- arranging the plurality of functions according to a determined order, the determined order identifying an order of execution,
- creating an object containing necessary information on classes contained in the plurality of functions to be called;
- and
- automatically integrating the selected one or more of the plurality of functions into a spreadsheet application using the object to avoid having a user manually script instructions for integrating the plurality of functions, the integrating including:
- generating an executable program callable by the spreadsheet application, the executable program including a callable set of instructions for executing the plurality of functions from the spreadsheet application in the determined order, and
- placing the executable program in the spreadsheet application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.