US5872974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Property setting manager for objects and controls of a graphical user interface software development system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1995-04-19
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Granted: 1999-02-16
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Expires: 2015-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A GUI software development system that executes in a multitasking environment is enhanced with the addition of a property setting manager program that provides a means whereby a programmer may readily store and retrieve one of a plurality of program object property sets for a particular program object, be the object a visual control or a non-visual object that provides a distinct added functionality to the program. The property setting manager program provides functionality to extract current property settings of a control or object and save those settings as a predefined property set for future use. Predefined property sets are automatically made available to the programmer upon detection of an event indicating a corresponding control or object is being added to a computer program under development. Multiple unique predefined property settings for a particular programming object or control are stored for later recall so that the programming effort required to establish initial property settings is minimized. Further, an edit feature enables property settings of a program object or control to be easily modified to a new or different set of property settings at a later time. Predefined naming prefixes are automatically presented to the user upon detection of the addition of a new program object or control to aid in establishing standardized or preferred personalized reference names for each new program object.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Mezick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for establishing alternative property settings of a computer program object comprising the steps of: providing a computer system including a CPU, RAM, ROM, a display, and an input device for receiving input from a programmer; providing a software development system program for use on said computer system for developing a computer program, wherein said software development system program includes a means for adding a plurality of program objects to a computer program; detecting the addition of a program object by said software development system program to said computer program, wherein said program object is assigned a default property set by said software development system; establishing a predefined property set for said program object wherein said predefined property set defines a collection of operational properties for said program object different from said default property set, and wherein said detecting step and said establishing step take place prior to execution of said computer program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for establishing alternative property settings of a computer program object comprising the steps of: providing a computer system including a CPU, RAM, ROM, a display, and an input device for receiving input from a programmer; providing a software development system program for use on said computer system for developing a computer program, wherein said software development system program includes a means for adding a plurality of program objects to a computer program; detecting the addition of a program object by said software development system program to said computer program, wherein said program object is assigned a default property set by said software development system; establishing a predefined property set for said program object wherein said predefined property set defines a collection of operational properties for said program object different from said default property set, and wherein said detecting step and said establishing step take place prior to execution of said computer program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of: displaying, on said display in response to said detecting step, a predefined name prefix for said program object; prompting the programmer for a suffix to append to said predefined name prefix; receiving a first input from said input device defining said suffix; and changing the name property of said program object to said predefined name prefix and said suffix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of: displaying a selection list of a plurality of predefined property sets on said display in response to said detecting step; receiving a second signal from said input device indicating the selection of one of said plurality of predefined property sets; and establishing said current properties of said program object in accordance with said selected one of said plurality of predefined property sets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of: receiving a third signal from said input device indicating that the current property set of said program object is requested to be stored as one of said plurality of predefined property sets; extracting said current property set for said program object; and storing said current property set as one of said plurality of predefined property sets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of: displaying a list of predefined profiles available, wherein each of said predefined profiles includes a plurality of said predefined property sets; receiving a fourth input signal from said input device, said fourth input signal defining a selection by the programmer of one of said predefined profiles; and defining said plurality of predefined property sets in accordance with said selected one of said predefined profiles, wherein said predefined property sets available in said displaying and establishing steps are defined by said selected one of said predefined profiles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said selected one of said predefined profiles contains a plurality of predefined property sets for a plurality of program objects.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for establishing alternative property settings of a computer program object comprising: a computer system including a CPU, RAM, ROM, a mass storage device, a display, and an input device for receiving input from a programmer; a software development system program executing on said computer system, wherein said software development system is used in developing a computer program, wherein said software development system program includes a means for adding a plurality of program objects to a computer program; and wherein said computer system includes: means for detecting the addition of a program object by said software development system program to said computer program, wherein said program object is assigned a default property set by said software development system; means for establishing a predefined property set for said program object wherein said predefined property set defines a collection of operational properties for said program object different from said default property set, and wherein said means for detecting and said means for establishing act to alter said default property set of said program object to said predefined property set take place prior to execution of said computer program.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for establishing alternative property settings of a computer program object comprising: a computer system including a CPU, RAM, ROM, a mass storage device, a display, and an input device for receiving input from a programmer; a software development system program executing on said computer system, wherein said software development system is used in developing a computer program, wherein said software development system program includes a means for adding a plurality of program objects to a computer program; and wherein said computer system includes: means for detecting the addition of a program object by said software development system program to said computer program, wherein said program object is assigned a default property set by said software development system; means for establishing a predefined property set for said program object wherein said predefined property set defines a collection of operational properties for said program object different from said default property set, and wherein said means for detecting and said means for establishing act to alter said default property set of said program object to said predefined property set take place prior to execution of said computer program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said computer system further includes: means for displaying, on said display in response to said detecting step, a predefined name prefix for said program object; means for prompting the programmer for a suffix to append to said predefined name prefix; means for receiving a first input from said input device defining said suffix; and means for changing the name property of said program object to said predefined name prefix and said suffix.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said computer system further includes: means for displaying a selection list of a plurality of predefined property sets on said display in response to said detecting step; means for receiving a second signal from said input device indicating the selection of one of said plurality of predefined property sets; and means for establishing said current properties of said program object in accordance with said selected one of said plurality of predefined property sets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said computer system further includes: means for receiving a third signal from said input device indicating that the current property set of said program object is requested to be stored as one of said plurality of predefined property sets; means for extracting said current property set for said program object; and means for storing said current property set on said mass storage device, for later recall, as one of said plurality of predefined property sets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said computer system further includes: means for displaying a list of predefined profiles available, wherein each of said predefined profiles includes a plurality of said predefined property sets; means for receiving a fourth input signal from said input device, said fourth input signal defining a selection by the programmer of one of said predefined profiles; and means for defining said plurality of predefined property sets in accordance with said selected one of said predefined profiles, wherein said predefined property sets available in said displaying and establishing steps are defined by said selected one of said predefined profiles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said selected one of said predefined profiles contains a plurality of predefined property sets for a plurality of program objects.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5603034A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |