Patent ID: 6356954
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computerized apparatus for interacting with an external program from within another program executed by a computer, comprising:a computer; an editor shell, executed by the computer, that communicates bidirectionally with an interpreter external to the editor shell, wherein the editor shell passes input lines to the interpreter, the interpreter evaluates the input lines, the interpreter performs one or more functions indicated by the input lines, the interpreter generates a response comprising zero or more output lines, and the interpreter passes the output lines back to the editor shell for subsequent display; wherein the editor shell performs one or more commands to control interaction with the external interpreter; and wherein the editor shell performs an â€œEvaluate in placeâ€  command that submits one or more selected lines displayed by the editor shell to the interpreter for evaluation and inserts the interpreter's response immediately following the input lines displayed by the editor shell, thereby replacing any previous output lines received from the interpreter and displayed by the editor shell, wherein only input lines in the selected lines, and not interleaved output lines in the selected lines, are submitted to the interpreter.