Patent ID: 6789251
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
For use in a data processing system having a memory and an instruction processor coupled to the memory, the memory for storing data items and further for storing a set of tools, each of the tools in the set of tools for performing an associated set of operations on associated ones of the data items, a tool management system comprising:a user interface coupled to the memory to allow a user to select any of the tools as the currently-selected tool, to select any of the data items as the currently-selected data item, and to select, for said currently-selected data item, an associated one of the operations to be executed as said currently-selected operation on said currently-selected data item; selection means responsive to said user interface for determining whether said currently-selected operation is included in the associated set of operations performed by said currently-selected tool, and if said currently-selected operation is included in said associated set of operations performed by said currently-selected tool, for providing said currently-selected operation to said currently-selected tool for execution on said currently-selected data item; and a command routing interface responsive to said user interface to route a first indicator indicative of said currently-selected operation and a second indicator indicative of said currently-selected data item to a second one of the tools, said second one of the tools being the one of the tools including said currently-selected operation in its associated set of operations, whereby said second one of the tools executes said currently-selected operation on said currently-selected data item.