Patent ID: 6014138
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system, a method for assisting a user with creating an application program, the method comprising:(a) providing a set of screen objects, each object having a set of properties and methods, said set of objects including some objects which may be contained within other objects of the set;(b) displaying a form for placement of objects;(c) placing desired ones of said objects at desired locations on the form;(d) if at least one object is placed within visual boundaries of another object, establishing an object hierarchy specifying a container relationship between the objects, said container relationship specifying which objects may access methods and properties of other objects;(e) displaying an outline view comprising nodes representing container relationships existing among objects; and(f) in response to user selection of a particular one of said objects,(i) highlighting a node of the outline view corresponding to the particular user-selected object, and(ii) responsive to said highlighting step, displaying a sheet listing properties and methods corresponding to the particular user-selected object.