Patent Abstract:
The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for enabling interaction with one or more external computer programs from within an editor environment. The method involves passing editor input to the external program, wherein the external program evaluates the input, produces corresponding output, and transmits the output back to the editor. When the editor receives the output, it stores the output in a file and displays it on a computer monitor. By using this method, a user can not only interact with the external program from within the editor environment, but can also create an editor file that stores a listing of the input and output provided to the external program.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to co-pending and commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 08/826,010, filed on same date herewith, by Michael Golding, and entitled “A METHOD FOR RETRIEVING PREVIOUS INPUT COMMANDS TO AN EXTERNAL PROGRAM FROM AN EDITOR ENVIRONMENT,” which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to command interpreters for computer systems, and in particular to a method for retrieving previous input commands to an external program from an editor environment. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Most editor programs provide a variety of useful functions for computer users. These functions may include the ability to organize, store, retrieve, and print information. However, the scope of functions available to the computer user within the editor are limited. 
     It would be useful, therefore, to make additional functions available within the editor by allowing the user to access one or more programs external to the editor. In the prior art, however, most typical editor input cannot operate as command input to another external program. This limitation prevents users from combining the power of the editor with the extra capabilities of the external program. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a method that allows the computer user to access external programs from the editor environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for enabling interaction with one or more external computer programs from within an editor environment. The method involves passing editor input to the external program, wherein the external program evaluates the input, produces either lines of output or zero lines of output, and transmits the output back to the editor. When the editor receives the output, it stores the output in a file and displays it on a computer monitor. By using this method, a user can not only interact with the external program from within the editor environment, but can also create an editor file that stores a listing of the input and output provided to the external program. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary hardware environment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts showing the steps performed by the computer when a user interacts with an external program; and 
     FIG.  3 A through FIG. 3I illustrate one possible embodiment of the user interface displayed on the monitor according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary hardware environment of the present invention. The present invention is typically implemented using a personal computer  10  comprised of a microprocessor, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and other components. It is envisioned that attached to the personal computer  10  may be a monitor  12 , hard and/or floppy disk drives  14 , CD-ROM drives  16 , printer  18 , and other peripherals. Also included in the preferred embodiment may be input devices, for example, a mouse pointing device  20  and a keyboard  22 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the exemplary environment illustrated in FIG. 1 is not intended to limit the present invention. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize that other alternative hardware environments may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The personal computer  10  operates under the control of an operating system  24 , such as the OS/2™, Windows™, or Macintosh™ operating systems, which is represented in FIG.  1  by the screen display on the monitor  12 . The personal computer  10  executes one or more computer programs  26  and  28 , which are represented in FIG. 1 by the “windows” displayed on the monitor  12 , operating under the control of the operating system  24 . 
     Generally, the operating system  24  and the computer programs  26  and  28  are tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, e.g., one or more of the fixed and/or removable data storage devices  14  and  16 . Both the operating system  24  and the computer programs  26  and  28  may be loaded from the data storage devices  14  and  16  into the random access memory of the computer  10  for execution by the microprocessor. Both the operating system  24  and the computer programs  26  and  28  comprise instructions which, when read and executed by the microprocessor of the computer  10 , causes the computer  10  to perform the steps necessary to execute the steps or elements of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the computer programs  26  and  28  comprise an enhanced editor  26  and one or more programs  28  external to the editor  26  that communicate bidirectionally with the editor  26 , although other types of computer programs may be used. A command within the editor  26  is used to start the user-specified external program  28  as a peer process or dynamically linked routine under the editor  26 . The editor  26  then communicates bidirectionally with the external program  28  via, for example, OS/2 pipes or other similar mechanisms built into the operating system  24 . The editor  26  passes input lines to the external program  28  using a standard input and output interface or directly through an API. The external program  28  evaluates the input lines (which can comprise both commands and data), performs the functions indicated by the input lines, and generates one or more lines of corresponding output or perhaps generates no output. The external program  28  passes the output lines back to the editor  26  for subsequent storage and display. As a result, the full power and flexibility of the editor  26  environment is retained, yet the editor  26  also becomes a “session manager” for the external program  28 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, a “LINK” command is used to set up the editor  26  environment in a mode for operating according to the present invention. A pull-down menu is marked by the LINK command, wherein the menu is used to initialize a session with a user-specified external program  28  and to provide access to certain commands described in more detail below. The menu is removed when an “UNLINK” command is used to remove the editor  26  from the mode for operating according to the present invention. 
     Once activated within the editor  26 , the present invention redefines the following keys, key combinations, keywords, and/or menu selections during an active session with the external program  28 : INIT &lt;pgm&gt;, ALT-X, ENTER, CTL-ENTER, PAD-ENTER, CTL-PAD-ENTER, CTL-UP, CTL-DOWN. 
     The user may assign key combinations in addition to the invention commands whose arguments are strings to evaluate. Input and output may thus be directed to the cursor lines or to the bottom of the file. This is similar to using a setup macro for the commands of the editor  26 . 
     The INIT &lt;pgm&gt;keywords initialize a new session by identifying the name “pgm” of the external program  28 . This command is also available as “Initialize session” command on the pull-down menu. 
     Entering “=filename” as input to the editor  26  scans a disk file for the prompted lines and sends them to the external program for evaluation. The input and corresponding result lines are written to the editor  26  file as if the entire file were copied. An appropriate input file might be obtained by saving the file after a session communicating with an external program. 
     The ALT-X key combination exits from current session and returns to the default editor  26  key definitions. This command is also available as “Exit session” command on the pull-down menu. 
     The ENTER key transmits the currently selected line or line block to the external program  28 , and adds the output lines from the external program  28  immediately following the corresponding selected line(s). This command transmits only input lines, not output lines, in the selected lines. Input lines are lines that have previously been sent as input and thus are preceded with a prompt. As an alternative, these lines can be lines from a previously identified input file. These lines can also include the arguments of a macro. For example, a pre-assigned key combination whose argument string is input lines. This command is also available as “Evaluate in place” on the pull-down menu. If no lines are selected, then the line at the cursor is sent as input. Otherwise all input (prompted) lines in the block are sent and the cursor position is ignored. 
     The CTL-ENTER key combination transmits the currently selected line or line block to the external program  28 , echoes the currently selected line or line block to the bottom of the editor  26  file, and adds output from the external program  28  at the bottom of the editor  26  file. As an alternative, the currently selected lines and the output received from the external program can be directed to a pre-assigned alternate editor window. This command transmits only input lines, not output lines, in the selected lines. This command is also available as “Evaluate at bottom” on the pull-down menu. 
     Input from a “main” editor  26  session may be sent to the external program  28  and be echoed with corresponding output to another editor  26  window rather than echoing the results to the main window, similar to the process performed by the CTL-ENTER command. There may be also be a user-selectable choice of alternate editor windows. 
     The PAD-ENTER key combination transmits the currently selected line block to the external program  28 , and adds output from the external program  28  immediately following the selected lines. In essence, this command echoes the selected line block interleaved with output from the external program  28  at the original location in the editor  26  file. This command also transmits all of the lines, not just input lines, in the selected line block. As an alternative, these lines can be lines from a previously identified input file. These lines can also include the arguments of a macro. For example, a pre-assigned key combination whose argument string is input lines. If no lines are marked, then the input highlight is removed. This command is also available as “Evaluate block” on the pull-down menu. 
     The CTL-PAD-ENTER key combination transmits the currently selected line block to the external program  28 , echoes the currently selected line block to the bottom of the editor  26  file, and adds output from the external program  28  at the bottom of the editor  26  file. In essence, this command echoes the selected line block interleaved with output from the external program  28  at the bottom of the editor  26  file. As an alternative, the currently selected lines and the output received from the external program can be added to a pre-assigned alternate editor window. This command also transmits all of the lines, not just input lines, in the selected line block. If no lines are marked, then the highlighted input line is reset at or near (above) the cursor. This command is also available as “Set retrieve” on the pull-down menu. 
     The CTL-UP key combination changes the emphasis (using the reverse-video of the highlight color) to the first highlight line above the current emphasized input line and echoes the line to the bottom of the editor  26  file, In essence, this command moves the input focus or command prompt up one line in the editor  26  file and echoes the line at the input focus to the bottom of the editor  26  file. This command is also available as “Retrieve up” on the pull-down menu. 
     The CTL-DOWN key combination similarly emphasizes and echoes the next highlighted line to the bottom of the editor  26  file. In essence, this command moves the input focus or command prompt down one line in the editor  26  file and echoes the line at the bottom of the editor  26  file. This command is also available as “Retrieve down” on the pull-down menu. 
     When performing the above-described functions under the present invention, inputs to and responses from the external program  28  need to be synchronized by the editor  26 , so that they can be interleaved in the file being edited by the editor  26  (only when an external program is seen as a separate process). Therefore, the user needs to set either a “delay” or (preferably) an “end-of-response tag” setting. If an external program is run synchronously through a direct API, then the delay and end-of-response tag are not used. The delay specifies a time (in milliseconds) for the editor  26  to wait between writing to the input pipe of the external program  28  and reading from the output pipe of the external program  28 . 
     The end-of-response tag is a string used by the editor  26  to determine when the output pipe of the external program  28  has the last response line for the previous input to the external program  28 . When the string is set, the editor  26  reads the output pipe of the external program  28  in a separate thread, waiting for either the total pipe contents to exactly match the tag, or for the final n+2 bytes in the pipe to match the tag preceded by a carriage return and line feed. 
     If the tag is not seen 1 or 2 seconds after the output pipe of the external program  28  stops filling, the editor  26  then repeatedly prompts the user to ask whether to continue waiting on the read (retry) or stop waiting for output (cancel). If the user cancels, they should then change or remove the tag, and re-enter input (the response from which will include “lost” output from previous input) or stop the current session and then restart the external program  28  with the proper tag. When a tag is set, the delay setting is used only to increase the time between prompts to continue reading. 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the computer  10  in accordance with the present invention. 
     Block  30  represents the computer  10  waiting for input. Block  32  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has entered a LINK keyword command to enable the invention. If not, control transfers to Block  34 . 
     Block  34  represents the computer  10  handling other processes and transferring control back to Block  30 . 
     Block  36  represents the computer  10  activating the invention within the editor. After activation, control transfers to Block  38 . 
     Block  38  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has entered an UNLINK keyword command to disable the invention. If so, control transfers to Block  40 , which represents the computer  10  deactivating the invention. 
     Block  42  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has entered an INIT&lt;pgm&gt; command to begin a new session. If not, control transfers to Block  44 , which represents the computer  10  handling other processes. 
     Block  46  represents computer  10  initializing a session and specifying the name of an external program. 
     Block  48  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has entered an ALT-X command to exit a session. If so, control transfers to Block  50 , which represents computer  10  terminating the current session. 
     Block  52  represents the computer  10  waiting for data. Block  54  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has selected a portion of the data displayed on the monitor  12 . If so, control transfers to Block  56 , which represents the computer  10  highlighting the desired data. 
     Block  57  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has typed in a CTL-UP or CTL-DOWN command to move the input highlight to the previous or next input line  74 . If a user does enter a CTL-UP or CTL-DOWN command, control transfers to Block  58 , which represents the computer  10  moving the highlighted portion in the editor  26  file and echoing the highlighted portion at the bottom of the screen. 
     Block  59  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the user has typed a command or key combination to transmit the block of lines or cursor line data to a previously defined external program  28 . The accelerator keys for transmitting data are ENTER, CTL-ENTER, PAD-ENTER, and CTL-PAD-ENTER. Comparing ENTER to PAD-ENTER, users hit ENTER when they want to transmit only prompted (previously input) lines. Otherwise, to transmit all lines as input, they hit PAD-ENTER. The CTL-UP and CTL-DOWN keys only shift the input focus up or down one input line  74 . Regarding the CTL prefix, CTL instructs the computer  10  to echo the currently selected portion to the bottom of the editor  26  file. The CTL prefix also undoes the last set of changes to the original input lines. If a user does a transmit, control transfers to Block  60 , which represents the computer  10  echoing the selected portion in the editor  26  file (if so indicated according to the type of transmit command entered) and performing the transmit function. 
     Block  62  is a decision block that represents the computer  10  determining whether the external program produced output. If so, control transfers to Block  64 , which represents the computer  10  receiving that output into the editor  26  file. 
     Block  66  represents the computer handling other processes and transferring control back to Block  52 . 
     FIG. 3A illustrates a pull down menu  68 , wherein the menu is used (a) to set up the editor  26  environment using a “LINK” command; (b) to remove the pull down menu using the “UNLINK” command; (c) to initialize a new session using the “Initialize session” command; and (d) to exit a session using the “Exit session” command. 
     FIG. 3B represents the computer  10  responding to a “ENTER” keyword command where there is no marked block of data. The “ENTER” key evaluates the cursor line to the external program  28  and adds the output  72  from the external program  28  immediately following the corresponding selected input lines. The highlighting is shown as bold text in FIG.  3 B. The cursor position is shown as an underscore, “_”. A prompt is added to the line if it does not already have one. This command transmits only input line  74 . Screen (5) shows an input line  74  that has been changed from a = 101 ″ to “Print a: Print a* 10 ”; screen (6) shows that the external program  28  then responds to this changed line. If the cursor is at the bottom of the input screen as shown in screen (3), a new input prompt is added at the bottom of the screen as shown in screen (4) after the ENTER command is entered. 
     FIG. 3C represents the computer  10  responding to a “CTL-ENTER” keyword command where there is no marked block of input. The “CTL-ENTER” key transmits the current line to the external program  28 , echoes this line to the bottom of the editor  26  file, and adds output  72  from the external program  28  at the bottom of the editor  26  file immediately following the corresponding echoed lines  76 . This command transmits only input lines  74 . Between screen (3) and screen (4), the fourth line of input was changed from “Print a : Print b” to “Print c* 100 ”, after which the CTL-ENTER command acts on the new input to the external program  28  as shown in screen (5). 
     FIG. 3D represents the computer  10  responding to an ENTER keyword command where there is a marked block of text in the input to the external program  28 . In screen (2), the first five lines are marked by the editor  26  line-blocking facility. The change between screen (2) and screen (3) shows the effect of the ENTER command on the marked block input. Although the cursor is shown on line  4  in screen (2), the cursor can appear on any line within the marked block. When a user replaces previously input lines as in screen (4), the resulting outputs replace the corresponding old outputs by interleaving the outputs as shown in screen (5). The line blocking remains until the user explicitly unblocks the input using the editor  26  line blocking facility. 
     FIG. 3E represents the computer  10  responding to a CTL-ENTER keyword command where there is a marked block of input. From screen (1) to screen (2), the user changed some input lines and marked a block containing them. Screen (3) shows the result of a CTL-ENTER command, with the marked block moved to the bottom with the corresponding output to the marked input, where there is output to be displayed. 
     FIG. 3F represents the computer  10  responding to a “PAD-ENTER” keyword command. The “PAD-ENTER” key transmits the currently highlighted data  70  to the external program  28 , and interleaves output  72  from the external program  28  with the selected lines. This command transmits all of the lines  74 . 
     FIG. 3G represents the computer  10  responding to a “CTL-PAD-ENTER” keyword command. The “CTL-PAD-ENTER” key transmits the highlighted data  70  to the external program  28 , echoes the currently selected line block to the bottom of the editor  26  file, and interleaves output  72  from the external program  28  with the echoed lines  76 . This command transmits all of the lines  74 . 
     FIG. 3H represents the computer  10  responding to a “CTL-UP” command. The CTL-UP key emphasizes the previous input line  74  (shown as bold and italicized text in screens (2-4)), and echoes the line to the bottom of the editor  26  file. In essence, this command moves the input focus or cursor  78  up one line in the editor  26  file, and echoes the line at the bottom of the editor  26  file. The echoed line at the bottom of the screen may be evaluated as is, or it may be changed and evaluated by using the ENTER or CTL-ENTER key. 
     FIG. 3I represents the computer  10  responding to a “CTL-DOWN” command. The CTL-DOWN key combination emphasizes the next input line  74  and echoes the line to the bottom of the editor  26  file. In essence, this command moves the input focus or cursor  78  down one line in the editor  26  file, and echoes the line at the bottom of the editor  26  file.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6