Patent Application
20050015639
Aspects of the present invention relate to visual design surfaces. More specifically, aspects of the present invention provide a visual design surface that includes icons representing configuration errors and that provide proposed solutions.
Computer applications that include visual design surfaces are commonly used to generate artifacts such as computer code or to automate processes. On a visual design surface, these artifacts are typically represented by shapes. The shapes are placed on the visual design surface are often arranged in a particular order and connected together in a particular fashion to perform specific functions. Each of the shapes also typically includes configuration parameters that are set by the user. After the user lays out the pattern of shapes and sets the appropriate configuration parameters, the design is compiled.
During the compilation process errors are identified and presented to the user. For example, if a variable has not been initialized a compilation error identifying this error is presented to the user. There are several disadvantages in waiting to identify errors until the compilation process. One disadvantage is that with large designs, it can be difficult for a user to remember the intended function or configuration of a artifact at a later time.
Systems that perform background compilation have been used to present errors to a user during the design process. Such systems typically list identified errors. The list of errors can be distracting to the user. Moreover, the user may realize that certain errors will be created because of the order in which the design takes place and not wish to be distracted by a list of errors.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods that present configuration errors to a user using a visual design surface such that the presentation method is inconspicuous and minimizes distractions to the user.
Aspects of the present invention address one or more of the issues mentioned above, thereby providing a visual design surface that identifies configuration errors to a user in an inconspicuous manner to minimize distractions and interruptions in design workflow. Inconspicuous icons also provide a means for a user to look at a diagram and pinpoint errors. A plurality of shapes each represent different functions and have configuration parameters. As used herein, “configuration parameters” include characteristics of individual shapes, relative positioning of shapes, containment, connections between shapes and any other design parameters set by a user of a visual design surface. The configuration parameters are analyzed to determine configuration errors. When an error is identified, an error icon may be placed next to the shape. The user may select the icon and be presented with one or more proposed solutions. The configuration parameters are periodically checked and error icons are removed when configuration errors are no longer present.
Aspects of the present invention are described with respect to the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
Exemplary Operating Environment
A basic input/output system 160 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer 100, such as during start-up, is stored in the ROM 140. The computer 100 also includes a hard disk drive 170 for reading from and writing to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 180 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 190, and an optical disk drive 191 for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk 192 such as a CD ROM or other optical media. The hard disk drive 170, magnetic disk drive 180, and optical disk drive 191 are connected to the system bus 130 by a hard disk drive interface 192, a magnetic disk drive interface 193, and an optical disk drive interface 194, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the personal computer 100. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media that can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may also be used in the example operating environment.
A number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk drive 170, magnetic disk 190, optical disk 192, ROM 140 or RAM 150, including an operating system 195, one or more application programs 196, other program modules 197, and program data 198. A user can enter commands and information into the computer 100 through input devices such as a keyboard 101 and pointing device 102. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 110 through a serial port interface 106 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). Further still, these devices may be coupled directly to the system bus 130 via an appropriate interface (not shown). A monitor 107 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 130 via an interface, such as a video adapter 108. In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.
The computer 100 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 109. The remote computer 109 can be a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 100, although only a memory storage device 111 has been illustrated in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 100 is connected to the local network 112 through a network interface or adapter 114. When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer 100 typically includes a modem 115 or other means for establishing a communications over the wide area network 113, such as the Internet. The modem 115, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 130 via the serial port interface 106. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the personal computer 100, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device.
It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are illustrative and other techniques for establishing a communications link between the computers can be used. The existence of any of various well-known protocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x and the like is presumed, and the system can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Any of various conventional web browsers can be used to display and manipulate data on web pages.
Description of Illustrative Embodiments
Design surface 200 may also include additional sections, such as a variable section 208 that lists and defines variables and other data. A component section 210 may be included to display various shapes that may be used in design section 202. The user may add a shape to design area 202 by selecting and dragging the shape from component section 210 to design section 202.
Each shape in design section 202 includes one or more configuration parameters. As the user interacts with the design surface, configuration parameters are checked to ensure that they are in compliance with a predetermined set of rules. For example, send shape 204 may include a configuration parameter for identifying a protocol to use when sending data to port shape 206. A rule may require the protocol configuration parameter of send shape 202 to match the protocol used by port shape 206. The predetermined set of rules may relate to the context in which a shape is being used. For example, a set of send rules may be used when a send/receive shape is used to send data. When the rule is violated, an inconspicuous icon, such as icon 212 may be displayed next to the shape to alert the user.
Displaying a limited number of messages allows the user to quickly identify errors and correct them. In the example given above, assume that a required port not being connected results in fifteen configuration errors that are all a result of the port not being connected. The design experience is improved when a user is presented with an abbreviated list of the most important proposed solutions rather than an exhaustive list of all proposed solutions. When presented with multiple proposed solutions, the user must first determine if there is an association between the proposed solutions or a common cause. As described above, error module 310 may be configured to perform this feature for the user.
When a configuration rule is violated, in step 408 an icon is displayed next to the relevant shape or shapes.
When the user does not select the error icon, in step 414 it is determined whether the user has changed a configuration parameter. When no configuration parameters have been changed, control returns to step 406. When at least one configuration parameter has been changed, control returns to step 402.
The method shown in
One skilled in the art will appreciate that
Aspects of the invention may also be used when one shape contains one or more other shapes (“nested shapes”).
The present invention has been described in terms of preferred and exemplary embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.
