JP2534433B2 - Message verification method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method that allows an operator to edit and verify messages displayed to an end user of a program.

[0002]

Computer programs, such as application programs, generally include messages that provide the end user with information about each program. Many of these messages give information about error conditions that occur in the program. Generally, those messages are displayed to the user on a computer screen. By seeing the particular message, the user can take corrective action and continue using the program.

Messages are typically incorporated into an application program during the development of that program. A program developer or operator (hereinafter collectively referred to as an operator in the present specification) determines the content and form of each message. The purpose of the program operator is to construct these messages so that the user of the program understands the problem and how to fix it. After composing one message, the operator validates it to ensure that it should be satisfied and does not contain any errors. If the message is not satisfactory, the operator must edit the message and revalidate the edited message.

[0004]

Conventionally, verification of a message in a program by an operator is time-consuming and costly. The reason is that the message is generated only when a series of predetermined events occur during the execution of the application program. Therefore, the operator must execute the entire application program and proceed with selected events within that program to trigger the occurrence of a given message. For example,
To verify the message "File Not Saved" in one application program, the operator compiles the application program file containing the message,
You must run the entire application program and proceed to the point where the message "File Not Saved" occurs. If the operator sees the displayed message and decides that the message should be modified, he must exit the application program, modify the message, and repeat the entire verification process. Many application programs contain thousands of messages. Verification and modification of these messages entails a significant increase in program development time and costs.

Further, there is a problem that many messages are difficult to verify in the conventional system. For example, enter /
Messages containing output errors, system errors, hardware problems, storage problems, and other high-impact problems are difficult to generate in the application program the error conditions needed to display the message. Verification is also difficult. Manipulating the program to generate this type of message further increases program development time and cost.

Furthermore, since many programs are sold in more than one country, it is necessary to translate those messages into the proper language. Using conventional techniques, translators of those messages face the same dilemmas as developers. After translating the messages, the translator cannot verify them unless the program is run to display the given messages according to the particular scenario within the program.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method which allows messages contained in a program to be edited and verified independent of the execution of the program.

[0008]

The present invention provides a method for validating a message in a data processing system. This message is generated by a program running on the data processing system. This message informs the user of the program and the data processing system. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a selected message from a program and providing the selected message to an output device within the data processing system without executing the program. The selected message is provided and verified by the output device.

The method of the present invention further comprises the steps of updating the selected message and providing the updated message to the output device. The updated message is then verified. Further, in the present invention, comments and help texts are obtained from the program and provided to the output device. This help text can be updated and revalidated by providing the updated help text to the output device.

[0010]

1 is a schematic block diagram of a data processing system 11 to which the present invention is applied. This data processing system
11 includes a plurality of computers 13, which are connected to a local area network (LAN) 15.
Each computer 13 includes a user interface, to which a display screen 17 as an output device and a keyboard 19 as an input device are connected. A storage device 21 and a printer 23 are also connected to each computer 13. 1
One or more such storage devices 21 can be used to store application or resource objects that can be periodically accessed by any user within the data processing system 11.

The data processing system 11 also includes a communication link 27.
Includes a main computer 25 connected to one of these computers by. The computer 25 is a storage device 29 that can act as a remote storage means for the computer.
Connected to.

A method for editing and verifying a message according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 5. In these flow charts, there are the following graphical conventions. That is, rectangles indicate processes, functions or screen displays, diamonds indicate decisions, and circles indicate connectors to and from other parts of the flow chart.

The method of the present invention is performed by the data processing system 11 in the form of a message editing utility program. This utility program is self-contained and normally does not require an application program to generate messages in the data processing system. According to the invention, the operator of the message editing utility selects from the list of messages displayed on the computer screen the message to be edited, observes it on the computer screen as it actually occurs, and You can make changes to the message. After this message has been modified, the operator can view it again to verify the changes.

In FIG. 2, the method starts by the operator selecting a message editing utility program, which causes the computer screen 17 of FIG. 1 to display an initial panel or window at step 31 (see FIG. 6). The window 33 in FIG. 6 has a title bar 35, an action bar 37 and a client area 39. The title bar 35 contains the name of the program. Action bar 37 contains a list of actions available for selection by the operator. The client area 39 is used to inform the operator. The upper left corner of this screen includes an exit icon 41 for exiting the utility. When the exit icon 41 is selected, the program exits in step 43 (FIG. 2). After displaying the initial window 33, the method waits at step 45 for an action to be selected by the operator. The operator can select HELP action 47 or FILE action 55. If the operator selects HELP action 47, a help pull-down menu 49 is displayed at step 51 (FIG. 7). When the operator selects one action from the help pull-down menu 49, step 53 displays the proper help information on the computer screen. After displaying the help information, return to step 45 to await another selection.

When the operator selects the FILE action 55, the file pull-down menu 56 is displayed in step 57 (FIG. 8). In the file pull-down menu 55, NEW, SAVE, SAVE AS (Save as…)
The options are displayed in the pull-down menu 56 in low contrast, indicating to the operator that they cannot be selected. Thus the operator can exit the program by exit icon 41 or, more commonly, OPEN.
The (open) selection branch 59 can be selected. When the OPEN selection 59 is selected, the method obtains a list of available files in step 61 and displays the list in window 64 in step 63 (FIG. 9). Each file 65 contains one or more messages. For example, in FIG. 9, the file MSGEN
UOO.MST is displayed. Operator enters ENTER in step 69
If you select the Enter key 67 and select this file, the method will open the selected file in step 71 and display the message contained in the selected file on the screen in window 33A in step 73. (Figs. 3 and 10). The method then obtains the selected message file from the program.

In step 63 of FIG. 2 and window 64 of FIG. 9, when the operator selects the HELP key 75, the method displays in step 77 help information for the file selection. The method then returns to step 63. If the operator selects the CANCEL key 79, the method returns to step 45 to await operator selection from the initial panel of FIG.

In FIGS. 3 and 10, when the messages in the file are displayed to the operator, they are simply displayed in the form of a list as shown. Each message includes a label or identifier 81 and text 83.
In FIG. 10, only the first few digits of this message text are shown. These messages are provided in the format of Figure 10 for input and editing. This format is different from the format of the message of FIG. 11 displayed by the application program during its execution.

The operator selects FIL from window 33A in FIG.
If E action 87 is selected, step 89 opens
A pull-down menu showing the options for SAVE and SAVE is displayed. If OPEN 91 is selected here, the process returns to step 63, where the file list is displayed and the operator can create a new file. If SAVE93 is selected, then in step 175 (FIG. 4) the operator can save the created or updated file. Step 175 and subsequent steps will be described later.

The operator selects HEL from window 33A in FIG.
If P action 95 is selected, relevant information is displayed in step 97 and the process returns to step 73. Operator is OPTION
S (optional) If you select action 99, step 10
Go to 1 and the defaults for message and help prefixes are displayed. These defaults give the operator information about how those messages will be displayed, and assist in translating them from one language to another. The default window is equipped with three keys, ENTER, CANCEL and HELP. ENTER
If 103 is selected, then in step 105 changes are made to the defaults provided by the operator. Then, the process proceeds to step 73. When CANCEL 107 is selected, the process returns to step 73. If HELP 109 is selected, step 111 displays relevant help information to the operator and returns to step 101.

If the operator selects the EDIT action 113 (which will be displayed in full contrast in window 33A) from window 33A of FIG. 10, a pull down menu will result at step 117. Operator VIEW 11
Selecting 5 from this pull-down menu causes the selected message to be displayed to the operator in the same manner as displayed by the application program in step 119 of FIG. As shown in Figure 11, this displayed message is identifier 81, the actual message text 8
3. Includes icon 85 and CANCEL key 121 and HELP key 123 for operator selection. When the operator selects the CANCEL key 121, returns to step 73,
Redisplay all of the file messages in the list format in Figure 10. If the operator selects HELP key 123, step 125 will display the relevant help information,
Return to step 73.

If the operator selects EDIT129 in step 117 and returns to the EDIT pull-down menu, step 131
(FIG. 4) is entered to display the selected message in the edit window 133 of FIG. The editing window 133 displays all of the message identifier or label 81, the message title 135 and the message text 83. The operator can edit their identifiers, titles and text by typing in the appropriate spaces. The operator selects the ENTER key 137 to update the file with the edited information. This file is updated in step 139. Then return to step 73. If the operator selects the COMMENTS key 141, step 143 (FIG. 5) is entered to display the comments associated with the message text (FIG. 13). Such comments aid translators who need explanations in the message text to assist translation, for example. These message comments provide information about the cause of the error entering the message, the intent of the message, the actions the operator can take to correct the error, and other descriptive information. After the comment is displayed, the operator presses the CANCEL key 147.
Is selected and the process returns to step 131, but if the HELP key 147 is selected, the related help information is displayed in step 149 and the process returns to step 143.

By selecting the VIEW key 151 in the edit window 133, the operator can view the message as it is actually displayed at any point during message editing. Next, in step 119, a message is displayed as shown in FIG. These steps allow the operator to edit the message and, immediately afterwards, see the message in the format displayed for verification of the edit, if the operator is not satisfied with it, the message may be edited again. it can.

If the operator needs help when using the edit window 133 of FIG. 12, the HELP key 15
Select 3 to display relevant help information in step 155. Next, returning to step 131, the editing window 133 is displayed again. Operator also edit window 133 HELP TE
The help text can be edited by selecting the XT (help text) key 157. Then step 159
Proceed to to display the help text for the application as shown in Figure 14. This help text is information available to the user who receives the running message of the application program. The help text gives descriptive information about the message. The operator can edit the help text in help text window 161 by typing the appropriate changes. The ENTER key 163 is then selected and the file is edited in step 165 to update with the help text. Next, returning to step 131, the editing window 133 of FIG. 12 is displayed. Alternatively, the operator can request help by selecting HELP key 167, at which time relevant help information is displayed at step 169. Then return to step 131. As an alternative to the help text window 161 of FIG. 14, the operator can select the CANCEL key 171 and verify the update at step 173.
In this case, the process proceeds to step 175.

Step 175 is when the operator selects the CANCEL key after step 131 or 159, or step 91
Executes after SAVE93 is selected in. In step 175, it is verified whether the message file, message or help text has been updated. If there is no update, return to step 73 and display the window shown in FIG. If there are any updates, the developer is prompted in step 179 to determine if the updates should be saved. If NO in step 181, the process returns to step 131. Similarly, if the CANCEL key 183 is selected, the process returns to step 131. If YES key 185 is selected, the file is updated in step 189 and the process returns to step 73. If the HELP key 191 is selected, the necessary help information is displayed in step 193, and the process returns to step 179.

The present invention is used by program developers who are developing computer programs such as application programs. Developers use the present invention to create, edit, and validate messages to be generated by their application programs.

A representative operation example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. By selecting the utility program embodying the present invention, the operator obtains the window 33 shown in FIG. To see the list of files containing the message, the operator selects the FILE action 53 and the FILE pull-down menu 5 shown in Figure 8
Display 5 Operator is O from pull-down menu 56
Select PEN (Open) to display the list of message files in window 64 in Figure 9. In the example of FIG. 9, only one file is shown.

When one file is selected, a list of messages in that file is displayed as shown in FIG. The operator can select one particular message for EDIT, the message can be edited, viewed, or both edited and viewed. When editing a message, the window 133 of FIG. 12 is displayed. The message identifier, message title and message text are all editable. You can also create new messages as well.

VI To Observe Message for Verification VI
The EW (observation) key 151 is selected and the operator is given the message box of FIG. The format of the message in the message box of FIG. 11 is the same as the format of the message given by the application program. The operator sees the message and repeats the editing procedure if update is necessary.

Further, the operator is a COM in the window 133.
By selecting the MENTS key 141, the comment related to the message can be viewed. This is displayed in the window in Figure 13. The operator can also view and update the help text by selecting the HELP TEXT key 157 in window 133.

It should be noted that the above description and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and are not limiting.

[0031]

According to the present invention, a message can be edited and verified irrespective of the execution of the program including it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an overall configuration of a data processing system capable of implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention according to the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention according to the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention according to the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention according to the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a window generated according to the present invention and displayed on a computer display screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a window similar to that of FIG. 6 with different display examples.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a window similar to that of FIG. 6 with a further different display example.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a window having further different display examples as contents.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a window having further different display examples as contents.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a window having further different display examples as contents.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a window having further different display examples as contents.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a window having further different display examples as contents.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a window having further different display examples as contents.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Data Processing System 13 Computer 15 Local Area Network (LAN) 17 Display Screen 19 Keyboard 21 Storage Device 23 Output Device 25 Main Computer 27 Communication Link

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Alan, Bantula, Crestmoor, Court, Arlington, Texas, United States, 2609 (56) Reference JP-A-63-247809 (JP, A) JP-A-2-294825 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. The data contained in a message contained in the program to be given to a user of the program through an output device of the computer system under a predetermined condition when the program is executed on the computer system. A method for verifying using a processing device, wherein a message included in the program is acquired from the program, the message is displayed in a list format on a display device of the data processing system, and one of the operators of the data processing device is provided. Prompting the selection of a message, providing the selected message to the display device without executing the program in response to the selection of the message by the operator, and executing the selected message at the time of executing the program. The above table in the same format as it is actually displayed Displaying on a display device to prompt the operator for verification and necessary editing, useful for determining the action to be taken by the user of the program when the selected message is generated during execution of the program, Retrieving the help text included in the program from the program and displaying the list on the display device in a list format to prompt the operator to select one help text; and in response to the operator selecting the help text. Providing the selected help text to the display device, displaying the selected help text on the display device in the same format as is actually displayed when the program is executed, and verifying and requiring the operator. Message verification method, characterized by including . 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of obtaining a comment giving descriptive information about the selected message included in the program from the program and displaying the comment on the display device in response to a request from the operator. The message verification method in Section 1.