Norberto J Menendez

US Patent:

55553699, Sep 10, 1996

Filed:

Feb 14, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/195939

Inventors:

Norberto Menendez - San Jose CA
Peter J. Potrebic - Mtn. View CA
Benjamin W. Sharpe - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G06F 314

US Classification:

395161

Abstract:

A development environment and method is provided in which a first computer system is used to develop an application for execution in a second computer system--such as a pen-based computer--having a graphical user interface. The first computer system also has a graphical user interface that can display (1) a palette containing lists and/or buttons of "components" representing graphical interface elements such as slide bars, dialog boxes, buttons, check boxes, icons, menus, etc. , (2) a layout window corresponding a display screen of the second computer and containing "views" of selected palette components and (3) a browser allowing the views to be edited graphically. To develop an application, the user creates views on the layout window by (1) selecting a component from the palette and (2) drawing a border for the view in the layout window. Each view so created represents a "template" which is a frame object having a plurality of "slots" which may be edited in a slot editor area of the browser. Some views in the layout window may be "linked views" which point to sublayout windows containing a plurality of other views.