National Instruments Corporation

Murali Parthasarathy

Omid Sojoodi

Robert E Dye

Ram Kudukoli

A method for developing an automation client program in a graphical programming environment is disclosed. The graphical programming environment provides a set of automation nodes and controls which may be dropped and wired together to create a graphical program. The nodes include an automation refnum which references a user-selected automation class from an automation type library; an automation open node which instantiates an object from the selected automation class; an automation invoke node which invokes a user-selected method of the automation class; and an automation property node which invokes, i.e., reads or writes, user-selected properties of the automation class. The nodes enable the displaying, manipulating, cataloging, editing or performance other operations, such as may be performed by an automation server, on data acquired or generated by a virtual instrument. A method for performing class propagation and type propagation checking of automation objects in a graphical program is also disclosed.

System and method for creating a graphical program which invokes methods and properties of objects

A method for developing an automation client program in a graphical programming environment is disclosed. The graphical programming environment provides a set of automation nodes that may be wired together to create a graphical program, including nodes for referencing user-selected automation classes from automation type libraries exported by automation server applications; nodes for instantiating objects from the selected automation class; and nodes for invoking user-selected methods and/or properties of the automation class. A method for performing class and/or type propagation checking of automation objects in graphical programs is also disclosed. The automation class of a first automation node is propagated from the first node to a second automation node when the two nodes are wired together or when the automation class of the first node is changed to a second class. The automation nodes perform type checking to verify that the user-selected method or property is valid for the automation class of the node.

System and method for determining methods and properties to be invoked on objects in a graphical program

A system and method for creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program is operable to access capabilities of an object. During creation of the graphical program, the user operates to place an object node in the graphical program, wherein the object node is operable to access capabilities of the object. This preferably includes the user arranging on the screen the graphical program, including the object node and various other nodes, and connecting the various nodes to create the graphical program. The user then configures the object node to receive information on the object, preferably by the user configuring the object node with a reference to the object, e.g., a pointer, address, or other information which specifies the identity and/or location of the object. The user also selects one or more methods to be invoked on the object and/or one or more properties to get/set on the object. Once the graphical program has been created, then during execution of the graphical program, the object node accesses the capabilities of the object.

Graphical program node for accessing capabilities of a software object

System and method for accessing object capabilities in a graphical program

A method for developing an automation client program in a graphical programming environment. The graphical programming environment provides a set of automation nodes and controls which may be dropped and connected together to create a graphical program. The nodes include an automation refnum which references a user-selected automation class from an automation type library exported by an automation server application; an automation open node which instantiates an object from the selected automation class; an automation invoke node which invokes a user-selected method of the automation class; and an automation property node which reads or writes user-selected properties of the automation class. The nodes enable the displaying, manipulating, cataloging, editing or performance other operations, such as may be performed by an automation server, on data acquired or generated by a virtual instrument. The method also performs class propagation and type propagation checking of automation objects in a graphical program. The automation class of a first automation node is propagated from the first node to a second automation node when the two nodes are wired together or when the automation class of the first node is changed to a second class. The automation invoke node and automation property node perform type checking to verify that the user-selected method or property is valid for, or defined by, the automation class of the node.

System and method for developing automation clients using a graphical

A method for developing an automation client program in a graphical programming environment is disclosed. The graphical programming environment provides a set of automation nodes and controls which may be dropped and wired together to create a graphical program. The nodes include an automation refnum which references a user-selected automation class from an automation type library exported by an automation server application, such as Microsoft Excel; an automation open node which instantiates an object from the selected automation class; an automation invoke node which invokes a user-selected method of the automation class; and an automation property node which invokes, i.e., reads or writes, user-selected properties of the automation class. The nodes enable the displaying, manipulating, cataloging, editing or performance other operations, such as may be performed by an automation server, on data acquired or generated by a virtual instrument. A method for performing class propagation and type propagation checking of automation objects in a graphical program is also disclosed. The automation class of a first automation node is propagated from the first node to a second automation node when the two nodes are wired together or when the automation class of the first node is changed to a second class. The automation invoke node and automation property node perform type checking to verify that the user-selected method or property is valid for, i.e., defined by, the automation class of the node. The node requests an object manager to determine whether or not the method or property is valid. The object manager queries a type library which the automation class is in, in order to obtain a list of valid methods and properties for the automation class. The object manager searches the list to determine if the specified method or property is present in the list, i.e., is valid.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Murali Parthasarathy