Mechanism for handling input parameters

a technology for input parameters and parameters, applied in the field of input parameters, can solve problems such as errors generated by compilers and insufficient checking of input parameters, and achieve the effect of easy specification

US20050091420A1Inactive Publication Date: 2005-04-28MICROSOFT TECH LICENSING LLC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2005-04-28
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

The present mechanism provides a grammar for specifying required prerequisites (e.g., number and type of input parameters) that an object must possess in order for processing to occur on the object. The mechanism allows programmers and non-programmers to easily specify these prerequisites. The prerequisites may be associated directly or indirectly with a data structure. For a direct specification, the data structure comprises a parameter declaration for each expected input parameter. For an indirect specification, the data structure comprises a parameter definition that references an external description, such as in an XML document. The data structure also providing a mechanism that identifies a corresponding parameter within an input source for each expected input parameter based on its declaration. The input source does not include live objects. The mechanism further populates each expected input parameter with information associated with the corresponding parameter when the data structure becomes instantiated into an object.
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Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 693,392, filed Oct. 24, 2003.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Subject matter disclosed herein relates to input parameters, and in particular to the handling of input parameters. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In software programming, there is a common practice to specify input parameters (commonly referred to as arguments) for a piece of code. The piece of code may be a function, a method, an executable, or the like. In traditional run-time environments, a compiler performs a check on the code to ensure that the correct number and the correct type of input parameters are specified before the code is invoked. If the compiler determines that the code would be invoked without the correct number or correct type of input parameters, the compiler generates an error. The code may then be modified to specify the correct number or type of input parameters and be re-compiled. Thus, in this type of environment,...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0030] Briefly stated, the present mechanism provides a grammar for specifying required prerequisites (e.g., number and type of input parameters) that an object must possess in order for processing to occur on the object. The mechanism allows programmers and non-programmers to easily specify these prerequisites.

[0031] The following description sets forth a specific exemplary administrative tool environment in which the mechanism operates. Other exemplary environments may include features of this specific embodiment and / or other features, which aim to facilitate handling of properties for an object.

[0032] The following detailed description is divided into several sections. A first section describes an illustrative computing environment in which the administrative tool environment may operate. A second section describes an exemplary framework for the administrative tool environment. Subsequent sections describe individual components of the exemplary framework and the operation of th...