Abstract: A method for use in an object oriented programming (OOP) based computer system which utilizes a first application program having interface objects for building a second application program having additional interface objects is provided. The method includes storing objects in a hierarchical locale tree in a storage device. The locale tree has a root locale level and at least one other locale level associated with the second locale. A first plurality of user interface objects having one or more interface object control and a second plurality of user interface objects not having interface object controls of the first locale are created. The second plurality of user interface objects are stored in the other locale level associated with the second locale.

Abstract: A cursor manipulation system and method provides for interrogation of the most recently displayed cursor location upon the occurrence of a user-generated event, such as actuation of a mouse button, to avoid errors of input to an application due to delays in rendering of cursor images. The coordinates of a displayed cursor location are stored as an acknowledgment of completion of display of a cursor image at a new location. Specification of cursor display location is determined by a graphic input device corresponding to each cursor image and applications running on a data processing system including the cursor manipulation system are isolated from control of cursor movement.

Abstract: User interface objects are stored in a user interface object archive which is a database physically located in the shared library of an associated application program. In order to facilitate "localization", or preparation of an application developed in one language for use in an "area" or a locale which uses another language, the user interface objects are stored in a hierarchical locale tree within the archive. All objects are stored in the base or root of the hierarchy, but only those objects which require a translation are stored in an area associated with a more specific locale. At runtime, a complete collection of objects is assembled by starting at the desired locale and proceeding up the hierarchy level-by-level. Translated objects at lower levels of the hierarchy "override" those at higher levels so that the most complete translations of each object are obtained during this search.

Abstract: A method and system for providing synchronization of the timing of various multimedia events, including a visual event is disclosed. Clock objects are defined in the storage and associated with an internal or external source of current time. The clock objects are able to be displayed on the display, but can be hidden once their linkages are defined. One or more multimedia objects representative of audio, visual or other multimedia events, including an audio object, are defined and linked to a particular clock object or clock objects. Then, a processor synchronizes the multimedia objects, including a visual object, with the associated clock object or objects. Finally, the various multimedia events are performed in synchronization with their associated clocks. The multimedia objects, including the visual object, may include external multimedia sources managed by the computer system.

Abstract: On a multi-node client server network, a client node obtains access to remote services by means of a communications directory service located in each node of the network. The communications directory service includes a tree structure to which existing directory services and other network services can be added. The tree structure has a plurality of nodes each of which includes specific methods that query and browse the associated directory service if such actions are supported by the underlying service. The communications directory service further includes shared libraries which store a service object associated with each service offered on the network. The service object, in turn, includes the service exchange address and communication link configuration information. A client desiring to access a remote service retrieves the appropriate service object from the communications directory service and uses the service object to set up the communications path.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting input of information. The method and system dynamically translates information being input, and allows user interaction with the translation process. The system is flexibly designed to allow easy use by application developers and users. The design allows a common input method to be used by multiple applications. Users may also customize the input methods to suit their own needs. The input methods support "active" areas of text input, character based input, and phrase based input. The active area can be customized to appear a certain way. Dictionaries are also supported, including optional properties such as grammar and frequency. Dictionaries may also be chained.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the color palette for an object oriented operating system providing for the sharing of a plurality (e.g., 256) of colors for display by an external device. In a first aspect, an 8-bit color lookup table (CLUT) is shared by a plurality of views in a document being displayed on the external device such that consistent looking color is provided across a plurality of graphic devices. The inventive method includes creating a color look up table (CLUT) for the operating system, uniformly dividing the CLUT into a predetermined number of colors, displaying graphic information having a plurality of views, and sharing the predetermined number of colors in the CLUT amongst the plurality of views of the graphic information. The predetermined number of colors includes a plurality of colors each of which have a predetermined consistency when shared between first and second views of the plurality of views.