Abstract: A system and method for delivering support tools to a computer user's machine, without requiring the user to directly download, install and/or execute the tools. A user in need of support contacts support and in response receives a URL corresponding to a manifest, which is a data file identifying support tools that a user's machine is to run to collect data for analysis. Via HTTP, a control mechanism on the user's machine interprets the manifest, automatically handling downloading and installation of any needed tool, and executes the tools on the machine with appropriate parameters that are present in the manifest. Data is collected, packaged and returned to a support entity, where it is analyzed such that a support solution may be returned to the user. The system and method provide efficient and consistent support to computer users, helping both support personnel while giving computer users a very straightforward support experience.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for efficient development of software application programs with user interfaces. Customarily, several specialists, including designers and developers, cooperate during the development stage of an application program. The invention teaches a strategy for making resource files external to the other compiled executable files in an application such that the information from the resource file may be obtained at runtime as needed without the need for compilation. Furthermore, the external resource file may be edited at runtime to allow designers to modify the look and feel for an application's interface without having to depend on developers to implement changes in the interface.

Abstract: A computer method for patching applications that are incompatible with an operating system is provided. The method determines if an application is compatible with an operating system, and if the application is determined to be incompatible, a debugger is loaded that runs the incompatible application. The debugger calls a handler to patch the incompatibilities of the application when a breakpoint has been reached in the incompatible application during the running of the incompatible application.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and system for developing a software application program with user interfaces that make resource files external to the other compiled executable files such that the information from the resource file may be obtained at runtime as needed without the need for compilation. The external resource file may be edited at runtime to allow designers to modify the application's interface without having to depend on developers implement changes in the interface. This is achieved by providing resources in a markup language and routines that locate and parse the markup language text on the fly as an application executes. Compartmentalization of the effort in developing and porting an application is facilitated for protection of source code and better management of designers and developers working on different aspects of a software application due to the externalization of the resource files needed primarily by the designers.

Abstract: A computer method for patching applications that are incompatible with an operating system is provided. The method determines if an application is compatible with an operating system, and if the application is determined to be incompatible, a shim dynamic link library is loaded that replaces all of the incompatible functions contained within the application's dynamic link libraries.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for keeping an application up-to-date that identify the application and the application user's specific needs to apply just the updates the user needs when the user needs them. Based on particulars of the user's computing environment, an update policy is implemented that specifies certain “triggering events” for each application to be kept up-to-date. When a triggering event occurs, the application associated with the triggering event is identified. A list is compiled of the updates already applied to the application. Another list is compiled, possibly at a remote update server, of all the updates available for the application. The lists are compared, and if an available but not yet applied update is found, then that update is sent to the user. To identify an application associated with a triggering event, the update server correlates information collected from the user's computing environment with the server's database of available updates.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for repainting the image uncovered by a character of an animated sequence on a desktop in a windows-based operating system. Before a character in a frame of an animated sequence is displayed, a boundary box is specified. Then, a bitmap of the image within the area enclosed by the boundary box is stored and the character in the frame of the animated character is displayed. Next, the area within the boundary box that is exposed by the next frame of the character's animated sequence is determined, the image area from the stored bitmap that corresponds to the area exposed within the boundary box is copied, the display is painted with the copied image area, and character in the next frame of the animated sequence is displayed.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for foreground window determination of windows displaying applications in a displayed desktop. The present invention continuously resolves the issue of what program or process running or to be run in a window on the desktop is displayed in the foreground or focus window, thereby avoiding unintentional inputs to an application in a background window and unintentional switching of the application program presented in the foreground window of a windows-based operating system.