Abstract: A method and apparatus for subclassing System Object Model (SOM) class objects for a dynamic object-oriented language. A proxy class object is created using the dynamic language that points to the SOM class object. Next, a dynamic language subclass is created. This is followed by the creation of a SOM class object using the SOM interface, which causes certain SOM methods to be overridden by dynamic language redispatch stubs. The dynamic language overrides the SOM dispatch procedures and replaces the dispatcher with its own procedures. The new dispatch procedure will search for a method in the dynamic language class object method table first in response to a message, and if not found, redirects the message to the SOM environment.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently handling events occurring in an environment in a data processing system. The data processing system includes multiple environments and objects that may be used in different environments. Each object includes an action that is triggered in response to an event. An event manager object is created for handling events from different environments. Events are registered for the objects. An action is triggered using the event manager object in response to detecting an event occurring in the data processing system, wherein events occurring in an environment are efficiently handled.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently controlling the execution of actions in an object oriented program. An observable object is defined which responds to a predetermined number of abstract events, each abstract event corresponding to an action slot container object which is associated with the observable object. New abstract events may be defined at execution and a corresponding new action slot container object associated with the observable object at that time. One or more action objects which each specify a unit of behavior are then defined and placed within the action slot container objects such that the occurrence of a corresponding abstract event may initiate the occurrence of multiple units of behavior. Separate subclasses of action objects are also defined, each subclass specifying a manner in which the specified unit of behavior will be implemented.

Abstract: A method and system for debugging an object from a plurality of objects forming an application in an object oriented system utilizing a graphic user interface. A number of the objects forming the application may include one or more action slots with each action slot containing one or more action objects. The present invention stores each action object with an action slot in an activation object in response to an event generated by user utilizing the graphic user interface. The event is associated with an action slot. Data sent to each action object is stored in the activation object. The data is data required to recreate the event caused by the user. Each time an event is generated, an activation object is created. These activation objects may be debugged utilizing a debugger.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing dynamic roles for objects in an object-oriented programming environment. A mechanism adds roles dynamically for an object depending on the context of the object. The IBM System Object Model (SOM) is the principal building block for enabling this function. The dispatch resolution method of the System Object Model supports the functions of this invention. The dynamic objects are represented as list of objects where objects are added to the list at any time. For example, when an application program is started, a person object will only have a student object. Before calling a function requiring teacher characteristics, the teacher role is added to the person object. When the function call returns, the teacher role is deleted from the person object if the role is no longer needed.

Abstract: A data processing system having a language independent context management facility, implements scripting related functions by providing abstract classes. Scripting related objects in a visual builder are: script action objects; script development environments (support object-oriented and procedural scripting languages) and action objects and script debuggers. Abstract classes such as extension language, extension method, and extension activation are used to implement the script-related objects listed above. To support a specific scripting language, a language specific implementation is generated by creating subclasses for the extension language, extension method, and extension activation classes.

Abstract: A data processing system for executing object oriented programs includes a processor, a memory, a display subsystem, and means for defining action slots, action objects of a first class and action objects of a second class, such that execution of an action slot object will cause execution of each action object of the first and second classes associated with the action slot.

Abstract: A method and system for testing a script or section of code within program using a graphic user interface. The data processing system also includes an object oriented system having a first and second object within it. A script or a section of code is associated with the first object, wherein the script or section of code is associated as a method within the first object. A second object is displayed within the graphic user interface, wherein the second object may be selected by a user. Selection of the second object within the graphic user interface by a user results in a message being sent to the first object triggering execution of the script or section of code. Such a system provides an efficient method and apparatus for testing a script or section of code.

Abstract: A method, system and program for allowing an application designed to use static method calls to manipulate objects whose methods are only available through dynamic calls without modifying the binary image of the application. A SOM compiler generates class definitions and generates a redispatch stub for each method defined in a class. A redispatch stub is a short sequence of instructions with an identical calling sequence as its corresponding method. This gives the class' dispatch enough information to determine the correct method procedure in a dynamic manner. The dispatch function employs the redispatch stub to call the appropriate method procedure and return any return value to the calling application via the redispatch stub. Redispatch stubs allows a class with a definition that can vary at runtime to be used by an application that was designed for statically defined classes.