Abstract: A system and method for enabling a developer to write a computer program that, when executed, displays a matrix on a computer display device, and a system and method for displaying a matrix on a computer display device. The system receives a request from the developer to create a matrix having rows and columns, where the widths of the columns are defined using a declarative column specification string. This specification string, and optionally, a programming algorithm that modifies or recreates the specification string, are stored in the system. A user then executes a computer program in the system. During execution, a number of events may occur in response to which the utility and usability of the matrix may be improved by adjusting the widths of the columns in the matrix. The invention resizes the width of each column in the matrix according to the column specification string.

Abstract: An improved method and system is described for generalized handling of conditions occurring during program execution in a computer system having a multi-language Condition Manager (CM). A general signaling routine having object code for an external entry point suitable for linking to application programs written in any language supporting external calls is used. The signaling routine may be used by programs to eliminate the step of checking return codes from subroutines by coding the subroutine to automatically signal the proper condition to the CM which in conjunction with user defined condition handlers takes proper actions in response to the condition. A general condition token which may be used as a feedback token is defined as a condition identifier, a format code for the condition identifier, a severity code for the condition, a control code for a facility identifier, a facility identifier and an optional handle for instance specific information.

Abstract: A computer or computer program product having a computer-readable medium comprising at least one controller to enable a processor to perform incremental changes storage and retrieval. The at least one controller comprises an incremental storage adaptor for enabling the processor to store a change associated with a base file, rather than modifying the base file by the change and storing the result as a new file. An incremental retrieval adaptor is included for enabling the processor to merge the change with the base file thereby forming a logical new file. The incremental retrieval adaptor can perform the merging in response to a call from an application running on the processor or another processor, and the incremental retrieval adaptor then provides or otherwise makes the logical new file available to the application.

Abstract: Method and means are provided for simulating a contiguous data space within a computer memory, and for placing and accessing data objects of various sizes within the simulated contiguous data space. Multiple, sub-data spaces are concatenated in such a way that each page and each sub-data space in the contiguous data space are uniquely identified. Data objects are placed in the contiguous data space and at the first reference to a page of the data object, only the segment containing the referenced page in the contiguous data space is mapped to the database storage disk. Once a data space page is mapped, the operating system can read the page into memory without requesting a disk operation from the database manager. On modifying a page, if the database disk page location is changed, the contiguous data space page is remapped without changing the page address in the data space.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring a file from a client platform to a server platform. A procedure.sub.-- to.sub.-- invoke parameter is set equal to information identifying a file transfer procedure located at the server platform. A pointer in a first "sqlvar" parameter is caused to point to the string representing the file, and a pointer in a second sqlvar parameter is caused to point to a file name of the file. The first and second sqlvar parameters are part of an input.sub.-- args parameter. A "sqleproc" function is invoked at the client platform. The procedure.sub.-- to.sub.-- invoke and input.sub.-- args parameters are passed to the sqleproc function. The sqleproc function when executed causes the input.sub.-- args parameter to be passed to the file transfer procedure at the server platform, and also causes the file transfer procedure to be invoked at the server platform.

Abstract: Processing of a first type of interprocess signals and a second type of interprocess signals in a computer system is disclosed. The first type of signals conform to a first signal handling standard and the second type of signals conform to a second signal handling standard. Signal processing operates by determining whether an interprocess signal is a synchronous signal or an asynchronous signal. The interprocess signal originates from a first processing entity and is received by a second processing entity. The interprocess signal is processed using signal handling semantics defined by the first signal handling standard if the interprocess signal is an asynchronous signal. Alternatively, the interprocess signal is processed using a combination of signal handling semantics defined by the first and second signal handling standards if the interprocess signal is a synchronous signal.

Abstract: A system for allowing a first computer program in a first language to cooperatively process with a second object oriented computer program in another language is described. A generic send message function is interposed between the first and second computer programs to control the exchange of messages. In order to achieve this the generic send message function has access to a description of the classes in the second computer program. Having access to such a description allows the generic send message function to efficiently transfer messages between the different computer programs, and also provides the ability for the creation of new objects of classes spanning environmental boundaries.