Abstract: Methods, systems, and configured storage media are provided for discovering software updates, discovering if a given computer can use the software update, and then updating the computers with the software as needed automatically across a network without storing the updates on an intermediate machine within the network. Furthermore, when a failure is detected, the rollout is stopped and the software can be automatically removed from those computers that already were updated. The software update can be stored originally at an address that is inaccessible through the network firewall by intermediately uploading the software update to an update computer which is not a part of the network but has access through the firewall, which is then used to distribute the update.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method in an object-oriented computer operating system for efficiently assigning to object classes document objects created on a different computer system.

Abstract: A method for adjusting elements of a graphical user interface operating system is disclosed. The method includes providing the operating system with a plurality of palette managers; each palette manager includes a plurality of element values. The palette managers are represented on a display device by icons, are accessible via windows and are responsive to a pointer. One of the palette managers is activated via the pointer to provide an activated palette manager window. One of the values of the activated palette manager window is selected via the pointer. The selected value is dragged to an element to be updated and dropped on that element. Dropping the selected value causes the element to be updated to correspond to the selected value.