Abstract: A system and method are provided for building a help function in the form of a tutorial that physically demonstrates to an end user the function that the end user wants to understand. The invention includes a script language that includes tags or commands that the information developer can use in demonstrating the application program and providing tutorial information to the user. The system includes an interpreter that interprets the script language.

Abstract: A multi-user system for managing a database, and comprising a file access processor and a plurality of application support processors. The file access processor is provided to access the database, and the support processors are connected to the file access processor to read and update data objects in the database. The file access processor includes a locking system to lock data objects for selected support processors to limit access to locked data objects by the other support processors. This locking system includes an implicit locking subsystem to place implicit locks on data objects automatically in response to receiving processing requests from the support processors, and an explicit locking subsystem to place explicit locks on data objects in response to receiving explicit locking requests from the support processors. The explicit locks are integrated into the locking scheme in a manner minimizing lock conflicts.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a set of machine level instructions that perform primitive operations on singly or doubly linked lists. The instructions allow linked lists to be manipulated in such a way as to allow multiple processes in a parallel computing environment to access shared lists without the need for additional synchronization. Furthermore, the present invention does not place restrictions on the location of forward and backward pointer within the linked list elements.

Abstract: A file sharing system, comprising a file access processor and a plurality of application support processors; and the file access processor, in turn, includes a central data access system and a storage system is provided to form directories from data in the database, and to change data in that database. Each support processor includes a local cache to acquire and hold directories formed by the data access system; and for each directory acquired by at least one support processor, the data access system further includes a directory gate and a multitude of directory change blocks holding information describing changes in the database that affect the directory. The directory change blocks established for a given directory are arranged in a first chain anchored to the directory gate established for the directory. For each support processor that has acquired at least one directory, the data access system further includes a directory acquired block for each directory acquired by the support processor.