Abstract: The described embodiments include an electronic device that performs configuration operations. During operation, an administrative electronic device receives an indication that an electronic device that is presently checked out to a user is to be checked in. The administrative electronic device then requests a backup file with information from the electronic device, wherein the information comprises information about one or more changes made to the electronic device since the electronic device was checked out. Next, the administrative electronic device receives the backup file from the electronic device. The administrative electronic device then restores the electronic device to an initial state, wherein, in the initial state, changes made to the electronic device since the electronic device was checked out are reversed to return the electronic device to the initial state.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: Art editor within an integrated development environment displays a related file automatically. When a user enters a command to open a first file in the editor, the editor not only displays the first file's content (in a “primary editor”) but also automatically displays a second file's content (in a “related editor”), where the second file is related to the first file. In other words, when a first file is displayed in the editor, a file that is related to the first file is automatically displayed also. If the primary editor later displays a different file, then the file shown in the related editor will likely change as well, since the file shown in the related editor will be related to the “new” file in the primary editor. In other words, whatever is displayed in the related editor “tracks” whatever is displayed in the primary editor.

Abstract: An enhanced integrated development environment (IDE) is able to archive a build product and/or work with an archived build product in various ways. In one embodiment, a build product archive includes a manifest, a source code snapshot, a symbol table, and a build product. The manifest contains meta-data about the archive. The source code snapshot is a copy of the source code that was used in the build process. The symbol table is a copy of the symbol table that was generated by the build process. The build product is a copy of the build product that was generated by the build process. A developer can use the enhanced IDE to help share a build product with others and/or to understand system logs and reports that describe operation of the build product (e.g., crash logs and memory logs).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A technique for use in a computer is disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The filtering includes one of according a relevance to each of the candidate actions relative to the degree to which data type conversion will be required between the selected action and the respective candidate action; and according a relevance to each of the candidate actions that require no data conversion to accept the output of the previously selected action as input. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.