DE10260999B4 - Method for controlling a computer - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for controlling a computer which contains a file system arranged according to directories, in which the directories can be identified by character strings, in particular in the form of ASCII code, and the files are processed by associated application programs whose workflow can be controlled by program parameters, characterized
that the program parameters of an application program are determined by analyzing the character string of a first directory,
and that a file stored in the first directory is processed by the associated application program with the determined parameters.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for controlling a computer according to the preamble of claim 1.

at the processing of files by computers, e.g. Personal computer under the operating systems Unix, Linux, Windows, as well as with larger server machines or mainframes the problem is that the processing of files by associated application programs - below also called user programs - with a larger number Of files it usually requires that file operations by the user during execution of the application program is communicated to the application program for each file individually Need to become, or when using e.g. from the operating system "DOS" ago known batch processing program (Batch program) for a group of files the program parameters which the workflow of the application program, must be entered manually.

These Program parameters that affect the workflow of the application program lets steer, are e.g. when converting an image file to a high one resolution in a picture file with a lower resolution the program parameters "r1" (resolution 1), "r2" (resolution 2) and the name of the output directory to which the converted File should be output.

in this connection there is a problem that e.g. to convert a large number image files created with a digital camera for every single file the application manually with the appropriate parameters must be started by the user, which is due to the processing of each file associated time sometimes for the user very expensive can be.

The US Pat. No. 6,074,312 describes a method for controlling computers in a computer network, in which a user computer is assigned a plurality of application objects, of which at least one of the objects has an attribute representing an application program, and the application object contains at least one file type index, corresponds to an application program. In the described method, when a user logs onto the network, the file type information is retrieved from each accessible application object and that information is stored in a local memory of the user computer. When a file is selected on the user's machine, the user's computer checks its local memory to see if the file type information matches the selected file. Since the information is periodically updated by a program routine, the current information can be used to associate a particular file type extension with an application stored on the server, whereby the associated application can be initialized on the server. The said document gives no indication to analyze the character string of a directory and, depending thereon, to determine a program parameter with which a file stored in the directory is processed by the associated application program with the parameter determined.

Farther is from "Common Desktop Environment (CDE) 5..1. Advanced Users's and System Administrator's Guide " to use so-called "action files" with a graphical operating system interface, with those specified by the user arithmetic operations, for example compressing a file by dragging the associated file to an icon associated with the associated action file independent can be started in addition to the icon also program parameters for the associated Application program attached can be with which this is started to process the file. The Scripture gives no indication of the program parameters of a User program by analyzing the string of a directory and a file stored in this directory through the associated User program with the determined parameter to process.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method which makes it possible with a calculator a big one Number of individual files automatically by an associated application program to process without being active by the user in the application program must be intervened (job control).

These Task is according to the invention solved by the features of claim 1.

Further Features of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

According to the invention is a method for controlling a computer, which after a Directories file system that contains the directories by character strings, in particular in the form of ASCII code, identifiable are, and the files are processed by associated application programs, their workflow over Program parameter is controllable, characterized in that the Program parameters of an application program by analyzing the String of a first directory, and a in the first directory the associated Application program is processed with the determined parameters.

So can in the case of the aforementioned conversion of a graphics file these are simply stored by the user in a first input directory be used, e.g. the directory name "1200 to 480" owns to the user to express that the resolution of all the files in this Directory, automatically from 1200 pixels / inch is reduced to 480 pixels / inch.

The Filing the file in the directory is done by an expiring Program routine, which e.g. constantly running in the background and the said directory and / or other directories searched for the presence of files.

As soon as a file in the directory was detected, becomes the string the name of the directory by way of one of the prior art known string processing on the individual components which, in this example case, include the terms "1200", "to" and "480" Components of the string of the directory name are then preferably via a subroutine the or the corresponding program parameters assigned by the the application program - in In this case, the graphics program - the file in by the Directory name specified way converted.

Subsequently, will the application program with the determined program parameters the program routine for the associated File automatically started, and the file conversion performed, taking as additional Program parameters preferably also the name of the output directory with specified in which the file after the conversion is stored for further processing by the user.

On this way you can using the method according to the invention for example 100, 200 or even more graphic files by copying or move to the first (input) directory automatically converted and then in a desired Output directory are stored without the user for this purpose every single file has to call. The copy or move can in this case in a particularly advantageous manner e.g. by clicking with a computer mouse or other input device, and is due to the recourse on the strings of directory names in almost all currently common File systems and applications can be implemented easily.

By the inventive method There is the advantage that with this all information for an individual parameterized processing for (arbitrary) applications are stored in a directory tree can (eg: send a file for User1 to the e-mail address abc @ def). Furthermore, by the inventive method the possibility created job sequences - i. the Processing of files by associated application programs - via the Link can be represented by directories (e.g. Compress one File with 'zip' and transfer connect it with ftp to def @ server1).

The This description deals with the problems in particular Batch processing and event-driven processing. Different than with other well-known methods can be on job control or job scripts for the No need to create parameterized user jobs and job flows become. From the point of view of the user, it is quite sufficient to process the To transport data to a suitable (input) directory.

When Applications are primarily hierarchical file systems, such as Linux, Unix, Windows and MVS for the use of the method into consideration. Here, the method according to the invention is the following easier understanding specifically explained using the example of Linux-based file systems, although the Method is not limited to such file systems.

• (1) die Verzeichnisstruktur für das Hinterlegen parametrisierter Benutzerjobs in einem Verzeichnisbaum sowie das Erstellen von Jobabläufen über Verweise in Verzeichnisbäumen maschinell gepflegt werden kann,
• (2) die hinterlegten Methoden zeitgesteuert oder quasi ereignisgesteuert zur Verarbeitung bereitgestellt werden können, wobei die Existenz von Benutzerdaten zur Verarbeitung ausreicht,
• (3) die (beliebige) Anwendung über ein vereinfachtes Anwendungsumfeld ausgeführt werden.

Methods are described, such as

• (1) the directory structure for the storage of parameterized user jobs in a directory tree as well as the creation of job sequences can be maintained by means of references in directory trees,
• (2) the deposited methods can be provided for processing in a time-controlled or quasi-event-controlled manner, the existence of user data being sufficient for processing,
• (3) the (arbitrary) application is executed through a simplified application environment.

Directory structure (any) application

through The directory structure will become (any) applications for an individual and parameterized processing prepared. This can be job Control or job scripts are eliminated.

in the The following will be exclusive Directories shown.

Verzeichnisstruktur verknüpfen von Anwendungen (Jobablauf) As a prior art convenience feature, a more comfortable end user view is given as follows to the example above:

Link Directory Structure of Applications (Job Flow)

Process job flows User data in several steps. Instead of individual Process sequences by means of job control scripts, the job flow in the directory structure. This will be the output area an individualized application with the input area of a linked to another application. Consequently the output data of a processing step are immediate for the Processing the subsequent step ready for processing.

in the The following will be exclusive Directories shown.

Example: A user file should be compressed and sent by e-mail (method zip and sendmail)

About the Directory structure ensures that the compressed File immediately for the mail delivery available stands.

Example 2: Host Report File Send as .pdf file via e-mail

• (Assumption: the host file is transferred via FTP and is located as an ascii file)
• User: a2ps2pdf2mail (Simplicity for everyone involved Method)

Application1 (a2ps): Convert ascii files into a Postscript file

Link to the application:
link to ... ps2pdf / a2ps2pdf2mail / input as ... a2ps / a2ps2pdf2mail / output Application2 (ps2pdf): Convert Postscript to Acrobat Reader

Link to the application:
link to ... mail/a2ps2pdf2mail/input/user2@def.com as ... ps2pdf / a2ps2pdf2mail / output Application3 (mail): Send file via e-mail

Method of Providing an application

The Customization and parameterization for the processing takes place application-related in the manner according to the invention via the directory structure. For the Start processing is the existence of data at the right place Job required.

The technical provision of a procedure is as follows:
The controller receives as configuration data the name of the application, the name of the application main directory (application 'anchor'), the name of the application to be executed, as well as operating parameters (single run or time intervals minimum, maximum, increment).

There Applications over The directory structure can be separated, different applications be operated in parallel with this method.

The concrete application is running in a subroutine (subtask), which contains all available information, necessary for personalized and parameterized processing are to be given.

hereby There is the advantage that the concrete application only a single Solve problem got to. The general problem of customizing (find users) and Parameterizing (find processing data) is about the Directory structure and application control solved.

Since the user information, including the individual processing parameters, is stored in the directory structure of the application, the maintenance (eg adding users or parameters for processing by creating the corresponding directories) can be performed during operation Schehen.

The Creating job control or job specific scripts is not required. This applies to individual steps and for the chaining of work steps (job processes).

According to one further application can the inventive method used advantageously for providing multiple applications become.

These Applications can e.g. be arranged under an automation directory.

The technical provision of many applications is preferably done as follows:
The controller receives as configuration data the name of the application group, the name of the automation anchor for the applications, as well as operating parameters (one-time run or time intervals minimum, maximum, increment).

There Automation's 'anchor' via the directory structure are separated, can various application groups operated in parallel with this method become.

Method of managing the directory structure

There the directory structures independently from a specific application, can be present when the configuration information (Automation Anchor and Application Anchor) the necessary directories be automatically created automatically in an advantageous manner.

There The directory structure of users independent of a specific application If the configuration data (automation anchor and application anchor) as well as 'username' the standardized Directory structure can be created by machine. The user-related Parameterizing the application is done by creating appropriate input subdirectories, i. Directories or subdirectories, in which the files to be processed are stored.

A comfortable user view can by directory name in kind can be achieved that references from user directories with any Set up names for the standardized directories (or vice versa) become.

The Create job sequences (multi-stage processing) can be automated if the information of the data provider (configuration data Automation anchor, application anchor, user, subdirectory in the output area) as well as the information of the data receiver (configuration data Automation anchor, application anchor, user, subdirectory in the input area). By creating a directory reference the output data of the first processing step are immediate available as input data of the second processing step.

At none of these jobs are needed Job Control.

The inventive method will be described below with reference to the drawings by way of examples described.

In show the drawings:

1 a screen representation of a directory structure according to the invention with a Ver filesystem used to convert JPG image files to lower-resolution files, before converting the files,

2 the directory structure of 1 after the conversion of the files,

3 Another directory structure according to the invention for converting a text file into a PDF file and then automatically send the PDF file to an e-mail recipient, before converting the text file, and

4 a screen view of the email directory of any of the 3 e-mail recipient displayed with the automatically converted text file in the inbox.

As in 1 1, a file system according to the invention-in this case a UNIX system-comprises a directory structure or a directory tree 1 in which the individual directories and subdirectories are designated in a known manner by names which are preferably in the form of machine-readable ASCII code. As usual with such file systems, the name of the directories can be assigned and changed independently by the user.

The subdirectory marked "in" 2 from 1 has in this case several further subdirectories "r090", "r180", "r270", "to_800-600", etc, where the respective directory name is chosen by the user with regard to the control function that the computer performs when a file is stored in the associated directory is copied or moved.

That with the reference number 4 Subdirectory "to_800-600" indicates to the user, on the basis of his name, that a graphics file moved or copied there 6 , which bears the name "Baer01.jpg" in the example below, will automatically be converted into a graphics file with a resolution of 800 × 600 pixels, and the converted file will then - as in 2 shown - as a converted file 8th with the name "Baer01.jpg.jpg" and a size of eg 109.1 kilobytes in another subdirectory 10 of the directory tree 1 stored.

By the automatic conversion of the original graphics file 6 or even group of graphics files, in a particularly advantageous manner by simply known "dragging" the individual file or group to the subdirectory 4 can be initiated, the respective graphics files are automatically converted using the method according to the invention in graphics files with a lower resolution, without the user to this individually open each file with the associated application program, convert and must close again. This results in a very considerable work and time savings, especially for a variety of files to be processed.

One example for that when converting graphics files in the o.g. Way used Processing protocol is exemplified below, this being called "gapldemo 2.0 " Computer control program specified by the user in the program Searches directories, and if there is a file in one of the directories analyzes the directory name according to the invention, and the associated one Application program the file by specifying parameters that the computer control program "gapldemo" retrieves from the associated directory name starts to process the file and in one store the given subdirectory.

If regularly processing data with this type of computer control, It makes sense, the computer control program "gapDemo" for individual or all applications permanently in the context of the computer boot process available close. In this case, the task of the user is reduced to providing data in appropriate subdirectories to achieve the parameterized, application-related processing.

Around the connection between the provision of data and / or functions the calculator control program and the application call, Below, a dialog variant of the computer control program "gapldemo" is shown.

The resulting screen display after starting the computer control program "gapldemo" can, for example, have the form shown below:
dbank @ sony: ~> gapldemo menu
gap demo 2.0 starting
gapl 2.0 Pure walnut
listappls - Shows all applications
start - started an application
startall - Started all applications
xstart - started an application (permanent)
xstartall - Started all applications (permanent)
maint - administrative functions
end of program end
begin
start - enter the name of the application:
img-s
Application: <img-s> is installed.

in this connection the user is prompted to enter the name of the application, which is to perform an arithmetic operation to be automated - in the present Trap the name of the subdirectory "img-s".

After starting the automation for image processing "img-s", the computer control program searches for the directories of the directory tree assigned to the application program 1 after the existence of files, and starts due to the found file 6 with the name "Baer01.jpg" in the subdirectory 4 the associated application program with the environment variables in the form of the respective directories, the parameter for the conversion and the file name of the file found by the computer control program "gapldemo". The mapping of the parameters with which the application program is started by the name of the subdirectory 4 To perform expressed conversion, this can be entered and / or changed in the screen menu described above under the menu item "management functions", eg on the basis of an assignment table.

The screen display associated with the start of the application program-in the present case the graphics program "APL2" -in the manner described above can look like this:

After completing the conversion and saving the converted graphics file in the output directory 10 is through the screen display
SELECTED APPL: IMG-S [ok]
notify the user that the conversion of the graphics file was successful, and then return the selection menu to start other applications on the screen, which may be of the form:
listappls - Shows all applications
start - started an application
startall - Started all applications
xstart - started an application (permanent)
xstartall - Started all applications (permanent)
maint - administrative functions
end of program end

The Leaves directory structure This can also be changed by entering "maint" via the program, if for example, instead of the directory name used "to_800-600" another name of the Directory selected shall be.

As in 3 and 4 is shown, it is also possible in accordance with the invention using the method according to the invention, several consecutive arithmetic operations that are performed on a file by different application programs to run automatically in succession.

As in 3 is shown, for example, the pure text file 20 with the designation "Text.dat2" into a PDF file that can be read by the program "ACROBAT Reader" of the software manufacturer ADOBE, USA, and then automatically send this converted PDF file simultaneously to an e-mail application program. Mail addressees are sent.

This is the text file 20 from the user eg with the computer mouse in the input directory 22 pulled, which is a subdirectory of the directory 24 The term "a2ps2pdf2mail" hereby expresses for the user that a file is converted first into a postscript file, then from this into a PDF file, and then to a PDF file E-mail application program is passed.

After the file in the directory 22 has been copied or moved by the computer control program by starting the associated application program with the appropriate parameters, which was determined depending on the previously analyzed text strings of the directory name, for example, based on a mapping table in the computer control program in a PDF file transferred and then in the output directory 26 stored.

After the converted PDF file in the directory 26 has been filed, is automatically converted by the computer control program "gapldemo", which performs the control of the computer according to the inventive method, the converted PDF file from the directory 26 taken and in the input directory 28 which is a subdirectory of the directory named "mail" in which files are stored for e-mail delivery.

The in the input directory 28 The converted PDF file stored for the sending of e-mails is analogous to that previously used in connection with the 1 and 2 manner described by the computer control program "gapldemo" when browsing the directory tree 1 and by starting another e-mail application program with the one previously specified by the directory name of the input directory 28 as well as the subdirectories 30 . 32 . 34 and 36 From the computer control program certain parameters passed to this other e-mail application program.

This further e-mail application program then automatically sends the converted PDF file to the e-mail addressee "dbank @ (10.73.152.67)", which in the corresponding subdirectories provided with these names 30 . 32 . 34 and 36 in the form of the directory name.

The converted text file 38 with the designation "text.dat.2.ps.pdf", addressees will then appear in the inbox of the corresponding e-mail software for the respective e-mail, as described in 4 exemplified for one of the addressees.

The distinction between different data areas and the assignment to application programs preferably in parent directories. With such an organization of directory structures, it is advantageously possible to operate the controller for one or more application programs or even groups of application programs individually or in parallel. As far as the associated application program supports this, in addition, parallel processing of an application program for the simultaneous processing of various input data is also possible.

Claims (10)

Method for controlling a computer which contains a file system arranged according to directories, in which the directories can be identified by character strings, in particular in the form of ASCII code, and the files are processed by associated application programs whose workflow can be controlled by program parameters, characterized that the program parameters of an application program are determined by analyzing the character string of a first directory, and that a file stored in the first directory is processed by the associated application program with the determined parameters. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that through the application program with the parameters determined processed file after finishing processing in a second one Directory is stored. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that through the application program with the parameters determined processed file after completion of processing to another Application passed becomes. Method according to Claims 2 and 3, characterized that the by the application program with the determined parameters processed file after finishing processing in the second Directory is stored, that further program parameters of another application program by analyzing the string of the second directory, and that one in the second Directory stored file by the associated further application program is processed with the determined further parameters. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that through the application program with the parameters determined processed file after completion of processing via Network is sent to another computer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the file is in a subdirectory of the first Directory is stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the first directory by a program routine is continuously searched for the presence of files. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that if there is a file in the first directory, a subroutine is started, which consists of the individual components of the string of the first directory the parameters by way of a logical Query determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the first directory is a subdirectory is in which files by dragging with a pointing device, in particular a mouse from another directory can be stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the distinction of different data areas and / or the assignment to application programs through the analysis of superordinate ones Directories done.