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Required User Interaction
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Automatic Tool Interaction Using Message Connector
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Automatic Tool Interaction Using Message Connector
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) *(+*) )/ )( *!/.# '' 3 0/ . )4 .+ $!$ UNIX* command using messaging and can return the output
of the command in a message. This allows a Message ConĆ
nector user to execute UNIX commands directly as a result
of an event of any tool. For example, when the user reĆ
quests the editor to edit a file, if the file is readĆonly then
execute the UNIX command to give the user write access.
The second component (named XtoBMS) converts X WinĆ
dows events into messages that Message Connector can use
to request functionality from any component automatically.
This means that when any tool maps a window to the
screen, the user environment can respond with any action
the user defines. This has been used extensively in process
management tools so that the appearance of a tool on the
screen causes the process tool to change the task a user is
currently performing.
The transformation of Message Connector from concept to
product was the result of a very strong team effort. While
there were many people involved with the project at various
points, the core Message Connector team consisted of Alan
Klein representing learning products, Jan Ryles representing
human factors, Byron Jenings representing research and deĆ
velopment, Gary Thalman representing product marketing,
Carol Gessner and Wayne Cook representing technical cusĆ
tomer support, Dave Willis and Tim Tillson representing
project management, and the author representing research
and development. The crossĆfunctional team approach
caused roles and responsibilities to become pleasantly
blurred. The entire team is the parent of Message Connector.
1. C. Gerety, A New Generation of Software Development Tools,"
Vol. 41, no. 3, June 1990, pp. 48Ć58.
2. M.R. Cagan, The HP SoftBench Environment: An Architecture for
a New Generation of Software Tools," pp. 36Ć47.
3. B.D. Fromme, HP Encapsulator: Bridging the Generation Gap,"
pp. 59Ć68.
UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories Inc. in the U.S.A. and other
countries.
June 1994 HewlettĆPackard Journal