A computer application stored on a storage medium (e.g., a portable storage medium such as a compact disk) is automatically launched. Initialization information expressed in accordance with a predefined syntax is stored on the storage medium. Also stored in the computer is "launching" information sufficient, together with the initialization information, to enable the computer to launch the application. The application is automatically launched, without user intervention, by reading the initialization information and using it in connection with the launching information stored in the computer.
This application is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/450,687, filed May 25, 1995 which was a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/300,164, filed Sep. 2, 1994.
A universal boot disk for a computer is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer system comprises a computer, a removable media storage device, and a boot media. The storage device operatively couples the computer. The boot media is removably inserted in the storage device, and has an executable program stored thereon to automatically detect one of a plurality of different compact-disc read-only-memory (CD-ROM) devices and to cause installation of a corresponding driver program. In one particular embodiment, the program comprises a language selection component, a keyboard selection component, as well as a CD-ROM auto-selection component.
A power management switch arrangement can be programmed by an external switch controller to alter the operating parameter limits used for fault detection. The switch arrangement includes the capability for full diagnostic feedback of load current and over-temperature conditions.
Installing files on a hard disk drive in a manner that improves program launch time. After a build of a program is completed, the program is launched and the disk activity associated with disk-intensive operations is monitored to determine the order in which file portions are read from a disk during program or command launch. This data is used to create a load sequence list, which indicates the order in which various portions of the files are read during launch. The installation disks include the files and the load sequence list. During the installation process, the installation program reads the data from the load sequence list and writes the file portions so they are stored in the order prescribed by the load sequence list in contiguous clusters on the hard disk drive. The computer can then read launch-related data from the disk in the proper order from contiguous disk clusters, which minimizes or eliminates wasted time that would result from disk accesses if the disk heads had to move between non-contiguous clusters in order to read the launch-related data.
A computer-implemented system and method for automatically generating graphical code in a graphical programming system. The computer memory stores a plurality of graphical code templates. The graphical programming system executing on the computer system also includes a plurality of front panel objects or controls which represent the user interface. One or more associated graphical code portions or templates can be associated with certain of the controls. According to the present invention, the user first selects a control and then preferably initiates the graphical code generation wizard for the control. When the graphical code generation wizard is invoked, the wizard displays on the screen a configuration panel or dialog, prompting the user to configure the control or object. The user then selects parameter values to configure certain aspects of the graphical code being created. The graphical code generation wizard selects a graphical code template in response to the control and configures the graphical code template with the parameter values. The graphical code generation wizard then creates an association between the control and the configured graphical code. The user can edit wizard created code either using the graphical code generation wizard or by unlocking the association between the control and the code and making the changes directly in the block diagram. The present invention also comprises a graphical code generation wizard designed specifically for industrial automation applications, referred to as the MMI G Wizard.
A method for setting up viewing of a file on a computer system is disclosed. According to the method, a file type of the file is determined. It is determined whether a viewer that supports the file type is installed on the computer system. The computer system interfaces with a server. If the viewer is not installed on the computer system, the computer system obtains a location of the viewer and downloads the viewer from the location. If the viewer is installed on the computer system, a version identifier of the viewer on the computer system is determined and compared with a version identifier of a current version of the viewer on the server. The current version of the viewer is downloaded to the computer system if the version identifier of the current version of the viewer is more recent than the version identifier of the viewer on the computer system.
