Automatic gopher program generator

Abstract

A system and method for automatically generating a gopher program is provided. The system invokes a debugger and loads a type library into the debugger. The type library containing information regarding each data type used in a program. The system reads each line of a command file, wherein the command file is comprised of literal text and one or more predefined instructions. For each predefined instruction read, the system calls a corresponding function in the debugger and the debugger returns a numerical offset value based upon information in the type library. The system copies the each line of the command file to an output file, with each predefined instruction replaced with its corresponding offset value.

1 . A method for creating a gopher program comprising the steps of: 
 accepting an input command file including literal text and a pre-defined instruction corresponding to a field of a compound data type;    parsing the input command file for the pre-defined instruction;    identifying the pre-defined instruction;    retrieving a field size and a field location from a type library binary image;    calculating a field value from the field location and the field size;    producing a gopher program including the literal text and the field value substituted in place of the pre-defined instruction.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the field value is an offset value.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the field value is the field size.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the field value is an array size.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the input command file further comprises a plurality of pre-defined instructions.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pre-defined instruction is a command.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pre-defined instruction is a macro.  
   
   
       8 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . A computer readable medium, having stored thereon, computer executable process steps operable to control a computer to generate a gopher program, said computer executable process steps comprising the steps of: 
 accepting an input command file including literal text and a pre-defined instruction corresponding to a field of a compound data type;    parsing the input command file for the pre-defined instruction;    identifying the pre-defined instruction;    retrieving a field size and a field location from a type library binary image;    calculating a field value from the field location and the field size;    producing a gopher program including the literal text and the field value substituted in place of the pre-defined instruction.    
   
   
       43 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the field value is an offset value.  
   
   
       44 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the field value is the field size.  
   
   
       45 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the field value is an array size.  
   
   
       46 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the input command file further comprises a plurality of pre-defined instructions.  
   
   
       47 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the pre-defined instruction is a command.  
   
   
       48 . The computer readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the pre-defined instruction is a macro.  
   
   
       49 . An automatic gopher program generating system, comprising: 
 a processor;    a data storage device operably connected to the processor, the data storage device incluing a program executable by the processor to perform steps including:    accepting an input command file including literal text and a pre-defined instruction corresponding to a field of a compound data type;    parsing the input command file for the pre-defined instruction;    identifying the pre-defined instruction;    retrieving a field size and a field location from a type library binary image;    calculating a field value from the field location and the field size;    producing a gopher program including the literal text and the field value substituted in place of the pre-defined instruction.    
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the field value is an offset value.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the field value is the field size.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the field value is an array size.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the input command file further comprises a plurality of pre-defined instructions.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the pre-defined instruction is a command.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the pre-defined instruction is a macro.