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ToolTalk User's Guide

Example

In this example, a hypothetical spreadsheet application named FinnogaCalc is integrated with the ToolTalk service.

  1. FinnogaCalc starts and registers with the ToolTalk service by declaring its ptype, FinnogaCalc, and joining its default session.

  2. FinnogaCalc loads a worksheet, hatsize.wks, and tells the ToolTalk service it is observing the worksheet by joining the worksheet file.

  3. A second instance of FinnogaCalc (called FinnogaCalc2) starts, loads a worksheet, wardrobe.wks, and registers with the ToolTalk service in the same way.

  4. The user assigns the value of cell B2 in hatsize.wks to also appear in cell C14 of wardrobe.wks.

  5. So that FinnogaCalc can send the value to FinnogaCalc2, FinnogaCalc2 creates an object spec for cell C14 by calling a ToolTalk function. This object is identified by an objid.

  6. FinnogaCalc2 then gives this objid to FinnogaCalc (for example, through the clipboard).

  7. FinnogaCalc remembers that its cell B2 should appear in the object identified by this objid and sends a message that contains the value.

  8. ToolTalk routes the message. To deliver the message, the ToolTalk service:

    1. Examines the spec associated with the objid and finds that the type of the objid is FinnogaCalc_cell and that the corresponding object is in the file wardrobe.wks.

    2. Consults the otype definition for FinnogaCalc_cell. From the otype, the ToolTalk service determines that this message is observed by processes of ptype FinnogaCalc and that the scope of the message should be TT_FILE.

    3. Matches the message against registered patterns and locates all processes of this ptype that are observing the proper file. FinnogaCalc2 matches, but FinnogaCalc does not.

    4. Delivers the message to FinnogaCalc2.

  9. FinnogaCalc2 recognizes that the message contains an object that corresponds to cell C14. FinnogaCalc2 updates the value in wardrobe.wks and displays the new value.