ToolTalk User's Guide

Can you tell me about ToolTalk objects?

ToolTalk objects are somewhat different from what you normally encounter in typical object-oriented languages.

Otypes and inheritance are for implementation only. Two specs can be of the same otype but have different properties -- they only share the operations as defined by the signatures in the otype declaration. For each signature in the otype declaration, a ptype must be designated. The designated ptype (process-type) is the 'execution engine' for this operation on an object of this otype. The file part of a spec is similar to a required property: every spec must have a file name; however, that file does not need to exist. The filename part of the spec performs several functions, including:

Allows you to specify the host and partition on which the spec will be stored.
Provides a grouping mechanism for objects.
Allows the ToolTalk-enhanced standard operating commands (such as the ttmv command) to keep the database's view of the world consistent with the real world.

Is there a ToolTalk news group?

Yes. The ToolTalk news group is alt.soft-sys.tooltalk. You may also find the group comp.unix.cde useful, since the Common Desktop Environment makes significant use of ToolTalk for integration of new applications, launching of application programs, and so on.


D. Frequently Asked Questions Questions Should I qualify my filenames?


	Can you tell me about ToolTalk objects? ToolTalk objects are somewhat different from what you normally encounter in typical object-oriented languages. Otypes and inheritance are for implementation only. Two specs can be of the same otype but have different properties -- they only share the operations as defined by the signatures in the otype declaration. For each signature in the otype declaration, a ptype must be designated. The designated ptype (process-type) is the 'execution engine' for this operation on an object of this otype. The file part of a spec is similar to a required property: every spec must have a file name; however, that file does not need to exist. The filename part of the spec performs several functions, including: Allows you to specify the host and partition on which the spec will be stored. Provides a grouping mechanism for objects. Allows the ToolTalk-enhanced standard operating commands (such as the `ttmv` command) to keep the database's view of the world consistent with the real world. Is there a ToolTalk news group? Yes. The ToolTalk news group is alt.soft-sys.tooltalk. You may also find the group comp.unix.cde useful, since the Common Desktop Environment makes significant use of ToolTalk for integration of new applications, launching of application programs, and so on.