The framework addon 'gui/jobs' was created for a very similar purpose or creating user-friendly process-driven applications. If fact, another addon 'stats/dendrite' has a number of specialized statistical processes.
Such application can start from a desktop icon having a command-line: d:\j602\bin\j.exe stats/dendrite/jobs The framework can accommodate several job types. Each job has its own folder with input and output files in various formats (job-type-specific). The current job is selected from the left list. The top pane is for input parameters. The "Run" button executes the process and the various View buttons show the results, which can be further printed or copied to other jobs. http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/Addons/gui/jobs http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/Essays/Dendrite/Applications > From: "Hahn, Harvey" <[email protected]> > > I have some statistical "massagers" written in J that I'd like to wrap > in user-friendly "envelopes" for nonprogrammer end-users. The end > result can't be much more difficult than double-clicking an icon on the > desktop (or using an assigned keystroke to do the same thing)--or > something just as easy--and then, say, filling in a textbox or two with > some filenames or such. > > Since J scripts can't be compiled, I can't create an executable, which > would be the easy way. It appears I'll have to use another scripting > language (with the characteristics I'm looking for) to call J in some > way. I can't ask users to start up J, load a script, and run it--that's > too geeky for nongeeks (and they would never use the application!). > > I know many of you have written successful J applications that are being > used commercially, privately, or whatever. How do *you* go about > accomplishing what I'm asking? How do you make a J application easily > usable by a person "off the street", that is, by nonprogrammers? What > tips/advice do you have about writing J apps for the "real" world? (I'm > thinking here primarily of a front page that's a GUI, whether it's in J > or in another language that calls J.) > > This is really important to me right now, both because I have some > in-house apps that need such an "envelope" and because I need to > demonstrate the ease of making user-friendly J apps available in a > conference presentation later this spring to a group of computer > knowledgeable library staff, many of whom can program. > > Please, this is not a time to be terse. ;-) Thanks in advance for your > advice and insights! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
