Method and apparatus for distributing templates in a component system

摘要

A component customization and distribution system in an object-oriented environment provides a template builder utility which enables a base component to be selectively modified and the modifications to the base component stored as a template. The template is formatted into a distribution pack which may be then distributed to a recipient computer system having a similar base component loaded thereon. The distribution pack contains at least one template, a self-executing installation program for unloading the templates onto the recipient system, and a data dictionary to assist in locating the templates within the distribution pack. A loader utility utilizes the information contained within the template in conjunction with the functionality of the base component to modify the behavior of the base component to conform to the customizations or modifications created with the template builder utility. The component loader utility spoofs the base component by selectively forwarding method calls to/from the base component and selectively modifying the results of method calls in response to information contained in the template.