SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD USING EXPANDING OUTLINE INTERFACE

A system and method for specifying a computer program. The specified computer program comprises a set of selected program objects, represented by a corresponding set of outline items arranged in a multilevel outline format. These outline items collectively and completely denote the nature and operation of the specified computer program. Each outline item has a set of predefined characteristics, including a set of required children, and a set of optional children, comprising outline items that must/may be included at the next lower outline level when this outline item is used in a computer program. For each outline item in a computer program an expansion denoting flag denotes whether the corresponding outline item has children and whether the display of those children has been enabled. A selected contiguous portion of the multilevel outline is shown on the computer system's display device, showing only outline items whose display is enabled by corresponding expansion display denoting flags. A user interface enables the user to enable and disable expansion of any specified outline items. In response to such changes, the display definition is expanded and collapsed in accordance with the changed expansion display denoting flags. The user interface also enables the user to define menus and other display oriented objects by providing an interactive drawing program for designing a visual display and automatically adding the corresponding outline items to a selected computer program.