SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPECIFYING A COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED PROCESS USING DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING METHODOLOGIES

A system and method for specifying a computer-implemented process utilizing two or more different program creation methodologies. In one embodiment, the different program creation methodologies may include specifying steps or operations for the process using graphical input panels, e.g., in a “wizard-based” manner, and using graphical programming techniques for other portions, such as to specify decision operations. Thus, optimum program creation methodologies may be used for specifying different respective portions of the process. At least a portion of the process may be dependent on prior execution results determined by a previous portion of the process. As an example, for a machine vision inspection process, the previous portion of the process may analyze images of a product, and a subsequent portion of the process may depend on the results of the image analysis, e.g., may either accept or reject the product depending on prior execution results of the image analysis portion. Thus, the process may include one or more decision operations that analyze the prior execution results. The execution of the portion(s) of the process that are dependent on prior execution results may depend on the outcome(s) of the decision operation(s). The decision operation(s) may advantageously be specified graphically, e.g., as a block diagram constructed in response to user input.