JPH06131165A - CASE diagram converter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To simplify the description of conversion rules. [Structure] Files 42-1 to 42- which save the figure item data format table in which the correspondence relationship between the format of the figure item data and the intermediate data format forming each diagram of the CASE tools # 1 to #n is registered. Similarly, n and files 43-1 to 43-n storing a figure item type shape table in which a display shape is registered for each figure item type are provided. In the example in which the conversion source CASE tool # 1 and its conversion target diagram and the conversion destination CASE tool #n are specified by the conversion instruction unit 11, the data format conversion unit 15 converts the conversion source CASE diagram data into a file. Converted to an intermediate data format based on the correspondence table in 42-1. Then, based on the correspondence table in file 42-n and each correspondence table in files 43-1 and 43-n, the intermediate data format is changed. Convert to the destination CASE diagram data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention facilitates the display shape and size of diagram items in a diagram when converting the data format of a diagram of a CASE tool for software development support into the data format of a diagram of another CASE tool. The present invention relates to a CASE diagram conversion device suitable for use in an object that must be considered so that it can be changed to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, there are many kinds of CASE tools (support tools) for supporting software development. However, the data formats of the diagrams of these CASE tools are different, so C
It is impossible to divert the CASE diagram, which is a product of development with the ASE tool, from each other.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been considered a CASE diagram conversion device for diverting a diagram between different CASE tools. Traditionally, this type of CASE
The diagram conversion device uses a rule (conversion) for a diagram item representing a diagram of a conversion source CASE tool and a conversion destination CASE tool in order to convert a diagram from a conversion source CASE tool having a different data format of a diagram to a conversion destination CASE tool. Rules are included in the program by the number of combinations of CASE tools, and the program performs syntax analysis to convert the diagram data of the conversion source CASE tool into the diagram data of the conversion destination CASE tool.

By the way, the CASE tool supports a plurality of notations even for the same figure item type by a compliant development technique, and often has a plurality of shapes (display shapes of figure items). Therefore, in the conventional CASE diagram conversion device, the conversion source CASE tool and the conversion destination CASE tool may be in the state in which they cannot be converted even though they have the same figure item type, or other shapes are forced to be converted in order to enable conversion. I had to tell the program to convert to.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional CAS
The E-diagram conversion device has the following problems.

(1) Since it is necessary to have as many conversion rules as the number of combinations of CASE tools in the program for the diagram items expressing the diagrams of the conversion source CASE tool and the conversion destination CASE tool, the conversion processing and rule parts are Will be complicated and the maintainability will be poor. (2) As the number of CASE tools increases, the number of combinations of conversion sources and conversion destinations increases exponentially, which complicates device development.

(3) If the same drawing item has different display shapes for the conversion source and the conversion destination, conversion cannot be performed or conversion rules need to be described in the program in order to enable conversion. was there. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a CASE diagram conversion device capable of simplifying the description of conversion rules. Another object of the present invention is to provide a CASE diagram conversion device in which the display shape and the like of drawing items can be easily changed.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a first registration of the correspondence relationship between the format of the diagram item data and the intermediate data format constituting each diagram of various CASE tools. A first table storage means for storing a table; a second table storage means for storing a second table in which at least one shape is registered for each figure item type for various CASE tools; A table management unit that manages the first table stored in the storage unit and the second table stored in the second storage unit, and manages new registration and change of registered content for the first and second tables. A conversion instruction means for instructing the conversion source CASE tool and the conversion destination CASE tool, and an instruction according to the instruction from the conversion instruction means. Conversion based CASE tools CASE
The diagram data is converted into an intermediate data format based on the first table corresponding to the conversion source in the first table storage means, and this intermediate data format corresponds to the conversion destination in the first table storage means. A data format for generating CASE diagram data of the designated CASE tool of the conversion destination based on the first table and the two second tables respectively corresponding to the conversion source and the conversion destination in the second storage means. It is characterized in that conversion means is provided.

The present invention further includes message output means for generating and outputting a message for prompting recovery from the abnormal state when a conversion abnormality occurs due to data unregistered by the data format conversion means. This message is externally output, and a dialog means for interactively inputting an instruction for recovering the abnormal state indicated by the message is further provided, and the table described above is provided in accordance with the instruction input by the interactive means. It is also characterized in that the management means is configured to perform new registration or change of registration contents for the first table or the second table.

[0010]

In the above structure, the correspondence relationship between the format of the diagram item data and the intermediate data format that make up each diagram of various CASE tools, and various C
The shape (display shape) for each figure item type supported by the ASE tool is managed by a table, and when the conversion source CASE tool and the conversion destination CASE tool are instructed by the conversion instruction unit, the instructed conversion source CASE The CASE diagram data of the tool is converted into an intermediate data format by the data format conversion means based on the table corresponding to the conversion source in the first storage means. The intermediate data format is determined by the data format conversion means based on the table corresponding to the conversion destination in the first storage means and the two tables corresponding to the conversion source and the conversion destination in the second storage means. It is converted into the CASE diagram data of the conversion destination.

When the data format is converted by the data format conversion means and the conversion cannot be performed because the same drawing item has different display shapes in the conversion source and the conversion destination, a message to that effect is displayed by the message output means. The generated data is output to the outside by the interactive means, and the conversion work by the data format conversion means is temporarily stopped. According to the above message, when the user specifies whether to register a new shape or convert it into another shape through the dialog with the dialog means, the table management means performs new registration or modification of the registered content in the corresponding table. The data format conversion means can continue the data format conversion.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the CASE diagram conversion device according to the embodiment.

The CASE diagram conversion device shown in FIG. 1 has a CPU 1 and a display 2 which are the control centers of the device.
1, a display terminal 2 having a keyboard 22 and a mouse 23, a printer 3, a floppy disk device,
It is configured by an external storage device 4 such as a hard disk device.

The external storage device 4 has CASE diagram data files 41-1 to 41-n and CASE diagram diagram item data format table files 42-1 to 42-n.
The CASE diagram diagram item type shape table files 43-1 to 43-n and the intermediate data format file 44 are stored. CASE diagram data file 4
The diagram data (CASE diagram data) of the CASE tool #i is stored in 1-i (i = 1 to n).

In the CASE diagram drawing item data format table file 42-i (i = 1 to n), a table (drawing item data format table) prepared for each diagram type of the CASE tool #i is stored. In each figure item data format table, information about the data format of the corresponding diagram type of the CASE tool #i is registered for each figure item. Details of this figure item data format table will be described later with reference to FIG.

The CASE diagram drawing item type shape table file 43-i (i = 1 to n) stores a table (drawing item type shape table) prepared for each drawing item type of the CASE tool #i. In each drawing item type shape table, a plurality of display shapes commonly referred to for the corresponding drawing item type of the CASE tool #i are registered.
Details of this figure item type shape table will be described later with reference to FIG.

The intermediate data format file 44 contains each CA.
An intermediate data format for each diagram item is stored for each diagram type of SE tool (and for each diagram). Details of this intermediate data format will be described later with reference to FIG.

The CPU 1 includes a conversion instruction section 11 and an input section 1
2, the output unit 13, the diagram item table management unit 14, the data format conversion unit 15, and the message output unit 16 are provided. Each of these functional blocks is realized by the CPU 1 executing a CASE diagram conversion program.

The conversion instructing section 11 forms an interface between the display terminal 2 and the printer 3, and instructs a conversion source CASE tool and a conversion destination CASE tool in accordance with a user operation using the display terminal 2.

The input unit 12 inputs the diagram data of the conversion source CASE tool from the corresponding file of the CASE diagram data files 41-1 to 41-n.
The input unit 12 also inputs the intermediate data of the diagram data of the conversion source CASE tool from the intermediate data format file 44.

The output unit 13 converts the intermediate data generated by the data format conversion unit 15 into the intermediate data format file 4
Output to 4. Also, the output unit 13 is the data format conversion unit 1.
The CASE diagram data file 41 for converting the diagram data of the conversion destination CASE tool generated by
-It outputs to the applicable file of 41-n.

The diagram item table management unit 14 determines the conversion source CA.
The SE diagram data format and the conversion destination CASE diagram data format are managed as a table for each figure item. The figure item table management unit 14 receives a new registration or change input via the conversion instruction unit 11 in response to an input from the display terminal 2, and sends a diagram to the corresponding table in the CASE diagram diagram item data format table file 42-i. The item format registration or the figure item type shape registration to the corresponding table in the CASE diagram figure item type shape table file 43-i is performed.

The data format conversion unit 15 uses the conversion source CASE.
Converts the source CASE diagram data to the intermediate data format by referring to the diagram item data format table of the diagram, and the diagram item data format table of the destination CASE diagram and the source and destination CASE
Conversion from the intermediate data format to the conversion destination CASE diagram data is performed by referring to the diagram item type shape table of the diagram. The message output unit 16 outputs a message during data conversion and a message during abnormal conversion. Next, a CASE diagram conversion operation by the apparatus having the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described.

First, when the user needs to convert the diagram of the CASE tool, the user uses the keyboard 22 or mouse 23 of the display terminal 2 to convert the source CAS.
An input operation is performed to specify the E tool (tool type name indicating) and the diagram to be converted (diagram type name indicating). Here, the conversion source CASE tool #
It is assumed that 1 and its conversion target diagram are specified. When the above designation operation is performed, the conversion instructing unit 11
Select the specified source CASE tool # 1 and target diagram.

The input unit 12 inputs the CASE diagram data (conversion source CASE diagram data) of the conversion target diagram of the conversion source CASE tool # 1 selected by the conversion instruction unit 11 from the CASE diagram data file 41-1 and outputs the data. It is passed to the format conversion unit 15.

The data format conversion unit 15 selects the conversion source CASE tool # 1 selected by the conversion instruction unit 11 from the figure item data format table stored in the CASE diagram drawing item data format table file 42-1.
Refer to the figure item data format table for the conversion target diagram of.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the diagram item data format table for the conversion target diagram of the conversion source CASE tool # 1. In the table of FIG. 2, the conversion target diagram (type thereof) is an example of a data flow diagram.

In the figure item data format table shown in FIG. 2, for each figure item, in addition to the name and type (figure item type) of the figure item data forming the corresponding diagram (here, a data flow diagram), Figure item data format consisting of attributes such as the identification number (registration destination ID) indicating the registration destination in the figure item type shape table of the display shape that is actually used among the display shape candidates of the figure item, the relationship with other figure items And the correspondence relationship between this data format and the intermediate data format are registered.

Therefore, the data format conversion unit 15 refers to the drawing item data format table shown in FIG. 2 to describe the conversion source CASE diagram data input by the input unit 12 in the table for each drawing item. Diagram 1 according to the correspondence with the intermediate data format
Intermediate data (intermediate data format) for each sheet for each figure
Convert to.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the correspondence relationship between each diagram type of the CASE tool # 1 and the intermediate data format is stored in the CASE diagram diagram item data format table file 42-1 (the table item data). Since it is stored in the format table), by referring to the diagram item data format table specific to the conversion target diagram type of the conversion source CASE tool # 1, the conversion source CAS
E-diagram data can be converted to an intermediate data format. Further, even if the data format of the same CASE tool # 1 is changed due to the version upgrade, it is only necessary to modify this table and the program need not be modified.

FIG. 3 shows the conversion source CASE diagram data (conversion source CAS) by the above data format conversion unit 15.
An example of the conversion result to the intermediate data format for the CASE diagram data of the conversion target diagram of E tool # 1 is shown. The intermediate data format (intermediate data) shown in FIG. 3 is an example of one diagram (diagram number is DFD # 1) when the diagram type is a data flow diagram. A feature of the intermediate data format generated in this embodiment is that it has only position information (position coordinates) as drawing information necessary for drawing a diagram,
It has no information about its shape (display shape). Regarding this shape, according to the attribute of the figure item type that the intermediate data format has, the conversion source and conversion destination CASE
It is obtained by referring to the figure item type shape table in the CASE diagram figure item type shape table file 43-i for the diagram. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider that the display shapes of the conversion source and conversion destination graphic items are different.

The data format conversion unit 15 causes the conversion source CA
When the data format of the SE diagram is converted to the intermediate data format, the output unit 13 outputs the conversion result (intermediate data).
Are stored in the intermediate data format file 44 corresponding to the diagram type of the corresponding CASE tool.

The above-described conversion operation to the intermediate data format by the data format conversion section 15 and the storage operation of the intermediate data by the output section 13 are performed for each designated diagram type in units of one diagram. These operation states are sequentially displayed on the screen by the message output unit 16 as described later.

When all of the above conversion operation and storage operation are completed and the message output section 16 displays that fact on the screen, the user operates the keyboard 22 of the display terminal 2.
Alternatively, the mouse 23 is used to perform an input operation for designating (the tool type name indicating) the conversion destination CASE tool for the conversion source CASE tool # 1. Here, CA
It is assumed that the SE tool #n has been specified.

When the above designation operation is performed, the conversion instructing section 11 selects the designated conversion destination CASE tool #n. The designation operation of the conversion destination CASE tool #n may be continuously performed at the time of the designation operation of the conversion source CASE tool # 1.

When the conversion destination CASE tool #n is selected by the conversion instruction unit 11, the input unit 12 receives the conversion instruction unit 1
Source CASE tool previously selected by #
Intermediate data for one conversion target diagram, that is, converted and generated by the data format conversion unit 15 and output by the output unit 13
Then, the intermediate data of the conversion source diagram stored in the intermediate data format file 44 is sequentially input from the file 44 for each diagram, and the data format conversion unit 15
Pass to.

If an internal memory capable of storing all the intermediate data about the conversion target diagram of the conversion source CASE tool # 1 generated by the data format conversion unit 15 is provided, the intermediate data to the intermediate data format file 44 is stored. It is not necessary to store data and input intermediate data from the file 44. However, even if intermediate data is not generated each time by storing the intermediate data in the intermediate data format file 44 and extracting and using it as needed,
Convert the source CASE tool diagram to the target CASE
It becomes possible to convert into a diagram of the tool.

The data format conversion unit 15 is a CASE diagram diagram item data format table unique to the conversion destination CASE tool #n selected (instructed) by the conversion instruction unit 11 for the format of the intermediate data input by the input unit 12. Same as the figure item data format table in file 42-n
ASE diagram diagram item type shape table file 4
By referring to the figure item type shape table in 3-n and the CASE diagram figure item type shape table file 43-1 specific to the conversion source CASE tool # 1, the conversion destination for each figure item Convert to CASE diagram data.

That is, the data format conversion unit 15 refers to the figure item data format table (however, here, the CASE tool type is #n) having the same structure as that of FIG. According to the correspondence information between the diagram item data format of the diagram and the intermediate data format, the intermediate data in the format as shown in 3 is converted into the diagram data of the one figure item in the reverse direction of the conversion to the intermediate data. Convert. Regarding the display shape of the drawing item, the data format conversion unit 15 uses the conversion source CASE having the structure as shown in FIG.
The conversion is performed by referring to the drawing item type shape table for the tool # 1 and the drawing item type shape table for the conversion destination CASE tool #n having the same structure as in FIG. Details of this shape conversion will be described later.

In the message output unit 16, the data format conversion unit 15 converts one figure item at a time when converting the data format from the conversion source diagram data to the intermediate data or when converting the data format from the intermediate data to the conversion destination diagram data. The content is displayed and output on (the display 21 of) the display terminal 2 for confirmation by the user. In addition, the message output unit 16 includes a drawing item data format table for the conversion source CASE diagram, a drawing item type shape table for the conversion source CASE diagram, and a conversion destination CA.
If there is something that does not match the figure item data format table for the SE diagram or the figure item type shape table for the conversion destination CASE diagram,
A message to that effect is output to the display terminal 2 and further to the printer 3.

The figure item type shape table of the conversion source CASE tool # 1 shown in FIG. 4 is an example in the case where the figure item type is "process". The figure item type shape table as shown in FIG.
There are as many drawing item types as one of the drawing item attribute data, and one figure type is commonly referred to.

In the drawing item type shape table as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of display shapes can be managed for each drawing item type of a certain CASE tool (CASE tool # 1 in the example of FIG. 4). In the example of FIG. 4, among a plurality of display shapes, the display shape of “circle” is shown in the area where the registration destination ID (identification number indicating the registration destination) is “1”, and the square of the display area is also “2”. Similarly, the display shape of “regular hexagon” is registered in the area of display shape “3”.
In FIG. 4, the "circular" display shape is shaded. This indicates that the display item type “process” is displayed as “circle” in the conversion source CASE diagram. This information is described as a registration destination ID in the diagram item data format relating to the diagram item type “process” in the diagram item data format table specific to the conversion source diagram. Assuming that the registration destination ID in this figure item data format is "1", the display shape of "circle" registered in the corresponding registration destination in the figure item type shape table for the figure item type "process" Will be used as the display shape of the figure item type “process”.

Therefore, if the display shape of "circle" is registered in the drawing item type shape table for the drawing item type "process" of the conversion destination tool #n, the data format converting portion 15 will execute the process shown in FIG. The shape for the figure item type “process” of the intermediate data in the format as shown in (1) is (the information to be specified) is “circular” (the information to specify).

On the other hand, if the "circular" display shape is not registered in the drawing item type shape table for the drawing item type "process" of the conversion destination tool #n, that is, the display to be converted is displayed. If an unregistered shape appears in the conversion destination tool in the shape, the data format conversion unit 1
5 notifies the figure item table management unit 14 to that effect and suspends the data conversion work.

When an unregistered shape appears, that is, when the data conversion work of the data format converter 15 is temporarily stopped, there are the following two options that the user can select. The first is to interpret the display shape of the conversion source as different (change the shaded position) and convert it to another shape that is also registered in common in the corresponding drawing item type shape table of the conversion destination CASE tool. It is a policy to do. The second is a method of newly registering an unregistered shape in the drawing item type shape table of the conversion destination.

Therefore, when the data format conversion unit 15 detects that an unregistered shape appears, the message output unit 16 causes the display terminal 2 and the printer 3 to output a message to that effect. At this time, the diagram item table management unit 14 includes the diagram item type shape table shown in FIG. 4 which is unique to the corresponding diagram item type of the conversion source diagram, and the diagram item unique to the corresponding diagram item type of the conversion destination diagram. The type shape table is displayed on (the display 21 of) the display terminal 2 to prompt the user to take either the first measure or the second measure.

As a result, the user can display the display terminal 2
Is selected to select the first measure, and from the drawing item type shape table of the conversion source CASE tool # 1 shown in FIG. 4, it is also registered in the corresponding drawing item type shape table of the conversion destination CASE tool. If another specified shape (a registered shape different from the “circular” that is currently shaded) is specified, the fact is notified from the conversion instruction unit 11 to the data format conversion unit 15.
Will be notified. Then, the data format conversion unit 15 converts the shape for the corresponding drawing item type (here, “process”) of the conversion source diagram and the conversion destination diagram into the designated registered shape.

In this case, the figure item table management unit 14
Source CASE tool # 1 and destination CASE tool #n
The registration destination ID described in the diagram item data format of the corresponding diagram item data format table is rewritten to indicate the registration destination of the shape designated by the user. Further, the message output unit 16 moves the shaded position in the displayed figure item type shape table from the “circular” portion to the designated shape portion.

On the other hand, the user selects the second measure, and registers the unregistered shape "circle" in the drawing item type shape table of the conversion destination CASE tool #n having the same structure as in FIG. When the operation for doing so is performed using the display terminal 2, the data format conversion unit 15 sets the shape of the corresponding diagram item type (here, “process”) of the conversion destination diagram to “circular”.

In this case, the figure item table management unit 14
"Circle" is newly registered in the drawing item type shape table corresponding to the conversion destination CASE tool #n. Further, the drawing item table management unit 14 points the registration destination ID described in the drawing item data format of the corresponding drawing item data format table of the conversion destination CASE tool #n to the registration destination of the newly registered shape. Rewrite.

As described above, even when the conversion source CASE diagram and the conversion destination CASE diagram have different display shapes even for the same drawing item type, the display terminal 2 is used between the present apparatus and the user. Diagram selection can be easily performed by selecting interactively. Even when the display shapes are the same, but the sizes are different, the diagram conversion can be easily performed by the same handling as when the display shapes are different.

[0052]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The correspondence between the format of the figure item data and the intermediate data format that make up each diagram for various CASE tools, and the shape (display shape) for each figure item type supported by various CASE tools are managed by tables, When the conversion source CASE tool and the conversion destination CASE tool are designated, the CASE diagram data of the designated conversion source CASE tool is converted into the intermediate data format by the table reference, and further the conversion destination is converted by the table reference from the intermediate data format. Since the configuration is such that the data is converted into the CASE diagram data of the CASE tool, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the table is referred to and the data format conversion is performed in accordance with the correspondence relation (conversion rule) of the data formats described in the table, the data format conversion means (which controls the conversion procedure) It is not necessary to have a conversion rule in the program for realizing), and the conversion process can always be performed by the same procedure. In this way, since the conversion process and the conversion rule are separated, even if the conversion rule (correspondence between the data formats) is changed, it is only necessary to change the description content of the table and there is no need to rewrite the program. Therefore, maintainability is improved. (2) Even if the number of types of CASE tools increases, it is only necessary to newly prepare tables for that, and there is no need to change the program.

Further, according to the present invention, when a conversion abnormality occurs due to unregistered data, a message for prompting recovery of the abnormal state is externally output and the abnormal state indicated by the message is recovered. Since the configuration is such that new instructions and registered contents for the table are input interactively according to this instruction, if there are different display shapes for the same drawing item in the conversion source and conversion destination, , It is possible to output a message to that effect, and select whether to interactively register a new shape or convert it to another shape. It is not necessary to consider the display shape in the program, and the conversion rule is described. You don't have to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a CASE diagram conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a diagram item data format table for a CASE tool # 1 conversion target diagram stored in a CASE diagram diagram item data format table file 42-1 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a conversion result of the conversion source CASE diagram data into an intermediate data format by a data format conversion unit 15 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a conversion source CAS stored in a CASE diagram diagram item type shape table file 43-1 in FIG.
The figure which shows an example of the figure item classification shape table about the figure item classification "process" of E tool # 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 2 ... Display terminal (interaction means), 3 ...
Printer, 11 ... Conversion instruction section, 12 ... Input section, 13 ... Output section, 14 ... Diagram item table management section, 15 ... Data format conversion section, 16 ... Message output section, 41-1 to 41-n ... C
ASE diagram data file, 42-1 to 42-n ...
CASE diagram diagram item data format table file (first table storage means), 43-1 to 43-n ... CA
SE diagram diagram Item type shape table file (second table storage means), 44 ... Intermediate data format file.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. CASE (Computer Aided Softw)
are engineering) A CASE tool conversion device for converting a diagram of a tool (support tool) into a data format diagram of a conversion destination CASE tool, and a diagram item data format and an intermediate data format that form each diagram of each CASE tool. And a second table in which at least one shape is registered for each figure item type for various CASE tools. Table storage means, the first table stored in the first storage means, and the second table stored in the second storage means
Table management means for managing the table and managing the new registration and the change of the registered contents for the first table and the second table; and a conversion instruction means for instructing the conversion source CASE tool and the conversion destination CASE tool. In response to the instruction from the conversion instruction means, the CASE diagram data of the instructed conversion source CASE tool is converted into the first table corresponding to the conversion source in the first table storage means.
Is converted to an intermediate data format based on the above table, and from this intermediate data format, the first table corresponding to the conversion destination in the first table storage means and the conversion source in the second storage means, Based on the two second tables respectively corresponding to the conversion destinations, the specified conversion destination CAS
A CASE diagram conversion device comprising: a data format conversion means for generating CASE diagram data of the E tool. 2. A message output means for generating and outputting a message for prompting recovery from the abnormal state when a conversion abnormality occurs due to unregistered data in the data format conversion by the data format conversion means, and this message. Further comprising an interactive means for externally outputting the message generated and output from the output means and interactively inputting an instruction for recovering the abnormal state indicated by the message,
2. The CASE diagram conversion according to claim 1, wherein the table management means performs new registration or modification of registration contents in the first table or the second table in accordance with an instruction input by the dialogue means. apparatus.