JPH117399A - Data display method in object-oriented programs - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To provide a list of attributes of a plurality of other instances associated with a generated instance in an object-oriented program. Furthermore, in an object-oriented database, updating the database by changing the value of the output attribute list. A process 101 is a process of displaying a class list, selecting a display class and an attribute, reading a source code, displaying a list of classes existing in the read source code, and selecting a class to be displayed from the list. Then, an address-related file to be acquired in the process 102 is created. Process 102 is a process for acquiring and associating the address and value of the selected class, and acquiring the address where the instance of the class to be displayed is stored, the attribute value, and the relationship between the instances in the address-related file during the execution of the program. I do. Process 103 is a selection attribute list display process, in which attributes are displayed in a list based on the address-related file acquired in process 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer-assisted software engineering (CASE) tool for supporting object-oriented programming, and more particularly, to an attribute of a plurality of instances held in a memory and an object-oriented database. List of the attributes of a plurality of instances stored in the server and used to confirm and update data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional technique, a CASE tool is provided with applications called a debugger and a browser as means for grasping information of an instance in a memory generated by an object-oriented program. This debugger allows for instances in memory,
The browser can also refer to various information about the instance in the database. In a traditional debugger,
At the time of debugging, the source code can be traced line by line. At this time, by selecting an instance to be displayed on the source code, information such as attributes of the selected instance can be acquired. Furthermore, the browser provided in the conventional database management system obtains information in the target instance by tracking the association of the instances one by one from the entry point to the database. Further, information such as the attribute of an instance in the object-oriented database is updated by a user creating an application for updating and using the application.

[0003]

According to the prior art, it is possible to confirm information of each instance. However, what is important in object-oriented programming is the relationship between objects. In particular, if one instance is associated with multiple other instances,
In order to confirm data consistency between related instances, it is necessary to simultaneously grasp the contents of each related destination instance. In the case of an object-oriented database, a tool that can immediately correct data inconsistency is required.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a data display which can easily confirm the association between data in an object-oriented program by displaying a list of attributes of a plurality of other instances associated with one instance. It is to provide a method.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a data display method for easily updating data in an object-oriented database.

[0006]

In order to achieve the first object, a data display method according to the present invention employs, among a plurality of attributes of a plurality of classes held in a memory or an object-oriented database, Select a class and an attribute to be displayed, and an address on a memory where an instance of the selected class is generated during execution of the program, or an object I issued when stored in a database.
The position information such as D is acquired, the attribute of the instance of the selected class in the memory or the database is acquired based on the acquired position information, and the acquired instances are displayed as a list. As a result, it is possible for the user to list only the items that the user wants to check from among a plurality of classes and attributes, and to display not only the data that the instance of the class directly holds as the attributes, but also the display It is also possible for the user to specify the attributes of other instances held as attributes of the instance of the class to be performed. As a result, it is possible to efficiently confirm the contents of the instance.

[0007] To achieve the second object,
In the data display method according to the present invention, the attribute of the obtained instance on the database is updated by the user updating the attribute of the obtained instance displayed in the list. This makes it possible to easily update an instance in an object-oriented database, which has been performed in an application created by a user in the past, while checking the consistency of related data.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a method of realizing the first object of the present invention "a data display method capable of displaying a list of attributes of related instances in an object-oriented program" will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

FIG. 2 shows a computer system according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a memory for storing an instance created using the system according to the present invention. 20
Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU, which controls the system. An external storage device 203 stores a source program created by using the present invention, the address-related files, and the like. 2
Reference numeral 04 denotes an input device, which is a keyboard and a mouse used by a user to respond to the system. An output device 205 displays information to a user according to the processing of the system.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a general processing flow of a data display method in the object-oriented programming of this embodiment. Process 101 is a process of displaying a class list screen used by the user to select a class for displaying an instance, and selecting a display class and a display attribute. The source code on the source code 203 is read, and the classes existing in the source code are listed,
A class and an attribute to be displayed are selected from among them, and an address-related file for acquiring an address is created in a process 102. The process 102 is a process of acquiring the addresses and values of the instances of the selected class and acquiring the association between the instances. During program execution,
The address at which the instance of the class to be displayed is stored, the value of the attribute, and the relationship between the instances are acquired in the address-related file. Process 103 is a selection attribute list display process. A list of attributes is displayed based on the address-related file acquired in the process 102.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an object model used in the description of the embodiment, which is composed of four classes. Reference numeral 301 denotes an Item class, 302 denotes a Code class, 303 denotes a Name class, and 304 denotes a String class. Item class 301 has C as an attribute.
The code class 302 has an ID which is int as an attribute, and the code class 302 has an ID which is int as an attribute.
Has a Str that is a String class.
The ng class 304 has a rep that is char *. This relationship establishes a relationship between the classes as shown by 310. Reference numerals 305 and 306 are examples of already created instances. Reference numeral 305 denotes an instance “N1” of the class “Name”, and reference numeral 306 denotes a class “String” instance “S1”. Reference numeral 307 denotes an instance to be created later as an example.

4, FIG. 6, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, each processing of FIG. 1 will be described based on the actual example shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the process 101. 401
Is a source reading process, in which a source program created by using the present invention is read from the external storage device 203.
Reference numeral 402 denotes a class information acquisition process. Analyzes the loaded source program and obtains a list of classes and related information between classes. Reference numeral 403 denotes a class and attribute list display process. The class list and the attribute list are displayed on the output device 205. Reference numeral 404 denotes a display class and attribute selection process. From the list output to the output device 205, a class and an attribute for displaying the attribute of the instance are selected using the input device 204. Reference numeral 405 denotes an address-related file creation process. Based on the class and attribute selected in the display class selection processing 404, an address-related file for storing the value of the address and the attribute and the relation between the instances is created. Reference numeral 406 denotes an address acquisition call addition process. Behind a source statement that generates an instance of the selected class (this is type 1) and a source statement that calls the class to which the selected attribute belongs and updates the attribute (this is type 2) Then, a source statement for acquiring an address and a value on a memory is inserted, and then the source program is compiled.

Next, the class information display process 403 and the display class / attribute selection process 404 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 as a specific example and FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a class attribute screen, which is displayed on the output device 205 by a class information display process 403 and an item to be displayed is selected via the input device 204 by a display class attribute selection process 404. . FIG. 6 is an example of an address-related file that stores the addresses and values of the attributes of the instances of the class selected by the input device 204 and the relationships between the instances.

The user selects a class to be displayed from the class list in the display area 501. Here, the class “Item” of 507 is selected. When a class is selected,
The attribute list of the selected class “Item” is displayed in the display area 5
After being displayed as 02, a table 601 for class “Item” 601 is created in the address-related file (FIG. 6), and the class name “Item” is stored in the area 602. Next, the user selects the class “It” in the display area 502.
Select the attribute to be displayed from the attribute list of "em". Here, the attribute “Code * cd” of 508 is selected. When an attribute is selected, an attribute list of the class “Code” to which the selected attribute belongs is displayed as a display area 503, and an attribute name “cd” is stored in the area 603.
A table “608” for the class “Code” is created, and the class name “Code” is stored in the area 609. In the attribute list of the class “Code” in the display area 503, “int i” 509 is selected. Here, “int” represents not a class but a signed integer, and stores actual data. The attribute name “i” is stored in the area 610. Since “int” is not a class, the class “Item” which is a transition source class to the class “Code”
The attribute list 504 of “m” is displayed as the display area 204. In the display area 504, the attribute “Code *” of 510 is displayed.
Since “cd” is already selected, it is highlighted and the class “Name * nm” of 511 is selected. Next, after an attribute list of the class “Name” is displayed as the display area 505, the attribute name “nm” is stored in the area 604, and a table 605 for the class “Name” is created.
The class name “Name” is stored in the area 606. In the display area 505, the 512 attribute “String * st
r "is selected. Next, the class "String"
After the attribute list is displayed as the display area 506, 60
7, the attribute name “str” is stored, and the class “St” is stored.
A table 611 for “ring” is created, and the class name “S
"string" is stored in the area 612. Display area 5
In 06, the attribute “char * rep” of 513 is selected. Here, "char *" is not a class,
Represents a character string and stores actual data. 6
The attribute name “rep” is stored in the area 13 and the control is transferred to the class “Name” of the transition source class. The data entered in the other columns in FIG. 6 are examples of addresses and values actually stored in the process 102, and are not stored at the time of the processes 403 and 404.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show address acquisition call addition processing 4.
It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the statement added at the time of 06. When the source statement to be added in the program is generation of an instance (Type 1)
Means that the source statement to be added is an operation on an instance (type 2)
Performs the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

These processes are performed by the statement added to the source program in the process 406 during the execution of the compile program.

FIG. 7 shows the processing of a statement added to type 1. The generated instance is a display class,
If the class is selected by the attribute selection process 404 (YES in process 701), the address of the instance is stored under the class column of the table of the class in the address-related file (process 702). Further processing 404
If the association or the value is assigned to the attribute selected in (Step 703 YES), if the assignment is an association with another instance (Step 704A), the address of the associated destination instance is obtained (Step 705), and the class table The address of the instance is stored below the attribute column (step 706). In the case of assignment to a value (process 704)
B), the substituted value is obtained (process 707), and the value is stored under the attribute column of the table of the class (process 70).
8).

FIG. 8 shows the processing of a statement added to type 2. When the instance of the class selected by the attribute selection processing 404 is operated, (processing 80
1YES) The address of the instance to be operated is acquired (process 802), and a line matching the address of the instance is searched from the addresses stored in the table of the class in the address related file (process 803). Further, when the association or the value is assigned to the attribute selected in step 404 (step 804 YES), and when the assignment is the association with another instance (step 805A), the address of the related destination instance is acquired (step 806). The address is stored in the column of the attribute in the line searched by the process 803 (process 807). In the case of assignment to a value (process 80
5B), the substituted value is obtained (process 808), and the value is stored in the column (process 809).

The statement added to the type 1 and the statement added to the type 2 will be specifically described with reference to the specific examples shown in FIGS.

First, the statement to be added to the type 1 will be described.

"String" 307 "S2"
When a new instance of the class is generated, the instance of the selected class is generated (step 701YE).
S), the address on the memory where the instance was generated is stored in the blank 614 below the column of the area 612 (processing 70).
2) Since a value is substituted for the selected attribute, (Process 7
04B), the value “Yamada” is obtained, and (processing 707) area 6
The value “Yamada” is stored in the blank column 615 on the right of the column in which the address is stored below the 13th column (process 708).

Next, the statement to be added to the type 2 will be described.

An instance of the "Name" class 305 "N1" has already been generated, and the operation of changing the attribute "str" of the instance from "S1" to "S2" has been performed. In this case, (Process 801Y
ES), and obtains the address of the instance (step 80).
2) A line matching the address of “N1” is searched from the address of the instance of the “Name” class stored in the table 605 (process 803). A row in the area 650 matches this. Next, str is the selected attribute (step 804 YES), and since the attribute is related to another instance (step 805A), the address of “S2” of the related destination instance is acquired (step 806). In the field 651 on the right side of the area 650 searched in the processing 803, “S
The address of "2" is stored (process 807).

FIG. 9 shows an example of a list of the attributes of the instances for each selected class, which are output as a result of the selection attribute list display processing of 103.

This is displayed by tracing the address of the column 602 in which the storage area address of the instance of the class selected first in 501 is stored for each selected attribute.

The display method of FIG. 9 will be described with a specific example of FIG.

First, the selected class "I"
“tem” table 601 stores “I” in area 661, which is one column of column 602 in which the address of the instance is stored.
1 is read. Next, the address of “C1” in the area 662 which is the first column of the column 603 in which the address of “cd” which is the selection attribute in the class is stored is read. Next, 609 in which the address of the instance of the table 608 of the class “Code” to which “cd” belongs is stored.
Is searched for a column that matches the address of “C1”. This matches the area 664 in the first column. Furthermore, "C
The value “10” of the area 665 which is the first column of the column 610 in which the value of the selection attribute “i” in the “mode” class is stored
Read "0". This value is displayed in an area 901.

According to the method described above, when performing object-oriented programming, the contents of the instances on the memory can be displayed in a list based on the designation of the user, so that data consistency between related instances can be obtained. Confirmation and grasping are easy.

Next, a case where the present invention is applied to an object-oriented database will be described.

In this case, the "memory"
Is changed to “database” and “address” is changed to “object ID”. Object I
D means that when an instance is created in the database,
This is an ID issued by the database management system to identify the position of the instance on the database.

According to the method described above, when performing object-oriented programming and when confirming data stored in the object-oriented database, it is possible to list the contents of the instances in the database based on the designation of the user. Therefore, it is easy to confirm and grasp the data consistency between related instances.

Further, the second object of the present invention, that is, the realization of the "data display method capable of easily updating data in an object-oriented database" will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 9, and 6. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a schematic processing flow of a data display method which can easily update data in an object-oriented database. Processing 1
001, processing 1002, and processing 1003 perform the same processing as processing 101, processing 102, and processing 103, respectively. The process 1004 allows the user to update the value of the attribute displayed in the list, thereby updating the value of the changed attribute stored in the database.

The processing 1004 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

For example, if the value of the area 901 in FIG.
It is assumed that “0” has been changed to “101”. Area 901
Is output based on the area 665 in FIG. 6, the value of the changed area 901 is read, and
The value of 65 is updated to “101”. In addition, area 664
Is updated to “101” in the attribute in the database corresponding to the object ID of “C1” stored in “1”.

According to the method described above, a data display method that can easily update data in the object-oriented database can be realized.

[0041]

According to the present invention, when performing object-oriented programming, the contents of the instances in the memory and in the object-oriented database can be displayed in a list based on the designation of the user. It is easy to confirm and understand the data consistency between instances. Further, when the present invention is applied to an object-oriented database, it is possible to directly rewrite the attributes displayed in a list, so that information in the database can be easily updated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a schematic processing flow of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an object model used as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed flow of class list display, display class, and attribute selection processing according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a class attribute screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an address-related file according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a statement added to a program (type 1) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a statement added to a program (type 2) according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a selection class attribute list screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a schematic process flow of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 memory 202 CPU 204 input device
205 output device

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a program described in an object-oriented programming language, a class to be displayed or a class and an attribute to be displayed are selected, and the selected class or an instance of the selected class and the selected attribute are selected during execution of the program. A data display method for acquiring attributes of the acquired instance and displaying a list of attributes of the acquired instance. 2. A data display method in an object-oriented program according to claim 1, wherein an address on a memory at which an instance of said selected class or said selected class and said selected attribute is generated during execution of said program is obtained. And acquiring an attribute of the instance based on the income address. 3. The data display method according to claim 2, further comprising an address file for storing the obtained address. 4. A class to be displayed or classes and attributes to be displayed in an object-oriented database having class data holding information of data items to be registered in the database and instance data in which values are set for each of the class data. Is selected, and during execution of the program, an object ID issued by the database management system when an instance of the selected class is generated is acquired. Based on the acquired object ID, the selected class, or the selected class and A data display method for acquiring an instance attribute of the selected attribute and displaying the acquired instance in a list. 5. The data display method in an object-oriented database according to claim 4, wherein an attribute of the acquired instance on the database is updated by updating an attribute of the acquired instance displayed in the list. Data display method to be used. 6. A data display method in an object-oriented program according to claim 1, wherein a list of attributes of the acquired instances is displayed in a table format.