Methods and systems for identifying dependencies between object-oriented elements
AssigneeBorland Software Corporation
InventorsDietrich Charisius, Peter Coad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool that represents multiple dependencies between a dependent node and a defining node in a project as a single dependency link. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention also identify and display details regarding each dependency in a project upon request by the user.
Claims135
A method in a data processing system having a dependent node, a defining node, and a plurality of dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a graphical representation of the dependent node;
- displaying a graphical representation of the defining node;
- receiving an indication to identify a dependency between the dependent node and the defining node;
- and
- in response to receiving the indication to identify the dependency, representing the plurality of dependencies as a number of links that is less than a number of the dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node.
A method in a data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a graphical representation of the plurality of nodes;
- determining whether the code corresponding to a first of the plurality of nodes contains a first use of a second of the plurality of nodes;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.
A method in a data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;
- receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;
- determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a first use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.
A method in a data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;
- receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;
- determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, displaying the usage of the second node by the first node.
The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of displaying the second node with the second node element and with the usage to visually indicate that the first node contains the usage of the second node.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a dependent node, a defining node, and a plurality of dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a graphical representation of the dependent node;
- displaying a graphical representation of the defining node;
- receiving an indication to identify a dependency between the dependent node and the defining node;
- and
- in response to receiving the indication to identify the dependency, representing the plurality of dependencies as a number of links that is less than a number of the dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a graphical representation of the plurality of nodes;
- determining whether the code corresponding to a first of the plurality of nodes contains a first use of a second of the plurality of nodes;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;
- receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;
- determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a first use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, displaying a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes;
- receiving an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes;
- determining whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a use of the second node;
- and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, displaying the usage of the second node by the first node.
A data processing system comprising:
- a secondary storage device further comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code;
- a memory device further comprising a program that displays a graphical representation of the plurality of nodes, that
- determines whether the code corresponding to a first of the plurality of nodes contains a first use of a second of the plurality of nodes, and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, the program determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node, and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node;
- and
- a processor for running the program.
A data processing system comprising:
- a secondary storage device further comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code;
- a memory device further comprising a program that receives an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes, that
- receives an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes, that determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a first use of the second node, and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the first use of the second node, the program determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a second use of the second node, and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the second use of the second node, the program displays a dependency link between the graphical representation of the first node and the graphical representation of the second node;
- and
- a processor for running the program.
A data processing system comprising:
- a secondary storage device further comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having corresponding code;
- a memory device further comprising a program that receives an indication of a first of the plurality of nodes, that
- receives an indication of a second of the plurality of nodes, that
- determines whether the code corresponding to the first node contains a use of the second node, and
- when it is determined that the code corresponding to the first node contains the use of the second node, the program displays the usage of the second node by the first node;
- and
- a processor for running the program.
A system having a dependent node, a defining node, and a plurality of dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node, the system comprising:
- means for displaying a graphical representation of the dependent node;
- means for displaying a graphical representation of the defining node;
- means for receiving an indication to identify a dependency between the dependent node and the defining node;
- and
- means for representing the plurality of dependencies as a number of links that is less than a number of the dependencies between the dependent node and the defining node in response to receiving the indication to identify the dependency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.