JPH1139145A - Device to support programming and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize data flow with the lapse of time from the start to the end of a job application program along by arranging module tiles in which basic processing are respectively incorporated and visualized on a prescribed grid, providing connection relation and producing the job application program. SOLUTION: In a job application configuring system of this device, respective kinds of module tiles for defining basic processing contents for constituting a job application are prepared as a module palette 20, while a grid panel 30 for which grids for arranging the module tiles are set is prepared. Then, just by selecting the module tile required for the job application from the module palette 20 by the drag-and-drop operation of a mouse and arranging it on the grid panel 30, components of the job application are easily provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a program construction support apparatus for supporting construction of a business application program, and a storage medium for storing the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a business application program applied to a business computer in a company often includes basic processing steps such as data record input, data record processing, and data record output. For example, in the case of a slip issuance process, the process includes the following processing steps.

Slip data input from an input / display device such as a keyboard or CRT. Processing of data records on a memory. Update of data records to a data file. Printing of data records on an output device such as a printer. For example, in the case of the master maintenance process, it is configured by the following processing steps.

Input of search conditions from input / display device Search of data record from data file Display of data record on display device Correction of target data record Processing of data record on memory Data file Further, for example, in the case of the ledger printing process, the process is configured by the following processing steps.

Input of search conditions from an input device Search of data records from a data file Processing of data records on a memory Printing of data records on a printing device As described above, basically, a business application program In the processing step, a series of transfer processing of various data records is performed, and a task application construction tool sets the data transfer processing.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional business application construction tool, the above-mentioned various processing steps are performed in a text format, for example, C format.
Language, BASIC language, and tabular format (various database tools) to create and describe the data flow, how data is generated, how it is processed, and how it is output , The designer S
E (system engineer) was not easy to grasp.

In recent years, in order to make it easier to grasp the flow of data, a business application construction tool that visually modularizes files, screens, data processing, and the like, and expresses the connection between the modules by connecting lines has been developed. However, many of these construction tools simply represent the flow of data, and accurately grasp the definition of data records, which are interfaces between modules, and the contents of data that changes over time. It was not easy.

In particular, in such a business application construction tool in which the flow of data is visually represented,
In many cases, the relationship with the execution program that actually executes the business application is not tight, and in many cases, test execution and debugging in module units cannot be performed easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a business application program by arranging module tiles obtained by modularizing and visualizing the basic processing on a predetermined grid and setting a connection relationship so that a business application program can be constructed. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to grasp the flow of data from the start to the end of a program over time.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Storage means for storing a plurality of program modules constituting data processing, module tile storage means for storing a plurality of module tiles representing each program module stored in the storage means, and storage means for storing in the module tile storage means Means for arranging the module tiles in accordance with the instructions on the display screen, and a program module stored in the storage means based on the arrangement state of the module tiles arranged by the arranging means. Program construction means for constructing a program.

According to the program construction support apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of program modules constituting data processing are stored in the storage means, and the plurality of program modules representing each program module stored in the storage means are stored. When the module tile is stored in the module tile storage means, and the module tile stored in the module tile storage means is arranged by the arrangement means in accordance with an instruction on the display screen, based on the arrangement state of the arranged module tile, The program construction means constructs a series of data processing programs by combining the program modules stored in the storage means.

Therefore, it is possible to easily construct the components of the business application.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer-executable program, wherein a plurality of module tiles representing a plurality of program modules constituting data processing are arranged on a display screen. Based on the program code executable by the computer and the arrangement state of the arranged module tiles,
A computer-executable program code for constructing a series of data processing programs by reading and combining a plurality of the program modules from a storage unit is stored.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, a computer-executable program code for arranging a plurality of module tiles representing a plurality of program modules constituting data processing on a display screen is provided. A computer-executable program code for reading a plurality of the program modules from the storage unit and combining them based on the arrangement state of the arranged module tiles to construct a series of data processing programs. Store.

Therefore, it is possible to execute a program for easily constructing the components of the business application on the computer.

In this case, as in the third aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the second aspect, a computer-executable program code for defining input / output data in each of the arranged module tiles is provided. ,
A computer-executable program code for defining data processing contents in each of the arranged module tiles, input / output data defined in each of the module tiles, and data processing contents It is effective to store a program further including a computer-executable program code for determining the data consistency.

According to the storage medium of the third aspect of the present invention, a computer-executable program code for defining input / output data in each of the arranged module tiles, and a program code in each of the arranged module tiles A computer-executable program code for defining data processing content, input / output data defined in each module tile, and data processing content are used to determine data consistency between the modules. And a computer-executable program code for storing the program.

Therefore, the outline of the entire processing of the business application, the definition of input / output data records serving as interfaces between module tiles, and the setting of various definition contents for hierarchically designing the processing contents for individual data records are required. It becomes possible with simple operation,
The designer can easily grasp the whole image such as the flow of data between the module tiles constituting the business application.

Also, as in the invention described in claim 4,
4. The storage medium according to claim 3, wherein when defining input / output data in each of the arranged module tiles,
Stores a program further including computer-executable program code for matching output data defined in a previously arranged module tile with input data defined in a module tile placed after this module tile. It is effective to do.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, when defining the input / output data in each of the arranged module tiles, the output data defined by the previously arranged module tile and the A program that further includes computer-executable program code for matching input data defined in a module tile arranged after the module tile is stored.

Therefore, it is possible to define the processing definition of each module tile from the start to the end of the processing in the order of the data record processing, and to easily obtain consistency of data processed between the module tiles. Becomes possible.

Also, as in the invention described in claim 5,
5. The storage medium according to claim 2, wherein, when the module tile is arranged, when a module tile indicating a branching process is arranged, a setting screen for setting the branch condition is displayed, and the branch condition is set. A connection line corresponding to the set branch condition is displayed between a computer-executable program code for setting and a module tile arranged before and after the branch processing module tile for display. Based on a computer-executable program code and a branch condition set in the branch processing module tile, a plurality of the program modules are read from a storage unit and combined to construct a data processing program including a series of branch processing. Computer-executable program code. It is effective to store the ram.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, when a module tile indicating a branching process is arranged at the time of arranging the module tile, a setting screen for setting the branch condition is displayed. Connecting a connection line according to the set branch condition between a computer-executable program code for setting a branch condition and module tiles arranged before and after the branch processing module tile. A data processing program including a series of branch processing by reading and combining a plurality of the program modules from storage means based on a program code executable by a computer for displaying and a branch condition set in the branch processing module tile Computer-executable program code for causing To store the free program.

Therefore, even when a designer of a business application designs a business application having a conditional branch, the development can be performed while grasping the entire image.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer-executable program, wherein a pallet including a plurality of types of processing tiles representing various data processing programs constituted by a plurality of program modules is provided. A computer-executable program code for displaying and a computer-executable program code for selecting and arranging a plurality of types of processing tiles displayed on this palette on a display screen by dragging and dropping. A computer-executable program code for reading the plurality of module tiles corresponding to the processing tiles selected and arranged on the display screen from module tile storage means and developing and displaying the module tiles on the display screen; Module stored in storage means Yl in accordance with an instruction on the display screen,
A computer-executable program code for inserting and arranging between the expanded module tiles, and according to the insertion position of the inserted and arranged module tile, move and arrange the module tiles before and after the insertion position, And a computer-executable program code for reading and combining the program modules from the storage means to construct a series of data processing programs based on the arrangement state of the module tiles. I have.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, a computer for displaying a palette including a plurality of kinds of processing tiles representing various data processing programs constituted by a plurality of program modules can be executed. A program code, a program code executable by a computer for selecting and arranging a plurality of types of processing tiles displayed on this palette on a display screen by a drag operation and a drop operation, and a program code which is selected and arranged on the display screen. A computer-executable program code for reading the plurality of module tiles corresponding to the processed tiles from the module tile storage unit and displaying the module tiles on the display screen, and a module tile stored in the module tile storage unit. According to the instruction on the display screen, A computer-executable program code for inserting and placing the inserted module tiles, and moving and arranging the module tiles before and after the insertion position according to the insertion position of the inserted module tile, And a computer-executable program code for reading and combining the program modules from the storage unit based on the arrangement state of the tiles to construct a series of data processing programs.

Therefore, it is possible to construct a component of a target business application simply by selecting a required processing tile on a pallet in which a plurality of processing tiles are set, and inserting and arranging a required module tile. The amount of setting work when building an application can be reduced.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 10 are diagrams showing an application construction system according to a first embodiment to which a program construction support device and a storage medium according to the present invention are applied.

First, the configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of an application construction system 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, an application construction system 1 is configured as a computer system, and when viewed in terms of functions of software to be executed and hardware used, an application construction device 2, an input device 3, a display device 4, a memory 5, a search, and the like. It comprises a processing detailed setting editor 6, a printing processing detailed setting editor 7, other detailed setting editors 8, a hard disk 9, and an application execution device 10.

The application construction apparatus 2 comprises a CPU (not shown) and software executed by the CPU. This software functionally includes an interface unit 2a, a display engine unit 2b, a module management unit 2c, and a grid management unit 2d. , A module management information generating unit 2e, a module information reading unit 2f, an application specification generating unit 2g, and a specification writing unit 2h.

The interface unit 2a converts various key input signals and mouse operation signals input from the input device 3 into predetermined signal formats and outputs them as various input data to the display engine unit 2b and the like. Is output to each unit in the application construction apparatus 2 as necessary. The interface unit 2a converts display data input from the display engine unit 2b into a predetermined display signal and outputs the signal to the display device 4.

The display engine unit 2b generates display data from input data input from the interface unit 2a and processing data input from each unit, and outputs the display data to the interface unit 2a. Further, the display engine unit 2b generates grid display data based on the contents of the grid management information input from the grid management unit 2d and outputs the data to the interface unit 2a.

The module management section 2c manages the module management information, deletes and corrects the module management information stored in the memory 5, and performs a search processing detailed setting editor 6 for detailed setting of module contents. The print processing detailed setting editor 7 or other detailed setting editor 8 is started.

The grid management unit 2d manages grid management information, and moves, deletes, rearranges, etc., module tiles in the grid management information (information for managing a series of module tiles in the business application) stored in the memory 5. Execute the processing of

The module management information generation unit 2e requests the module information reading unit 2f to read out desired module specification information, and sends the module specification information read from the module specification file 9a in the hard disk 9 by the module information reading unit 2f to the module. The information is converted into management information (information for managing the module tile configuration for each business application), generated, and stored in the memory 5.

The module information reading section 2f reads module specification information (detailed information on module tiles) from the module specification file 9a in the hard disk 9 in response to a module specification information reading request input from the module management information generation section 2e. It is read and transferred to the module management information generation unit 2e.

The application specification generation unit 2g
A process for converting grid management information stored in the memory 5 into application specification information is executed, and a process for automatically setting an interface (connection information) between modules is executed.

The specification writing unit 2h executes a process of writing the application specification information converted and generated by the application specification generation unit 2g to the application specification file 9b in the hard disk 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the memory 5 stores grid management information managed by the grid management unit 2d and module management information generated by the module management information generation unit 2e in a grid management information file 5a.
Is stored in the module management information file 5b. FIG. 2 shows an example of grid management information and module management information stored in the memory 5. In FIG. 2, the grid management information is information for managing a series of module tiles (including a start point and an end point module tile) in the business application, and the module management information indicates the module tile configuration of the business application in the grid management information. Is information to be managed. The detailed information of each tile in the grid management information is linked to the module tile information shown in FIG.

The module tile information shown in FIG. 3 includes "position" indicating the grid position where the module tile is arranged, "size" indicating the size of the module tile, and "type" indicating the type of the module tile. "," Selection information "indicating selection button information for selecting the module tile, and" detailed information "indicating icon information for each type for visualizing the processing function of the module tile. Have been.

The search processing detailed setting editor 6 is an editor for describing detailed search condition settings for causing the application execution device 10 to execute search processing as module processing corresponding to various business applications based on application specifications. .

The print processing detailed setting editor 7 is an editor for describing detailed print condition settings for causing the application execution device 10 to execute print processing as module processing corresponding to various business applications based on application specifications. .

The other detailed setting editor 8 is an editor for describing detailed processing condition settings for causing the application execution device 10 to execute other processing as module processing corresponding to various business applications based on application specifications. is there.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hard disk 9 has the module specification information (detailed information on various basic module tiles for constructing the business application) related to the module tile prepared in advance for building the business application. Is stored, and an application specification file 9b storing a plurality of application specification information (detailed information of various module tiles constituting various business applications) written by the specification writing unit 2h is stored.

As shown in FIG. 1, the application execution device 10 includes a specification reading unit 10a, a specification interpretation unit 10b, a search processing module 10c, a print processing module 10d, and other modules 10e.

The specification reading section 10a reads the application specification information stored in the application specification file 9b in the hard disk 9, and transfers it to the specification analysis section 10b. The spec analysis unit 10b
The application specification information transferred from the specification reading unit 10a is analyzed, that is, detailed information of a module related to the business application is analyzed, and a search processing module 10c and a print processing module 10b are performed as various module processes based on the module detailed information. ,
Alternatively, the other modules 10e instruct and execute necessary processes.

The search processing module 10c executes a search process instructed by the result of analyzing the detailed information of the module relating to the business application in the specification analysis unit 10,
It is executed in accordance with the search processing setting conditions set by the search processing detailed setting editor 6.

The print processing module 10b executes the print processing indicated by the analysis result of the detailed information of the module relating to the business application in the specification analysis unit 10,
It is executed in accordance with the print processing setting conditions set by the print processing detailed setting editor 7.

The other module 10c performs other processing instructed by the analysis result of the detailed information of the module relating to the business application in the specification analysis unit 10 by using the other processing setting conditions set by the other detailed setting editor 8. Execute according to.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

First, a process of creating a business application executed by the application building device 2 in the business application building system 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In the process of creating a business application according to the first embodiment, a case in which a slip issuing business application is created will be described.

When the application building apparatus 2 starts the process of creating the business application shown in FIG. 4, first, it corresponds to all the module specification information (including the start and end module tiles) stored in the module specification file 9a in the hard disk 9. A module tile pallet for displaying icons to be displayed in a panel shape and a grid panel on which a grid (lattice) for arranging the module tiles are set are displayed as initial screens shown in FIG. It is displayed on the display device 4 (step S1).

In the initial screen shown in FIG.
As the icons of the module tiles displayed on the module palette 20, the icon on the top left in the figure is a module tile indicating "processing start", and the icon on the right is a module tile indicating "processing end", and the icon on the second left is The module tile whose icon indicates “update processing”, the icon on the right side indicates “search processing”, the third icon on the left side indicates “data processing processing”, and the icon on the right side indicates “conditional branch”. The module tile indicating “processing” is the module tile indicating the “input processing”, and the icon on the left side of the fourth row is the module tile indicating “printing processing”.

In the initial screen shown in FIG. 5A, a grid (grid) for arranging icons of the module tiles displayed on the module palette 20 is displayed on the grid panel 30. Is "Start processing"
The module tile icon and the “processing completed” module tile icon are displayed from the beginning. The display area formed by the vertical grid lines and the horizontal grid lines set on the grid panel 30 is:
The module tile icon has the same size as the module tile icon, and the module tile icon can be arranged only in the display area surrounded by the grid line, and cannot be arranged at any other place (on the grid line and at the grid line intersection). .

Next, a process of selecting and inserting a module tile in accordance with a mouse click and drag operation on the input device 3 is executed (step S2). That is, the module processing (input processing from the input device 3 in the case of the first embodiment) necessary for the data record processing in the business application is selected on the module palette 20 and the start / end module tile on the grid panel 30 is selected. Insert and place between icons. For this reason, a desired module tile icon is selected from the module palette 20 by a mouse click operation, and the selected module tile icon is dragged with a mouse to “process start” module tile icon of the grid panel 30 and “process end” Perform the operation to insert between the module tile icon.

The details of the module tile icon selection and insertion process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the process for selecting and inserting a module tile icon shown in FIG. 6, first, it is waited for a module tile icon to be selected in the module palette 20 shown in FIG. 5A (step S21). Is selected, the selected state is moved to the grid panel 30 by a mouse drag operation (step S22), and it is confirmed that the mouse is dropped at a predetermined position on the grid panel 30 by a mouse drop operation (step S22). S23), the position of the dropped tile on the grid panel 30 is confirmed (step S24).

Then, it is confirmed whether or not the confirmed tile position is located between the “processing start” module tile icon and the “processing end” module tile icon on the grid panel 30 (step S25). That is, from the initial screen state of FIG. 5A, as shown in FIG.
When the "search from file" module tile icon is selected in the module palette 20, the display color of the module tile icon is changed and displayed to indicate that it has been selected. Then, when it is confirmed that the module tile icon is disposed between the “processing start” module tile icon and the “processing end” module tile icon by the drag operation and the drop, FIG. 5 (c) ), The respective positions of the “processing start” module tile icon and the “processing end” module tile icon are automatically shifted and rearranged and displayed (step S26), and the selective insertion processing of this module tile icon is performed. finish.

If the selected module tile icon is not arranged between the “processing start” module tile icon and the “processing end” module tile icon, the module tile icon is not rearranged and displayed. It is left invalid (step S27), and the module tile icon selection and insertion process ends.

Therefore, in the selection and insertion operation of the module tile icon, it is not necessary to explicitly expand between the start and end module tile icons, and the selection is made so as to straddle between the start module tile icon and the end module tile icon. By arranging the module tile icons, insertion and arrangement of the module tile icons automatically arranged by the grid panel 30 are performed.

The outline of the slip issuing business application is formed by repeatedly executing the above-described process of selecting and inserting the module tile icon.

After the outline of the slip issuing business application is formed, the process returns to step S3 in FIG. 4 again, and a name is set to the module tile icon arranged on the grid panel 30. For example, as shown in FIG. The component of the module tile indicating the issuance of the slip arranged on the grid panel 30 (“processing start” +
For "input processing" + "update processing" + "print processing" + "processing end"), the property sheet of the sub-window type module (condition setting sheet for module tile)
40 is displayed, and the name is set while grasping the entire configuration on the grid. The name setting screen of FIG. 7 shows a case where the module tile icon “input processing” on the grid panel 30 is selected and “input processing 1” is input in the name frame in the property sheet 40. However,
In this name setting process, the “process start” and “process end” module tiles among the module tile icons arranged on the grid panel 30 are not targeted for name setting.

The name information set in the module tile is stored in the module management information file in the memory 5 as module management information in the slip issuing application by the module management information generation unit 2e.

In the above-mentioned name setting process, if it is not necessary to explicitly set a name, the default name is set in advance for the module tile icon by default, so that the default name is used as it is. You may.

Next, a data record as an input / output interface between module tiles is defined (step S4). The definition of this data record is the name of each module tile, the data record itself processed between the module tiles, and the data record included in the slip issuing business application visualized by the series of module tile icons. Is to define the name of the item (including the data record format if necessary). That is, the grid panel 3 in FIG.
In the module tile component of the vote issuance application arranged at 0, it is necessary to define the same data record between the module tiles.

In order to define data records that are not displayed and hidden between module tiles in the module tile component of the slip issuing application arranged on the grid panel 30 shown in FIG. The data record definition screen is displayed on the display device 4.

First, as shown in FIG. 8A, the adjacent module tiles “input processing 1” and “update processing” are selected. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the data record definition screen 50 in the sub-window format is displayed on the grid panel 3.
0, and “Input data 1” is input in the name box on the screen, and a record item is selected from the record item list, so that the module tiles “Input process 1” and “Update process” are displayed. The data records to be processed between them are defined with the same name and the same contents.

By repeating this data record definition process, the definition of data records input and output between module tiles is completed.

Although the definition of the data record differs depending on each module tile, the process of outputting the output data record by referring to the item of the input data record is common to each module tile. Can automatically process the definition of a data record.

Details of the automatic definition processing of the data record in the module tile will be described with reference to the flowchart of the input / output I / F automatic setting processing shown in FIG.

First, in the module tile component of the slip issuing application arranged on the grid panel 30 in FIG. 7, the module management information of the module tile “input processing 1” is transmitted to the module management information in the memory 5 by the module management unit 2c. It is acquired from a file (step S51), and it is checked whether or not an input data record is defined in each of the acquired module management information (step S52). If an input data record has been defined, it is checked whether or not the definition is the same as the output data record defined in the previous module tile (step S53).

If the input data record is not defined in step S52, the definition of the input data record is automatically set in accordance with the definition of the output data record defined in the immediately preceding module tile. (Step S58), and the process proceeds to step S55.

If the input data record does not have the same definition as the output data record defined in the previous module tile, the display engine unit 2b and the input interface unit 2a display warning information on the display device 4. (Step S54), the user is notified that the definition of the input data record is incorrect, and the user is prompted to correct the definition. After displaying this warning information, or if the input data record has the same definition as the output data record defined in the previous module tile, the process proceeds to step S55, and the module tile “input processing 1”
Check whether the output data record is defined in the module management information of the above.

If the output data record is not defined, the definition of the output data record is automatically set according to the definition of the input data record (step S).
56). After setting the definition of this output data record, or if the output data record is defined,
In the module tile component of the slip issuing application arranged on the grid panel 30 in FIG. 7, it is confirmed whether or not the module tile next to the module tile “input processing 1” is arranged (step S5).
7) Since “update processing” is arranged as the next module tile on the grid panel 30 in FIG. 7, the processing returns to step S51, and the input data record and output of the module tile “update processing” are output. Repeat the setting process of each definition of data record.

Then, the above steps S51 to S
By repeatedly executing the processing of step 58, the processing of setting the definition of each input data record and output data record of the next module tile "print processing" constituting the slip issuing application is repeatedly executed, and the grid shown in FIG. When it is confirmed that the next module tile is not arranged in the module tile component of the slip issuing application arranged on the panel 30, the input / output I / F automatic setting process is terminated.

When the above-described input / output I / F automatic setting processing is executed to complete the setting of the definition contents of the input / output data record in each module tile constituting the slip issuing application arranged on the grid panel 30, In order to define a process for a data record in each module tile, a data record process definition screen 60 in a sub-window format as shown in FIG.
To be displayed.

The definition of the processing for this data record differs for each module tile, but the basic processing is to perform a predetermined processing with reference to the item contents set in the input data record and output the output data record. The processing is common.

The data record processing definition screen 60 of FIG.
In the processing definition frame for the input data record, the input data name area to be defined and the input data record item list area are displayed, and in the processing definition frame for the output data record, the output data name area to be defined And a data record processing area and an output data record item list area. Then, for the input data record “input data 1” to be defined, an item to be referred to as an input data record is selected from the input data record item list, and the output data record “output data 1” to be defined is selected. Select the item to be referred to as the output data record from the output data record item list, describe the appropriate processing content in the data record processing area, and use the processing result to output the item output as the output data record item Select from the list.

In the data record processing definition screen 60, by defining the processing contents for the data record in each module tile constituting the slip issuing business application arranged on the grid panel 30, the definition of the data record for each module tile is defined. The processing content is defined corresponding to the content. The data record processing definition information defined for each module tile is stored by the module management information generation unit 2e in the module management information file in the memory 5 in association with the slip issuing business application.

As described above, in the business application construction system 1 according to the first embodiment, various module tiles defining the basic processing contents constituting the business application are prepared in advance as the module pallet 20 and the module pallet 20 is prepared. A grid panel 30 in which a grid (lattice) for arranging tiles is set is prepared in advance, and module tiles required for the business application are selected from the module palette 20 by dragging and dropping a mouse and arranged on the grid panel 30 only.
The components of the business application can be easily constructed.

Further, the outline of the overall processing of the business application, the definition of input / output data records serving as interfaces between module tiles, and the setting of various definition contents for hierarchically designing the processing contents for each data record Is made possible by a simple operation on various definition screens prepared in advance, so that the designer can easily grasp the entire image of the flow of data between the module tiles constituting the business application.

In the first embodiment, the definition of the data record and the definition of the data record processing in the module tile are set on separate definition screens.
First, the process definition of the data record of each module tile could not be defined unless the definition of all data records was completed. However, these definition processes are described as "the output of the first module tile in two adjacent module tiles. In accordance with the rule that the second module tile refers to the data record that has been input as an input data record ", the first module tile simultaneously defines the output data record and the processing on the output data record, and defines the output data record as the second data tile. If the setting is made with reference to the second module tile, the processing definition of each module tile from the start to the end of the processing can be defined in the order of the data record processing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11A, the data record processing definition screen 70 for the module tile “input processing 1” is displayed as the first module tile, and the output data in the data record processing definition screen 70 is displayed. In the processing definition frame for the record, select an item to be referenced as an output data record from the output data record item list area, and in the output data processing area corresponding to the definition of the output data record item, output data record processing Define the content at the same time.

Then, referring to the output data record item defined by the first module tile, the data record definition of the module tile “update processing 2”, which is the second module tile shown in FIG. Screen 7
In the processing definition frame for the input data record in 0,
“Output data 1” is input as the input data record name to be defined.

In the first embodiment, the name of the data record is set so that the designer of the business application is unique within the module tile component. The names of the module tiles existing in the component are all unique within the component ", and the output data record name is automatically set as the module tile name in advance, thereby omitting the setting of the name of each data record. It becomes possible.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The output data record name “slip input 1” of the first module tile “slip input 1” is referred to in the second module tile “update processing 1”, set as the input data record name, and the output data record is set. The data record name can be automatically set in each module tile so that the name "update processing 1" is referred to in the third module tile "print processing 1" and set as the input data record name.

Further, in the first embodiment, since the effective range or existing range of the data record output from each module tile during the processing of the business application is not clear, the execution of this business application is not clear. It is necessary to keep all the data records defined for the output record until all the processes of the business application are completed.

In order to clarify the effective range or existence range of this data record, for example, a property sheet for setting the name on the module tile icon shown in FIG. The option of "Delete input data record" is added. If this option is selected, the effective range / existence range of the data record is changed to "The data record is generated (that is, the module tile to be generated). Until the output of the process is completed '', it is possible to clear the contents of the input data record when the process of the module tile itself is completed. It is possible to execute business application processing without wasting.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the figure shows the state of generation (○) and disappearance (●) of a data record when the effective range and existence range of the data record are not set. The data record generated at the time of input of the module tile “slip input 1” is the last module tile even though it is no longer necessary when the process of the next module tile “update processing 1” is completed. The process exists until the process of “print process 1” is completed, and a portion indicated by a thick line in the drawing is useless. The figure shows the data record generation (O) and disappearance (●) when the valid range and the existence range of the data record are set, and is generated when the module tile “slip input 1” is input. The data record that has been deleted has disappeared when the processing of the next module tile “update processing 1” is completed, so that resources are not wasted.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 14 to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an application construction system according to a second embodiment to which a program construction support device and a storage medium of the present invention are applied. Note that the configuration of the application construction system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the application construction system 1 shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, so that illustration and description thereof are omitted.

In the first embodiment, the case where the business application is constructed by simply connecting the module tiles has been described. However, when the business application is constructed, it is necessary to branch the processing by a conditional expression. There can be. In the application construction system 1 according to the second embodiment, a case will be described in which a business application that branches processing according to this conditional expression is constructed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a conditional branch module insertion process executed by the application construction system 1 according to the second embodiment. In the module tile configuration arranged on the grid panel 30 shown in FIG. 14, the charity in which the module tile “conditional branch processing” is inserted and arranged between the module tile “input processing” and the two module tiles “update processing” is used. Is shown.
A conditional expression is stored in the module tile “conditional branch processing”, and two module tiles “update processing” branched by the conditional expression of the module tile “conditional branch processing” are connected by a connection line and two module tiles "Update processing" and module tile "processing end" are also connected by connection lines.

The processing for inserting and arranging the module tile “conditional branch processing” as shown in FIG. 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

First, as shown in FIG. 15A, between the module tile “input processing” and the module tile “processing end”, the module tile “conditional branch processing” is performed by dragging and dropping with the mouse on the input device 3. Is inserted, the property sheet shown in FIG. 4B for setting the conditional expression of the module tile “conditional branch processing” is displayed on the display device 4.

In this property sheet, when the number of conditional branches and the corresponding conditional expression are set, connection lines for the set number of branches are displayed as shown in FIG. In the property sheet shown in FIG. 7B, “2” is set as the number of branches, and “conditional expression 1” and “conditional expression 2” are set as conditional expressions corresponding to the number of branches. Then, two connection lines are displayed between the module tile “conditional branch processing” and the module tile “processing end” on the grid panel 30 shown in FIG. ing.

Here, items that can be described as conditional expressions are conditional branch modules among output data records output from module tiles set before the conditional branch module (that is, on the left side of the conditional branch module on the grid). Are valid data record items and global variables.

After the detailed setting of the conditional branch is completed by the processing up to FIG. 15C, as shown in FIG. 16A, the module tile “update processing 1” for performing the processing after the branch is set to “update processing 1”.
When inserted and placed between the module tile “conditional branch processing” and the module tile “processing end”, the arrangement of each module tile before and after the module tile “update processing 1” is interposed as shown in FIG. While being moved and automatically placed in the grid, the connection lines for branching are also displayed. The connection lines connecting the module tile “conditional branching process” to the module tile “processing end” and the module tile “update process” The connection line is automatically changed from "1" to the connection line connecting to the module tile "processing end".

Finally, the module tile “update processing 2” is inserted between the module tile “conditional branch processing” and the module tile “processing end” as shown in FIG. Is completed.

As described above, in the business application construction system 1 according to the second embodiment, when inserting and arranging the module tile “conditional branch processing” for setting the conditional expression constituting the business application, the property sheet Allows the setting of the conditional expression, and automatically displays the connection lines between the module tiles before and after the module tile "conditional branch processing" is inserted and placed. Even when designing a business application having a branch, the development can be performed while grasping the entire picture.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining an application construction system according to a third embodiment to which the program construction support device and the storage medium of the present invention are applied. Note that the configuration of the application construction system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the application construction system 1 shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, so that illustration and description thereof are omitted.

In the application construction system 1 according to the third embodiment, the module tiles arranged on the grid panel 30 during the construction of the business application in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The case where various types of information are displayed will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a state in which various information on the module tile designated by the mouse cursor is displayed on the module tile arranged on the grid panel 30 during the construction of the business application. ) Shows the case where various information is displayed for the module tile “search processing”, and FIG. 12B shows the case where various information is displayed for the module tile “conditional branch processing”.

The user operation for displaying each information of this module tile includes, for example, a mouse cursor being moved over a corresponding module tile for a certain period of time (50 minutes).
When the display is stopped (about 0 ms), an information display window in the subwindow format of the module tile is displayed.

First, in FIG. 17A, among the module tile components constituting the business application arranged on the grid panel 30, the mouse cursor is stopped for a certain time on the module tile "search processing". The module management information for the tile “search process” is read from the module management information file 5b in the memory 5 by the module management unit 2c and output to the display engine unit 2b.
b, an information display window in a sub-window format is displayed at a predetermined position on the grid panel 30 displayed on the display device 4 via the interface unit 2a.

In the information display window for this module tile “search process”, “name: ledger search”, “comment: search for a customer with a specified name from ledger”, “input: ledger search input”, “output: ledger” This shows a state where information such as "search output" is displayed.

In FIG. 13B, the grid panel 3
Since the mouse cursor is stopped for a certain period of time on the module tile “conditional branch processing” among the module tile components constituting the business application arranged on the “0”, the module management information for the module tile “conditional branch processing” is The management unit 2c reads out the module management information file 5b in the memory 5 and outputs the module management information file 5b to the display engine unit 2b. The display engine unit 2b displays the information on the display panel 4 via the interface unit 2a on the grid panel 30. An information display window in a subwindow format is displayed at a predetermined position.

In the information display window for this module tile “condition branch processing”, “minute odd number: 3”, “condition 1: customer number <100”, and “condition 2: customer number <
500 "," Condition 3: "and the like are displayed.

As described above, in the business application construction system 1 according to the third embodiment, when the mouse cursor stops on the module tile arranged on the grid panel 30 for a certain period of time, various kinds of information corresponding to the module tile are displayed. Since the information display window for displaying information is automatically displayed, various types of information relating to the module tile can be confirmed without opening a property sheet or a definition screen.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an application construction system according to a fourth embodiment to which the program construction support device and the storage medium of the present invention are applied. Note that the configuration of the application construction system according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the application construction system 1 shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, so that illustration and description thereof are omitted.

In the application construction system 1 according to the fourth embodiment, a case will be described in which a business application is constructed using a wizard dialog (an application construction screen with a guidance function).

When creating a business application,
In most cases, the arrangement and connection method of module tiles are determined in advance, such as "slip search processing", "slip registration processing", and "form output processing", and it is not possible to build applications other than the determined tasks. It is rare.

In the fourth embodiment, a plurality of frequently used business application components (for which the arrangement of necessary module tiles is determined) are prepared in advance as templates, and when a new business application is designed, the components are prepared. It is possible to select such a template from the prepared templates and define various detailed processes on the component.

The process of creating a business application using a wizard dialog in which a template of the business application component is set will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at the time of creating a business application, a sub-window type wizard dialog 80 shown in FIG. In this wizard dialog, a template of “cooperation procedure” is displayed as a template indicating a component of the business application. In this template, “slip issue (S)” and “slip search” as business applications belonging to “cooperation procedure” (U) "," Form printing (N) "
Are displayed in a selectable manner, and "issue slip (S)" is selected.

The template component of the business application corresponding to the selected “issue slip (S)” is developed on the grid panel 30 as shown in FIG. Note that a unique name within the component is set in advance in the module tile of the developed template component, and no inconsistency occurs.

Then, based on the developed template component, when the insertion and placement of a required module tile is instructed as shown in FIG. 14C, the module tiles placed before and after the insertion position are changed. By moving back and forth, the placement of the entire component is automatically adjusted on the grid. By performing the data record definition and the process definition for the module tile of this component by the setting method described in the first and second embodiments, the component of the target business application is constructed.

As described above, in the business application construction system 1 according to the fourth embodiment, when a new business application is constructed, a plurality of frequently used template components prepared in advance are displayed on the wizard dialog. , It is possible to construct a component of a target business application only by selecting a necessary template component and defining a detailed portion, and it is possible to reduce the amount of setting work of a designer when constructing a business application.

In the fourth embodiment, the module tile is developed on the grid panel 30 by selecting only the type of the target template component.
Further detailed information can be set in the wizard dialog (for example, file name to be searched for file search, file name to be updated for file update, etc.), so that the work of detailed definition later can be further reduced. Can be.

In the fourth embodiment, the types of target template components are only prepared in advance. However, components with high use frequency and accuracy created by the designer are registered in the template components. By making it possible, the reuse efficiency of the component can be improved.

[0122]

According to the program construction support apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily construct the components of the business application.

According to the storage medium of the second aspect,
A program for easily constructing components of a business application can be executed by a computer.

According to the storage medium of the third aspect of the present invention,
The outline of the overall processing of the business application, the definition of input / output data records that serve as an interface between module tiles, and the setting of various definitions for hierarchically designing the processing contents for individual data records are possible with simple operations Thus, the designer can easily grasp the entire image such as the flow of data between the module tiles constituting the business application.

According to the storage medium of the fourth aspect of the present invention,
The processing definition of each module tile from the start to the end of the processing can be defined in the order of the data record processing, and the consistency of the data processed between the module tiles can be easily obtained.

According to the storage medium of the invention described in claim 5,
When a designer of a business application designs a business application in which a conditional branch exists, the development can proceed while grasping the entire image.

According to the storage medium of the invention described in claim 6,
It is possible to build the components of the target business application simply by selecting the required processing tiles on the pallet where multiple processing tiles are set and inserting and arranging the required module tiles. The amount of work can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a business application construction system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing each information structure of grid management information and module management information stored in a memory 5 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of module tile information linked to the grid management information of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of creating a business application executed by the application construction apparatus 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display device 4 in FIG. 1 in the process of creating the business application in FIG. 4;
(A) is a diagram illustrating an initial screen, (b) is a diagram illustrating a selection and arrangement screen of module tile icons, and (c) is a diagram illustrating a completion screen of arrangement of module tile icons.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting and inserting a module tile performed in the process of creating the business application in FIG. 4;

7 is a diagram showing a screen displaying a property sheet for setting a name to a module tile icon arranged on the grid panel 30 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen for defining a data record in a module tile configuration for issuing a slip;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a module tile selection screen, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a data record definition screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an input / output I / F automatic setting process executed by the application construction device 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for defining a data record process of a module tile in the process of creating the business application in FIG. 4;

11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a module tile process definition screen for simultaneously performing a data record item definition and a process definition between module tiles, and FIG. 11A illustrates a module tile process definition screen of a first module tile; ,
(B) is a figure which shows the module tile process definition screen of a 2nd module tile.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state of automatic setting of an input / output data record name in a module tile.

13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a case where an effective range / existing range is set in a data record; FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a module property sheet for performing the setting; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an existence range between module tiles of a data record in which the effective range / existence range is set.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process of inserting a conditional branch module executed by the business application construction system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a module tile “conditional branch processing” in FIG.
7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a process when inserting and arranging a module tile, wherein FIG. 7A illustrates a state where a module tile “conditional branching process” is inserted and arranged, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a property sheet, and FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating processing when inserting and arranging module tiles after the branch line generation state in FIG. 15C;
(A) is a diagram showing an inserted state of a target processing module,
(B) is a diagram showing an insertion result of the target processing module,
(C) is a figure which shows the insertion state of all the processes.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing module tile information display processing executed by the business application construction system 1 according to the third embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 17A shows information on a module tile “search processing”. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing information on the module tile “conditional branch processing”.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams showing a business application construction process using a wizard executed by the business application construction system 1 according to the fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 18A is a diagram showing a wizard dialog;
(B) is a diagram showing an example of an expanded template component, and (c) is a diagram showing a state where necessary processing is inserted into the component of (b).

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 business application construction system 2 application construction device 2a interface unit 2b display engine unit 2c module management unit 2d grid management unit 2e module management information generation unit 2f module information reading unit 2g application specification generation unit 2h specification writing unit 3 input device 4 display Apparatus 5 Memory 5a Grid management information 5b Module management information 6 Search processing detailed setting editor 7 Print processing detailed setting editor 8 Other detailed setting editor 9 Hard disk 9a Module specifications 9b Application specifications 10 Application execution device 10a Specification reading unit 10b Specification interpretation unit 10c Search processing module 10d Print processing module 10e Other modules 20 Module pallet 30 Grid Panel 40 Property Sheet 50 data record definition screen 60,70 data record processing definition screen

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a plurality of program modules constituting data processing; a module tile storage means for storing a plurality of module tiles representing each program module stored in the storage means; A combination of an arrangement unit that arranges the module tiles stored in the storage unit in accordance with an instruction on the display screen, and a program module stored in the storage unit based on the arrangement state of the module tiles arranged by the arrangement unit And a program construction means for constructing a series of data processing programs. 2. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program, the computer-executable program for arranging a plurality of module tiles representing a plurality of program modules constituting data processing on a display screen. A program code, and a computer-executable program code for constructing a series of data processing programs by reading and combining a plurality of the program modules from a storage unit based on the arrangement state of the arranged module tiles, A storage medium storing a program including the program. 3. A computer-executable program code for defining input / output data in each of the arranged module tiles, and a computer-executable program code for defining data processing content in each of the arranged module tiles. Program code, input / output data defined for each module tile,
3. A storage medium according to claim 2, wherein a program further comprising: a computer-executable program code for determining data consistency between said modules based on data processing contents. . 4. When defining input / output data in each of the arranged module tiles, the input / output data is defined in an output data defined in a previously arranged module tile and in a module tile arranged after the module tile. 4. The storage medium according to claim 3, wherein a program further including a computer-executable program code for matching the input data with the input data is stored. 5. When arranging a module tile indicating a branching process at the time of arranging the module tile, a setting screen for setting the branch condition is displayed, and a computer for setting the branch condition can be executed. Computer code for connecting and displaying a connection line corresponding to the set branch condition between module codes arranged before and after the branch processing module tile. A computer-executable program code for constructing a data processing program including a series of branch processes by reading and combining a plurality of the program modules from a storage unit based on a branch condition set in the branch processing module tile; And storing a program further including Storage medium according to Motomeko 2,3 or 4. 6. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program, comprising: a computer for displaying a palette including a plurality of types of processing tiles representing various data processing programs configured by a plurality of program modules; Executable program code, computer-executable program code for selecting and arranging a plurality of types of processing tiles displayed on this palette on a display screen by dragging and dropping, and A computer-executable program code for reading the plurality of module tiles corresponding to the selected and arranged processing tile from the module tile storage means and expanding and displaying the module tile on the display screen; Module tile on display screen A computer-executable program code for inserting and arranging between the expanded module tiles in accordance with an instruction, and moving the module tiles before and after the insertion position in accordance with the insertion position of the inserted and arranged module tile And a computer-executable program code for reading and combining the program modules from the storage means to construct a series of data processing programs based on the arrangement state of the module tiles. A storage medium characterized by the following.