JP2004348519A - Software product and its manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the customization of software for satisfying different needs of respective customers. <P>SOLUTION: This software product is provided with a main body part, software having one or more components, and a setting file carrying information for making a computer determine an executable component and an non-executable component. The software makes the computer determine the executable component and the non-executable component on the basis of the description of the setting file for making the computer execute the component determined to be executable or for making the computer not execute the component determined to be non-executable or cancel execution of the component determined to be non-executable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a software product and an apparatus for manufacturing the software product.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a system solution is a business that supports the business of a client company through a system environment and solves the problems that the customer has. In this business, a system is often customized and provided for each customer in order to satisfy different needs for each customer.
[0003]
In a conventional system development flow, first, application software is created by programming, and data used by the application software is created. Next, a setup program for installing the application software on the customer's computer is created, and the application software, data, and the setup program (the setup program is also called an installer) are distributed to the customer, such as a CD-ROM. The basic flow is to write on a recording medium.
[0004]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventional system development is mainly performed by a skilled engineer with extensive system development experience, and is performed by programming using an application language or the like. Regarding the customization of the system, in recent years, a development method aimed at reusing a program has been adopted based on the concept of object orientation (see Non-Patent Document 1), but still requires appropriate skills.
[0005]
Naturally, what is required of a company that performs system solutions as a business is system development skills (application language, system knowledge, etc.), but if they do not have this, system development is outsourced to an external software manufacturer. In this case, there are problems such as an increase in system development costs.
[0006]
In addition, system customization is basically performed by modifying an existing system. However, development costs are incurred for each work, and development skills are also essential.
[0007]
[Non-patent document 1]
ASCII Digital Glossary, Object Oriented [May 8, 2003 search], Internet <URL: http: // yougo. ascii24. com / gh / 07/000738. html>
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and it is an object of the present invention to easily customize software to satisfy different needs for each customer.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object in the present invention, first, in the invention of claim 1, software having a main body portion and one or more components,
A software product having a setting file in which information for causing the computer to determine which component is executed and which component is not executed,
The software causes the computer to determine which component is to be executed and which component is not to be executed based on the description of the setting file, to execute the component determined to be executed, and to determine that the component is not to be executed. The software product is characterized in that the executed component is not executed or the execution of the component determined to be not executed is invalidated.
[0009]
Further, according to the invention of claim 2, a function of storing software having a main body portion and one or a plurality of components,
An apparatus having a function of creating a setting file in which information for causing a computer to determine which part is executed and which part is not executed,
The software causes the computer to determine which component is executing and which component is not executing, to execute the component determined to be executed, and not to execute the component determined to be non-executing, Alternatively, a software product manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that execution of a component determined to be non-executable is invalidated.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0011]
1. Software Semi-Product In this embodiment, a software semi-product is prepared in advance, and a product is made from this semi-product according to the needs of each customer. This semi-finished product includes a data storage device and application software, as shown in FIG.
[0012]
The data storage device is a device that stores data. However, in a semi-finished product, data has not been input to the data storage device. The application software performs data operations on the data storage device.
[0013]
The application software includes a main body and components 1 to n. Here, n is a natural number of 1 or more. In application software, individual functions that can be customized and individual components have a correspondence relationship in which, when a function is specified, a component that realizes the specified function is specified. One function may be realized by one component, or one function may be realized by a plurality of components. When a component that realizes a certain function is executed by a computer, this function is realized by the computer. However, even if a component that realizes a certain function is executed by the computer, if the execution is invalidated, this function is not realized by the computer.
[0014]
2. The setting file is a file in which information for causing the computer to determine which of the components 1 to n is executed and which is not executed is described. The main body of the application software causes the computer to read the description of the setting file, and based on the description of the setting file, which of the components 1 to n is executed and which is not executed. Is determined, the component determined to be executed is executed, and the component determined not to be executed is not executed, or the execution of the component determined not to be executed is invalidated. This setting file is not included in the semi-finished product, but is created in the process of producing the product from the semi-finished product and becomes a part of the product.
[0015]
One example of a configuration file is shown in FIG. In the setting file of FIG. 2, ON or OFF of each component is described as information for determining which component is executed and which component is not executed among the components 1 to n in the computer. ing. For example, “component i = ON” means that component i is executed, and “component j = OFF” means that component j is not executed. Here, i is a natural number satisfying 1 ≦ i, j ≦ n, where n is a natural number satisfying n ≧ 1. Further, ON or OFF described for a certain part is also referred to as a value of a flag of this part.
[0016]
Another example of a configuration file is shown in FIG. In the setting file of FIG. 3, ON / OFF of individual customizable functions or information as information for allowing the computer to determine which of the components 1 to n is executed and which is not executed, OFF is described. For example, “function i = ON” means that the component realizing the function i is executed, and “function j = OFF” means that the component realizing the function j is not executed. Here, m is a natural number satisfying m ≧ 1, and i and j are natural numbers satisfying 1 ≦ i and j ≦ m. Further, ON or OFF described for a certain function is also referred to as a flag value of this function.
[0017]
3. Product Manufacturing The software product manufacturing apparatus manufactures software products from semi-finished software products.
[0018]
The software product manufacturing apparatus is a computer system having the following functions (1) to (5).
(1) Function of storing semi-finished products of software.
(2) A function of creating a setting file in which information for causing a computer to determine which component is executed and which component is not executed is described.
(3) A function of inputting data into a data storage device.
(4) A function for creating a setup program.
(5) A function of recording, on a recording medium, a software product including an application software, a setting file, a storage device for data into which data has been input, and a setup program.
[0019]
The steps through which the software product is manufactured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0020]
STEP1;
In the software product manufacturing apparatus, a computer creates a setting file in which information for determining which part is executed and which part is not executed is described so as to satisfy customer needs.
[0021]
For example, if the information that causes the computer to determine which part is executed and which part is not executed is ON or OFF of each part, the software product manufacturing apparatus sends the executed part to the customer. A setting file as shown in FIG. 2 is created in which the manufacturer is selected so as to satisfy the needs described above, and the selected parts are turned ON and the non-selected parts are turned OFF.
[0022]
Further, for example, when the information for causing the computer to determine which component is to be executed and which component is not to be executed is ON or OFF of each customizable function, the software product manufacturing apparatus implements the function to be realized. A setting file as shown in FIG. 3 in which the manufacturer is selected to satisfy the needs of the customer, and the selected function is turned on and the non-selected function is turned off is created.
[0023]
STEP2;
The software product manufacturing device inputs the data into the data storage device.
The data input to the data storage device is created by the manufacturer so as to satisfy customer needs.
[0024]
STEP3;
The software product manufacturing device creates a setup program.
[0025]
STEP4;
The software product manufacturing apparatus records a software product including an application software, a setting file, a storage device for data into which data is input, and a setup program on a recording medium.
The recording medium on which this software product is recorded is called a setup recording medium. When the setup recording medium is in the form of a disc such as a CD-ROM, the setup recording medium is called a setup disc.
[0026]
The setup recording medium is distributed to the customer and used to install a software product on the customer's computer.
[0027]
Instead of recording the software product on a recording medium, the software product may be sent from the software product manufacturing apparatus to a customer's computer via a network. Here, the network is not particularly limited in its type and form as long as data communication is possible between the software product manufacturing apparatus and the customer's computer. For example, the Internet or a dedicated line may be used. Optical communication or wireless communication may be performed.
[0028]
4. Examples of Software Products Hereinafter, examples of software products will be described.
[0029]
In this example, data relating to a set of local governments and unions is entered in the data storage device. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the server connected to the Internet executes the application software, and at each terminal connected to the Internet, the local government stored in the data storage device using the WEB browser. It is possible to search and browse data related to the rules of associations and unions.
[0030]
Here, the server is a computer. The terminal is a computer such as a personal computer or a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, the setting file in this example includes ON / OFF of individual customizable functions as information for causing the server to determine which component is executed and which component is not executed. Is described. In this example, there is a memo function as one of the functions in which ON or OFF is described in the setting file.
[0032]
When the value of the memo function flag is ON, as shown in FIG. 6, a memo button is displayed on the HTML document in which the provision is described. You can browse the notes you have written. On the other hand, when the value of the memo function flag is OFF, the memo button is not displayed on the HTML document in which the provision is described, and the memo cannot be viewed on each terminal. This is because, as shown in FIG. 8, if the value of the memo function flag is ON, a component for creating an HTML sentence for displaying the memo button is executed, whereas if the value of the memo function flag is OFF, This is because the component for creating the HTML sentence that displays the memo button is not executed.
[0033]
When the value of the memo function flag is ON, as shown in FIG. 9, a search target radio button, a keyword text field, a title text field, a creation date, a search button, and a clear button are enabled on the memo search screen. Each terminal can search for notes. On the other hand, when the value of the memo function flag is OFF, as shown in FIG. 10, the search target radio button, keyword text field, title text field, creation date, search button, and clear button on the memo search screen are invalid. It becomes impossible to search for a memo at each terminal. As shown in FIG. 11, if the value of the memo function flag is ON, the search target radio button, keyword text field, title text field, creation date, search button, and clear button on the memo search screen are enabled. This is because the execution of the component is valid as it is, whereas if the value of the memo function flag is OFF, the execution is invalidated.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, software which simply describes information for determining which component is executed and which component is not executed in a setting file so as to satisfy different needs for each customer can be implemented by software. There is an effect that the customization of the information can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a semi-finished product of software.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a setting file.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a setting file.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps through which a software product is manufactured.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a server and each terminal connected to the Internet.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML document describing a provision when a flag value of a memo function is ON.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of an HTML document in which a clause when a flag value of a memo function is OFF is described.
FIG. 8 is a program flowchart for explaining that execution of a component for creating an HTML sentence for displaying a memo button is controlled by a value of a memo function flag;
FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a memo search screen when a memo function flag value is ON.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a memo search screen when the value of a memo function flag is OFF.
FIG. 11 shows that the validity / invalidity of a search target radio button, a keyword text field, a title text field, a creation date, a search button, and a clear button on a memo search screen is controlled by a memo function flag value. 4 is a program flowchart for explaining.

Claims (2)

Software having a main body portion and one or more components;
A software product having a setting file in which information for causing the computer to determine which part is executed and which part is not executed,
The software causes the computer to determine which component is to be executed and which component is not to be executed based on the description of the setting file, to execute the component determined to be executed, and to determine that the component is not to be executed. A software product that does not execute a part that has been executed or invalidates execution of a part that is determined to be non-executable. A function of storing software having a main body portion and one or more components;
An apparatus having a function of creating a setting file in which information for causing a computer to determine which part is executed and which part is not executed,
The software causes the computer to determine which component is executed and which component is not executed, to execute the component determined to be executed, and not to execute the component determined to be not executed, Alternatively, a software product manufacturing apparatus for invalidating execution of a component determined to be non-executable.

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