JP3015418B2 - System development equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system development apparatus for providing a user with an interactive system development environment, and in particular, interactively creates a system specification including a plurality of modules. To a system development device for performing

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when designing a large-scale system, a method is used in which the system is divided into a plurality of functional modules, and each functional module is further divided into lower-order functional modules. When such a hierarchical design is performed, it is essential to clarify the relationship between the modules in the system design. Originally, these tasks were performed by humans.

However, as systems have become larger and more complex, it has become apparent that human system design cannot cope. Furthermore, with the development of computers, computers can freely handle information that could not be handled by computers before, such as document processing and image processing. Therefore, at present, it is usual to design a system using a computer.

Computer-assisted tools (“tools”) to support system design are provided by Computer Aided Software (CASE).
Engineering, Computer Automated Supporting Equ
ipment) tool.

Representatives of CASE tools include: In one example, a user creates a plurality of documents and images in a computer by interacting with the computer using a screen. To describe the logical consistency between each module, the correspondence between modules, etc., either create a document or diagram directly by paying attention to the correspondence of each module, or use a cut-and- A method of using a paste function to copy a character string or the like in one window into another window has been used.

Even when calls are made between modules, it is necessary to describe the correspondence between these modules. In this case, for example, a method is used in which the name of the module to be called and its arguments are described in advance in the information describing one module.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the conventional apparatus has the following problems.
When the cut-and-paste function is used, it is not necessary to input information again because one information is taken into the other by copying. However, in this case, the information to be copied is simply what is displayed on the screen. For example, logical information such as a data structure needs to be input separately. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure logical consistency between modules during system development.

Further, the following problem occurs in an apparatus in which the names and arguments of other modules are described in advance in a module. When describing or changing the correspondence between modules, all descriptions in the related modules must be changed in a consistent manner. Therefore, the work in the system development process becomes complicated and takes time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system development apparatus capable of easily describing the relationship between modules while maintaining consistency while designing a system by dividing the system into a plurality of modules. is there.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A system development device according to the invention of claim 1 is:
Storage means for storing first and second data information which may include data structure information representing a predetermined data structure; and a display surface, wherein the first and second data information are stored separately on the display surface. Display means for displaying the image in the area, a position specifying means for the user to specify any two points in the predetermined area on the display surface, and one of the positions specified by the position specifying means as the first. Detecting that the data information is within the displayed area, and searching for the storage means to extract the first data information, and another one of the positions designated by the position designation means, Detecting that the second data information is within the displayed area, receiving the first data information from the search means, and replacing the data structure information of the second data information stored in the storage means with the first data information Update by replacing with data structure information of data And an order of the update means.

The system development device according to the invention described in claim 2 is:
This is an apparatus for developing a system by managing a module group including a plurality of modules. The modules each include module components. Each module component is assigned a unique intra-module identifier within the module containing the module component and a unique intra-module group identifier within the module group. A storage device for storing a module group, a display device for displaying module components on a separate area on a display surface,
Position specifying means for the user to specify any two points within a predetermined area on the display surface, relation setting means for determining the relationship between the two module components, and the position specifying means. Each of the two points is the first and second
The storage means is detected by detecting that the module components of the first and second modules are in the displayed separate areas, and the first module including the first module components and the second module including the second module components are detected. Updating means for extracting the second module and the module group identifiers of the first and second module components to a value determined by the relation setting means.

[Operation] The system development device according to claim 1 reduces the work by reusing data information already created in the first module when creating or changing the second module information. It focuses on what can be achieved.

The user specifies an area corresponding to the first and second data information by using the position specifying means. The coordinates of the area where the first data information read by the position specifying means is displayed are provided to the search means. The search means searches the storage means based on the given coordinates to extract first data information. The first data information is provided to the updating means. The coordinates of the area in which the second data information is displayed are given from the position specifying means to the updating means. The updating means extracts the second data information from the storage means based on the given coordinates, updates the second data information with the first data information, and stores the updated second data information in the storage means. The stored second data information is displayed again in the corresponding area on the display surface by the display means.

The system development device according to the invention described in claim 2 is:
In a plurality of independently described module description relations, attention is paid to the fact that the logical relationship between modules can be defined at any time, thereby reducing the amount of work for creating and changing modules.

This device has the following operations. The user uses the position specifying means to specify an area on the display surface where the first and second module components are displayed. The coordinates of the two designated positions are given to the updating means. The updating means extracts two module descriptions corresponding to the two designated points by searching the storage means. The updating unit changes the values of the identifiers in the module group of the two extracted modules according to the relationship given by the relationship setting unit, and causes the storage unit to store these modules again.

Embodiment An embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system development apparatus according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, this device includes a display device 8 for visually displaying the relationship between modules and the structure of data handled in each module, and a user designating the display device on a display surface of the display device 8. First position information reading unit 1 for reading the position coordinates of the transferred source module, and second position information for reading the position coordinates of the destination module specified by the user on the display surface of the display device 8. A reading unit 2;
A drawing information for display for displaying data on each module on the display device 8, a data information storage unit 3 storing data structure information indicating a structure of data handled in each module; a position information reading unit 1; A data information search unit 5 connected to the information storage unit 3 for extracting data information included in a module corresponding to the position read by the position information reading unit 1 by searching the data information storage unit 3; Is connected to the position information reading unit 2, the data information search unit 5, and the data information storage unit 3, and corresponds to the position read by the position information reading unit 2, the transfer destination stored in the data information storage unit 3. The data information of the module is stored in the data information search unit 5
A data information updating unit 6 for updating based on the data information of the first module provided by the data information storage unit 3 and the display device 8;
And a data information display unit 7 for displaying data information of each module on the display device 8 based on the drawing information of each module stored in the storage device.

The data information storage unit 3 stores a large number of module information. The module information includes module information 21 including the data information of the transfer source and module information 22 regarding the module of the transfer destination. It is.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system development apparatus of the present embodiment operates as follows. The data information display unit 7 displays information and a data structure on each module on the display device 8 based on the module information 21 and 22. Computer CRT with multi-window function as display device
Is used.

First, the user specifies a position where the data structure is expressed by a so-called mouse on the window in which the data structure of the transcription source is displayed. The position information reading unit 1 reads the coordinates of the designated position and gives the coordinates to the data information search unit 5.

The data information search unit 5 checks drawing information of each module information stored in the data information storage unit 3 and searches for data structure information corresponding to given coordinates.

Subsequently, the user designates the position of the transcription destination on the window in which the module of the transcription destination is also displayed using the mouse. The position information reading unit 2 reads the coordinates of the position specified by the mouse, and reads the data information updating unit 6.
Give to.

The data information updating unit 6 retrieves the module information 22 by searching the data information storage unit 3 based on the given coordinate data. The data information update unit 6 updates the module information 22 with the data structure information included in the module information 21 given from the data information search unit 5. That is, when the corresponding data structure information is included in the module information 22, the data information updating unit 6 updates the data structure information with the data structure information provided from the data information search unit 5. If the corresponding data structure information does not exist,
The data information updating unit 6 adds this data structure information to the module information 22.

The data information updating unit 6 further includes a position information reading unit 2
The module information 22 is displayed so that the data information given from the data information search unit 5 can be displayed at the position given by the user.
Update the drawing information of. The updated drawing information and module information 22 are stored in the data information storage unit 3 again.

The data information display unit 7 changes the display on the display device 8 in response to the change of the drawing information in the data information storage unit 3.

In this way, in the present apparatus, not only the data information appearing on the screen is transcribed, but also information representing the structure of the data is simultaneously added or updated at the destination. Therefore, there is no need to write information having a logical meaning, such as the data structure, in the destination module. Therefore, productivity in system development can be increased.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an image displayed on the screen 50 of the CRT of the computer when the present apparatus is realized on the computer having the multi-window function as described above. With reference to FIG.
To fourth windows 51 to 54 are open. In the first window 51, a data structure entitled "item list" is displayed. In the second window 52, a data structure entitled "List" is displayed. In the third window 53, a functional block diagram of a module having a name of "article name search" is displayed. The fourth window 54 displays a functional block diagram of a system that searches an item list in response to an inquiry from a user and returns a list of the corresponding items.

Now, it is assumed that the specifications of the product name search module displayed in the third window 53 have been created. In the case where information "article name code" is to be entered in the "article list", conventionally, this character string is directly entered here.
Alternatively, conventionally, the character string "article name code" displayed in the first window 51 is copied to the field 62 of the third window using a cut and paste function. Since it was just a copy of the character string, although the specification of the surface quality search module could be apparently completed,
In addition, the attribute of the product code must be specified again. Therefore, the work of creating and modifying a large number of modules has conventionally been very complicated.

In the system development device according to the present invention, the operator operates this device as follows, for example. The operator first sets the cursor in the field 61 of the window 51 using the mouse. When the operator “clicks” (input operation using the mouse) the mouse, the system development device reads the coordinates on the screen specified by the mouse. Based on the read coordinates, the data information search unit 5
Retrieves the data structure of the corresponding “item list” from the data information storage unit 3 and extracts information on the “item name code”.

The operator then sets the mouse in the field 62 of the third window 53 and clicks again. As a result, the system development device reads the coordinate position on the screen designated second by the mouse. The data information updating unit 6 extracts information of the corresponding module from the data information storage unit 3 according to the coordinate position. The data information updating unit 6
Information on the product name code is received from the data information search unit 5, and the information on the product name code is added to the data structure information in the product name search module. The data information updating unit 6 also adds information for displaying the product name code to the drawing information about the product name search module displayed in the window 53. That is, the data information updating unit 6 adds the drawing information to be displayed as “article name code” to the drawing information of the article name search module in the field corresponding to the coordinate position designated by the mouse. After the product name code is added, information on the product name search module is stored in the data information storage unit 3 again.

The data information display unit 7 displays a third item name according to the item name search module information 22 to which the drawing information related to the item name code is added.
Is displayed again in the field 62 of the window 53.

Similarly, the operator selects the “hit list” in the second window 52.
"Product name code" in field 63 of the data structure for
Is copied to the field 64 of the third window 53.

Thus, the display on the screen 50 is as shown in FIG. The only difference between the display shown in FIG. 3 and the display shown in FIG.
It is not just the "Product Name Code" that was copied on 2 and 64, respectively. In the module information 22 on the product name search module in the data information storage unit 3, information on the data structure of the product name code and other attributes of the product name code are added. For example, “int” is displayed in the field 65 below the product name code in the first window 51. This indicates that the product name code is an integer. Information indicating that this code is an integer is also added to the “article name code” displayed in the third window 53. In addition, logical information such as the number of digits of the product name code is also taken in the corresponding module information of the data information storage unit 3.

As described above, according to this apparatus, not only the display contents are copied, but also the logical information of the data is copied, so that the effort in program development is significantly reduced. Further, even when data defined at a plurality of locations should have similar attributes, it is possible to easily create a consistent system specification without discrepancy.

Further, it is also possible to perform the above-described processing in a macro manner. Speaking of the example of the “item list” described above, the specification of the “item name search” module can be created by the following method.

If no information on the "item list" is set in the window 53 of FIG. 2, the "item list" in the window 51 can be copied into the window 53 as follows.

That is, the operator first sets the cursor in the rectangle in which the “article list”, “article name code” and the like are entered in the window 51, and clicks the mouse. The coordinates of the cursor are read, and the data information search unit 5 stores the data information in the data information storage unit 3.
, The data structure information and the drawing information of the corresponding “item list” are extracted.

Subsequently, the operator sets a cursor at a desired position in the window 53 and clicks the cursor. The coordinates of the cursor are read, and the data information update unit 6 extracts the information of the corresponding module from the data information storage unit 3. The data information updating unit 6 receives the data structure information and the drawing information related to the item list from the data information searching unit 5, and adds these information in the item name searching module. Thereafter, the information on the product name search module is stored in the data information storage unit 3 again.

The data display unit 7 displays a diagram regarding the “item list” in the window 53 in response to the drawing information on the item list being added to the item name search module information.
That is, the figure of the “article list” in the window 51 is copied at a predetermined position in the window 53.

By performing the macro-processing as described above, data structure information that has already been created can be efficiently captured in module information. Also, when creating a module design with a graphical editor, drawing information can be copied along with data structure information. Therefore, it is possible to greatly simplify the task of creating a module and easily maintain the consistency of the data structure in the system.

Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a program development apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of this embodiment is an apparatus for creating a system specification by a graphic expression on a display device such as a display. The graphical representation is, for example, a functional block diagram, a decision table, a data block diagram, a sequence chart, or the like.

The functional block diagram is a diagram showing a connection relationship between modules included in the system. According to the functional block diagram,
The details of the function of the upper module can be defined by a combination of the lower modules.

The decision table is a table showing a selection structure of data or control, for example, what kind of value the function takes for a certain data value.

The data block diagram is a diagram showing a hierarchical relationship, an inclusion / exclusive relationship, and the like of data handled in the system.

The sequence chart is a diagram expressing a relationship between data transmission and reception between modules and a causal relationship between input and output data.

This device defines the system from various aspects by using various types of figures including the figures described above.

Information obtained by analyzing each figure is created and maintained while being classified into, for example, module information, sequence information, data structure information, and the like. Such information is referred to as component information that configures the system.

The component information is stored in the storage unit in a file format. Since each module is developed in a hierarchical manner, the components in each module are given unique identifiers within the module. Also, since each component is managed as one unit in the entire system, each component information is given a unique identifier in the system. These figures are created and changed by a graphic processing program called a graphic editor.

Graphical editors for creating the above-mentioned figures are individually prepared according to the type of each figure. At the time of system development, these various graphical editors can be used to define the system in many aspects. Therefore, each component information also includes drawing information for expressing in a figure. The present apparatus is an apparatus aimed at making such system development easier and without contradiction.

Referring to FIG. 4, the system development device includes a component information storage unit 10 for storing component information 15a to 15x.
And the display device 8 capable of multi-window display, and the drawing information of the component information to be displayed in the currently activated graphic editor is read out from the component information storage unit 10, and the arrangement on the screen is determined. A data information display unit 7 for displaying on the display device 8; and a graphic operation unit 16 for generating graphic data by operating a graphic displayed on the display device 8 by an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard. And a component information management unit 17 for receiving graphic data from the graphic operating unit 16, interpreting the graphic data, and generating, updating, and managing component information such as module information corresponding to the graphic. The data information display unit 7 and the graphic operation unit 16
Has a function as a graphical editor.

The apparatus further responds to the user designating any one point on the display surface of the display device 8 and reads the position information reading unit 1 for reading one coordinate, and the other designated one point. Position information reading unit 2 for reading the position coordinates of the object, and processing content selection for the user to specify whether to establish a logical relationship between the two components represented by the two designated points Unit 11, a position information reading unit 1,
2. The processing content selection unit 11 is connected to the component information storage unit 10, and the two component information corresponding to the position specified by the position information reading units 1 and 2 is stored in the component information storage unit 10.
And a renewal unit 18 for establishing a logical relationship between these pieces of component information or disconnecting the once established relationship according to the processing content specified by the processing content selection unit 11. And

The operation performed by the updating unit 18 includes, for example, specifying that two modules separately defined in a plurality of graphic editor screens are the same, or that data used in a certain functional block diagram is used. Or specify that the data is included in a data block diagram defined separately on another editor. This is because the graphical editor for defining each diagram is a separate program,
This is necessary processing because the same component is defined separately.

The updating unit 18 further reads the position coordinates from the position information reading unit 1 and searches the component element information storage unit 10 to find component information having drawing information indicating that it is displayed at the corresponding position. Component information search for receiving the second position coordinates from the information detection unit 12 and the position information reading unit 2 and searching the component information storage unit 10 to find the component information displayed at the corresponding position Receiving the storage location information of the found component information from the unit 13 and the component information search units 12 and 13;
An identifier updating unit for updating the in-system identifier of the component information according to the processing content specified by 11
And 14 inclusive.

With reference to FIG. 4, this device operates as follows. The user first activates the editor, and causes the display device 8 to display a diagram including component information to be associated. Normally, a plurality of figures are displayed in separate windows on the display device 8 by the multi-window function. For example, suppose that the component information 15k, 15l is shown on the figure. At this time, the component information 15k and 15l include drawing information including the displayed coordinate position.

During normal operation, the user uses the graphic operation unit 16 to change the figure on the screen. The changed graphic information is provided to the component information management unit 17. The component information management unit 17 decodes the given graphic information, adds the corresponding component information to the component information storage unit 10 if a new module is added, and if any, changes the corresponding configuration. Rewrite the content of element information.

When new component information is added, an in-module identifier and an in-system identifier are assigned to the newly added component information. The component information is managed by these identifiers.

In this device, the system is described in various aspects using a separate graphical editor as described above. Since component information is defined separately by each editor, component information that should be logically the same as it is is managed as separate items. Essentially the same thing, even if it was created separately by different editors, needs to have its identity identified in the system.

According to the conventional concept, a method of always giving the same module the same name when drawing a module or the like using each editor can be considered. For the same function module that is given the name "Product name search" in the function block diagram, be sure to name it "Product name search" even when creating a new diagram with another editor.
That is the method.

However, in this method, the figure must be created while always checking the module name. In this case, the advantage of this apparatus that the system can be described in various aspects cannot be utilized.

Position information reading units 1 and 2, processing content selection unit 11, updating unit 18
Is provided to solve this problem.
The concept of this device is as follows. Each figure can be modified using a graphical editor without having to consider at least the other figures. That is, in one drawing, a module given a name of "article name search" is allowed to be given a name of "product search" in another drawing.
Then, if these modules are logically identical, it is possible to make the association at any time separately from the name.

Hereinafter, the operation of the “association” will be described. First, the user activates the editor and causes the display device 8 to display a diagram on which a module to be associated is described. Often, the display is in a separate window.

First, the user positions and clicks a cursor on a graphic representing one of the modules to be associated, for example, a graphic corresponding to the component information 15k, with an input device such as a mouse. Thereby, the position information reading unit 1
Reads the designated position coordinates and supplies the read position coordinates to the component information search unit 12. The component information search unit 12 searches the component information storage unit 10 based on the given position coordinates to find the component information displayed at the corresponding position.

Similarly, the user positions and clicks the cursor on the other one of the modules to be associated, in this example, the figure corresponding to the component information 15l. As a result, the coordinates of the designated position are provided to the component information search unit 13.

The component information search unit 13 searches the component information storage unit 10 based on the received coordinates, and searches for component information 151 having drawing information indicating that the component is displayed at that position.

The user further uses the processing content selection unit 11 to select whether to start or end the association between the two specified modules.

The identifier updating unit 14 updates the system identifiers of the component information 15k and 15l based on the position information of the component information 15k and 15l provided from the component information search units 12 and 13 as follows.

That is, if it is specified that they are associated with each other, the identifier updating unit 14 matches the in-system identifiers of these two pieces of component information. At this time, if one side defines drawing information to be represented in the form of a diagram,
If not defined, the identifier updating unit 14 copies the drawing information to component information for which the drawing information is not defined. As a result, the expressions on the screen, such as the module corresponding to the component information, match.

If you want to cancel a relationship once it has been established,
The identifier updating unit 14 rewrites the in-system identifiers of the component information 15k and 15l to different ones. In some cases, the identifier updating unit 14 changes one or both in-system identifiers to initial values. Thereby, the component information management unit 17
It is assumed that component information items having the same system identifier are logically the same target, and that component information items having different system identifiers represent different objects, to manage.

FIG. 5 shows a display on the screen after such an “association” operation is performed. The screen before the operation of "association" is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the module 71 in the fourth window 54 is not given a name. On the other hand, for this module 71, the corresponding component information has already been created.

It is assumed that the module 71 is actually the “article name search” module shown in the third window 53. The user first selects the processing of “association” from a pull-down menu or the like, and then positions the cursor on the area 72 in which the text “search for product name” is displayed and clicks it. As a result, the component information generated for the “article name search module” is searched in the component information storage unit by the editor of the window 53.

The user may also select the module in the fourth window 54
Place the cursor in the box of 71 and click. Thereby, the component information on the module 71 is searched. At this time, a menu of “association / unassociation” is displayed on the screen. When the user positions the cursor on “association” and clicks on it, association processing is performed.

In this case, a display name on the screen is not defined in the module 71. Therefore, the display name “article name search” displayed in the third window 53 is added to the component element information of the module 71 as drawing information. Since the drawing information of the component information is displayed on the display device 8 at any time by the data information display unit 7, the module name of "article name search" is also displayed on the screen as the name of the module 71 as shown in FIG. You.

As described above, the following effects are produced by associating the components with each other as needed regardless of the display name. The user can describe the system in various aspects using each editor. The described information is sequentially integrated by associating, and compiled into a consistent system description. The components are integrated in a logically consistent manner by association. In addition, even the corresponding components can be separately created without worrying about the names at the time of creation, so that the burden on the user is extremely reduced.

The apparatus shown in each of the above-described embodiments is an apparatus whose main purpose is to create system specifications. However, the invention is not so limited. For example, the characteristics of the present apparatus that can describe a system from various aspects while maintaining the consistency of the logical relationship between the modules, and can generate the component information of the system as data, are directly applied to the generation of a program. be able to. Moreover, in this case, since the system specifications can be described in an integrated manner using figures, high-quality documentation can be expected, and there is no inconsistency between the final system specifications and the documentation. Therefore, the productivity of the system development and the maintainability of the developed system can be improved.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when information having a logical meaning such as a data structure is transferred between modules, the information is graphically stored in the destination module. Drawing information for display and logical program information can be automatically added and updated. Therefore, when designing a system by dividing it into many modules,
In addition, a system development apparatus capable of describing relationships between modules while maintaining consistency can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, after the component information of the system such as each module is created independently, the logical correspondence between the component information can be added or changed. . Therefore, without intentionally checking the integrity of the entire system when designing the module,
System development can proceed. On the other hand, related data can be integrated by association at any time, so that consistency of the entire system is not lost. Therefore,
It is possible to provide a system development apparatus capable of describing a system by defining a relation between modules with easy operation and maintaining high consistency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system development apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams showing display examples when the system development apparatus operates. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system development device according to the second aspect of the invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a display example when the system development device is operating. In the figure, 1 and 2 are position information reading units, 3 is a data information storage unit, 5 is a data information search unit, 6 is a data information update unit,
7 is a data information display unit, 8 is a display device, 10 is a component information storage unit, 11 is a process content selection unit, 12 and 13 are component information search units, 14 is an identifier update unit, and 15a to 15x are component information. ,
Reference numeral 16 denotes a graphic operation unit, 17 denotes a component element information management unit, and 18 denotes an update unit. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirosho Terada 3-52 Yamada Nishi, Suita-shi, Osaka Senri Ichijo-ike B-803 (72) Inventor Hiroaki Nishikawa 1-15-25 Esakacho, Suita-shi, Osaka- No. 1002 (72) Inventor Shunji Hine 1006 Kadoma, Kazuma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoichiro Nishikawa 2--18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Shuji Hara 2-18-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mie Inaoka 8-1-1 Tsukaguchi-Honmachi, Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo Mitsubishi Electric Industrial Systems Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Tetsuo Yamazaki 8-1-1, Tsukaguchi Honcho, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Industrial Systems Research Institute (72) Inventor Kenji Shima Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture 8-1-1, Tsukaguchi Honmachi Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Industrial Systems Research Laboratories (72) Inventor Shinichi Yoshida 2613 Ichihoncho, Tenri-shi, Nara Pref. IC Technology Center, IC Business Division (56) Reference Document JP-A-62-55731 (JP, A) IEICE Technical Report 89 [252] (DE89-29-35) p. 33-40 “Toshiba Japanese Word Processor TO SWORD JW-700D Operation Manual” Toshiba p. 62-63 FUJITSU LIMITED Information Technology Glossary Committee “Information Technology Glossary”, 6th Edition Fujitsu p. 250 (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 9/06

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means for storing first and second data information that may include data structure information on predetermined data, and a display surface, wherein the first and second data information are displayed on the display. Display means for displaying on a separate area on a surface; position specifying means for a user to specify any two points in a predetermined area on the display surface; and designation by the position designation means. A search unit for detecting that one of the detected positions is within the area where the first data information is displayed, searching the storage unit to extract the first data information, Another one of the positions specified by the specifying means is:
Detecting that the second data information is present in the displayed area, receiving the first data information from the search means, and receiving the second data information from the storage means Updating means for updating data structure information by replacing the data structure information with the data structure information of the first data. 2. A system development apparatus for developing a system by managing a module group including a plurality of modules, wherein each of the modules includes a module component constituting each of the modules. The component has a unique module identifier within the module including the module component and a unique module group identifier within the module group. The system development device stores the module group. A display unit for displaying the module components on respective separate areas on the display surface, and any two points in a predetermined area on the display surface. A position specifying means for specifying by a user; and a logical equivalence relation between the two module components. A relation setting unit for determining a state, and detecting that each of the two points specified by the position specifying unit is in a separate area where the first and second module components are displayed. , Searching the storage means to extract a first module including the first module component and a second module including the second module component, and extracting the first and second modules. Updating means for updating the value of each of the module group identifiers of the module constituent elements to a value which is determined by the relationship setting means and reflects a state of a logical equivalence relationship.