JPH1091410A - Device for supporting software development - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a customerizing function of high degree of freedom without relying on a specified method by preserving edition object diagrams respectively different in a diagram notation in a generalized information managing means in a generalized form. SOLUTION: An editing means 3 executes editing work corresponding to the various kinds of notations through the use of information which is defined in a diagram generalizing means 1 or an editing function extending means 2. An edition managing means 4 manages diagram information which is generated and edited by the editing means 3. A display means 5 displays the diagrams which are generated and edited by the editing means 3 through the use of diagram information managed by the edition information managing means 4. A preservation data managing means 7 manages the preservation forms of respective elements in the diagrams which are edited by the notation. Then, the edition object diagram is generalized and its result is defined by prescribed grammer as a diagram configuration element information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support tool for supporting software development, and more particularly to a tool for developing a software design diagram (hereinafter referred to as a diagram) using an appropriate diagram notation. The present invention relates to a software development support device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called CASE tool has been known as a software development support device having a function of creating a diagram as one of its main functions. Conventionally, diagrams have been created on a CASE tool that employs a notation proposed by an analysis method and a design method, which are de facto industry standards. However, with such CASE tools,
Because a single notation is used, it is difficult to develop software by newly adopting or adding a proprietary analysis method and design method specialized in the target area of the software to be developed. is there.

For this reason, a software development support device having a customizing function has recently been considered. For example, the notation of a diagram can be changed (customized) within a certain range and used even for a well-known analysis method or design method that is regarded as an industry standard.

[0004] However, due to the recent remarkable changes in the system of using computers and the structure or type of software to be created (network computing, C / S applications, window user interface applications, etc.), de facto industry standards and standards have been established. The conventional method and its extension (customization function) have not been able to adequately cope with various software developments. New analysis techniques and design techniques (typically, data-centric techniques and object-oriented techniques) are being developed one after another, but it is not possible to incorporate a customization function that can support these new techniques.

[0005]

As described above, the customization function within the framework of the conventional method cannot keep up with changes in the computer usage system and the structure / type of software.
It has been difficult to improve the productivity or quality of the product.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and can realize a customization function having a high degree of freedom without depending on a specific method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a software development support device capable of coping with a change in structure / type.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures. The present invention provides a software development support device that provides an editing function for editing a diagram to be edited created in a predetermined diagram notation, and arranges components of the diagram to be edited with a concept common to a plurality of diagram notations. Generalized information managing means for managing with the element information obtained, diagram editing means for editing the diagram to be edited using element information of the diagram to be edited managed by the generalized information managing means, and the diagram Editing diagram information holding means for holding the components related to the diagram being edited by the editing means in the form of drawing information, and for holding relation information between the components included in the element information regarding the components, Edit based on drawing information held by edit diagram information holding means The Diagram is a software development support apparatus and a display means for displaying.

According to the present invention, a plurality of diagrams to be edited having different diagram notations are stored in a generalized form in the generalized information management means, so that the diagram editing means depends on the diagram notation. In addition, the element information of the diagram to be edited can be edited by various notations.

According to the present invention, there is provided a storage data format management unit for managing a storage data format for element information managed by a generalized information management unit, and an editing diagram of an editing diagram stored in the editing diagram information holding unit. An external storage unit in which drawing information and relation information between components are stored, and drawing information of an editing diagram stored in the external storage unit and relation information between components are managed by the storage data format management unit. And a storage data format conversion means for converting the data in accordance with the storage data format.

According to the present invention, components such as symbols of an edited diagram created and edited by combining various diagram notations are represented by respective symbols (notations).
Is converted and stored in a predetermined storage data format corresponding to.

According to the present invention, there is provided an extended editing function table in which names of editing functions extended for element information managed by generalized information management means are stored in a table format corresponding to the element information; An extension editing library in which a program realizing the extension editing function registered in the extension editing library is stored in correspondence with each name, and necessary extensions from the extension editing library based on the information stored in the extension editing function table. Extended editing means for dynamically calling an editing function program to provide an extended editing function.

According to the present invention, an extended editing function is provided by dynamically calling a required extended editing function program from the extended editing library based on information stored in the extended editing function table. Therefore, the function of the symbol can be freely extended by updating the storage contents of the extended editing library and the extended editing function table.

According to the present invention, a fixed pattern table in which patterns of various symbols constituting a diagram to be edited are fixedly stored in advance, and the patterns of various symbols stored in the fixed pattern table are stored in the generalized information management. And a component definition means for processing the data into a format corresponding to the format of the element information and causing the generalized information management means to additionally hold the information as one of the element information. According to the present invention, it is possible to update the element information in the generalized information management means by diverting the functions installed in the existing CASE tool.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 schematically shows a software development support device according to the present embodiment. The software development support device includes a diagram generalization unit 1 for generalizing a target diagram and managing information defining each element;
Editing function extension means 2 for managing information defining extended editing functions executable for diagram elements, and various notations using information defined in diagram generalization means 1 or editing function extension means 2 Editing means 3 for executing an editing operation corresponding to the law, editing information management means 4 for managing diagram information created and edited by the editing means 3, and diagrams managed by the editing information management means 4. A display unit 5 for displaying a diagram created and edited by the editing unit 3 using information; a storage data format management unit 6 for managing a storage format of each element of the diagram edited by various notations; Information management means 4
And a data storage means 7 for storing the information stored in the storage data format in a format designated by the storage data format management means 6. FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of the software development support device according to this embodiment. The diagram generalizing means 1 constitutes a mechanism for managing information of a diagram to be edited in the diagram component definition file 11, the definition file I / O unit 12, and the diagram component definition table 13.

Diagram component definition file 11
Is a storage file for storing information on the components of the diagram to be edited in a text format. The diagram to be edited is generalized based on an algorithm described later and defined according to a predetermined grammar. The diagram component information defined in the diagram component definition file 11 is converted by the definition file I / O unit 12 into a format that can be easily processed by a computer, and stored in the diagram component definition table 13.

Diagram component definition table 13
Is composed of a symbol element table 14, a symbol relation table 15, and a sheet definition table 16. The symbol element table 14 holds information on the symbols constituting the diagram such as boxes and arrows among the diagram component information, and the symbol relation table 15 stores the connection relations between the symbols (boxes, arrows, etc.) (the meaning in the notation). ) Is held. Further, the sheet definition table 16 stores information for defining a sheet itself as a mount for creating a diagram.

In the present invention, as described above, the diagram to be edited is generalized, and the result is defined as diagram component information by a predetermined grammar. Here, a generalization method of the diagram to be edited will be described.

FIGS. 10 to 17 show examples of notation of diagrams in the notation of the conventional method. Specifically, they are a data flow diagram, a state transition diagram, a RED diagram, a module configuration diagram, an object model diagram, an event trace diagram, a state transition diagram, and a class configuration diagram.

Although these diagrams are based on different notations and are completely different in appearance, it can be seen that they are represented by a common concept as shown in FIGS. That is, all diagrams can be generalized to the following rules (a) to (c). (A) It is composed of object type symbols such as boxes and circles, relation type symbols such as lines and arrows connecting these object type symbols, and sheet objects which are mounts for describing each symbol. (B) Both the object type symbol and the relation type symbol have n text areas. (C) The relationship among the objects of the object type symbol, the relation type symbol, and the sheet object has any one of “connection relationship”, “dependency relationship”, “inclusion relationship”, “hierarchical relationship”, and “description relationship”. Further, regarding the above (c), the following (c-1) to (c-
It can be organized from the viewpoint of 6). (C-1) "Connection relationship" between object type symbols and object type symbols. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a connection relationship in an arrow type symbol. (C-2) "Dependency" of the object type symbol with respect to the arrow type symbol. For example, a couple symbol for a module call arrow as shown in FIG. (C-3) "Dependency" of the object type symbol with respect to the object type symbol. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the dependency of a method symbol on a class symbol. (C-4) "Inclusion relation" between included symbols and included symbols between object type symbols. For example, FIG.
The inclusion relation of the state symbol as shown in. (C-5) "Hierarchical relationship" between an object type symbol and a sheet object describing its details. For example, as shown in FIG. (C-6) "Description related" between sheet objects and object type symbols. For example, types of symbols that can be described on a sheet as shown in FIG.

The above (a) which generalizes the target diagram
The rules (c) to (c) can be expressed in a language format as shown in FIG. 6, and the format shown in FIG. 6 is the data format of the diagram component definition file 11. <ClassName
> Define "hierarchical relationship", <TypeName> specifies object type symbol or relation type symbol, and <RelationType>"connectionrelationship""inclusionrelationship"
Specify the "dependency" and define the symbol drawing pattern with <PatternName>.

When the diagram component information stored in the text format in the diagram component definition file 11 is converted into a format that can be easily processed by a computer and stored in the diagram component definition table 13, the diagram becomes editable. Become. Definition file I / O unit 12
Analyzes the text information of the diagram component definition file 11 in response to an editing instruction input from the editor and creates the diagram component definition table 13.

The following information is stored in the symbol element table 14 of the diagram element definition table 13 by the definition file I / O unit 12. That is, for the symbols included in the diagram, they are “element number”, “type number”, and “pattern number”. The element number is an identification number for identifying the type of the symbol in another table, and a unique number is assigned to each type of the symbol. The type number is an identifier for designating an object type or an arrow type, and the pattern number is an identification number for a symbol pattern type.

The following information is stored in the symbol relation table 15 of the diagram component definition table 13 by the definition file I / O unit 12. That is, for the symbols included in the diagram, the respective data are stored in the items of “element number”, “relation type designation”, and “relation destination designation”. For the element number, specify the type of the relation source symbol of the symbol by the element number defined in the symbol element table 14, and for the relation type specification, specify one of "connection relation", "inclusion relation", and "dependency relation". The identifier of the symbol is stored in the symbol element table 1.
Specify with the element number defined in 4.

The following information is stored in the sheet definition table 16 of the diagram component definition table 13 by the definition file I / O unit 12. That is, a sheet type that defines the type of the sheet to be created, a sheet title that defines the sheet description of the sheet itself, a parent symbol specification that specifies a hierarchical relationship between the object type symbol and the sheet, and a specification of a symbol that can be described in the sheet. And a symbol relation table.

The part related to the diagram editing function of the software development support apparatus is constituted by the editing means 3, the editing information management means 4, and the display means 5. Editing means 3
Are required from the fixed editing unit 3-1 for performing basic editing according to the editing operation, the extended editing unit 3-2 for performing editing by using an extended editing function described later, and the diagram component definition table 13 when editing a diagram. General information reference means 3-3 for extracting important information. The entity of the diagram created and edited by the editing means 3 is stored in the table of the editing information management means 4 as table information.

The editing information management means 4 manages table information indicating the entity of the diagram being created and edited in the editing diagram holding table 17. The editing diagram holding table 17 includes an editing symbol table 18 for holding symbols created as diagrams under the editing means 3 and an editing relationship table 19 for holding information indicating relationships between symbols created as diagrams. I have.

The edit symbol table 18 manages symbols by element numbers defined in the symbol definition table 13, and displays the coordinates (x, y format) of the symbols, the display size of the symbols (vertical and horizontal magnifications), and necessary symbols. Text information is stored in association with element numbers. The editing relation table 19 stores the meaning of connection from the start symbol to the end symbol as a relation between symbols. The start point symbol and the end point symbol are managed by element numbers stored in the edit symbol table 18, and the relation between the symbols is configured from the relation type and relation destination information stored in the symbol relation table 15.

The display means 5 comprises a diagram display unit 20 as a display unit for visualizing the diagram being edited. The screen of the diagram display unit 20 corresponds to the x and y coordinates of the edit symbol table 18, and the layout coordinates in which each symbol and text information stored in the edit symbol table 18 are stored corresponding to the table 18. And display control based on the size. Therefore, the editing unit 3 updates the storage contents of the editing symbol table 18 based on the editing operation of the editor, so that the diagram being edited is displayed on the diagram display unit 20 in real time.

Here, the relationship between the notation of the diagram to be edited on the device and the editing function of the editing means 3 will be described. Various diagrams created in various diagram notations are converted into a generalized form that does not depend on the diagram notation, and then saved in the diagram component definition table 13 as a diagram to be edited. Thus, the diagram fixed editing unit 3-1 can perform editing corresponding to various diagram notations without equipping a tool for each notation.

For example, the data flow diagram shown in FIG. 10 and the state transition diagram shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the data is generalized by the generalization algorithm and stored in the diagram component definition table 13. If it is appropriate to use a data flow format diagram as the editing target diagram due to the nature of the development software, the editor instructs the editing means 3 on the necessary components in the data flow format. Diagram fixed editing part 3-
1 instructs the designated component information to the diagram component reference unit 3-3. The diagram component reference section 3-3 extracts the element information and the relation information of the corresponding component from the diagram component definition table 13 and passes them to the diagram fixed editing section 3-1.

The diagram fixed editing unit 3-1 stores the information obtained through the diagram component reference unit 3-3 in the edited diagram holding table 17. That is, the obtained element number of the symbol, the text information, the arrangement coordinates and the size designated by the editor are written in the edit symbol table 18, and the relation information between the symbols is written in the edit relation table 19. As a result, the diagram is edited on the image in the data flow format notation, and not only the editing on the image but also the relationship information between the symbols provided in the data flow format notation is performed. It will be saved corresponding to the flow diagram. That is, the same editing is performed as when the diagram is edited in the data flow format notation.

On the other hand, it is assumed that, in developing the software, it is sometimes appropriate to use a diagram in a state transition format as a diagram to be edited. In this case, the editor instructs the editing means 3 on the components in the state transition format. The diagram fixed editing unit 3-1 sends the designated component information to the diagram component reference unit 3-3.
Give instructions to get it. Thereafter, editing using the components in the state transition format is performed in the same manner as in the data flow format. In this case as well, the diagram is edited on the image of the state transition format notation, and not only the editing on the image but also the relation information between the symbols provided in the state transition format notation. Are also saved corresponding to the state transition diagram.
In other words, editing equivalent to editing the diagram in the state transition format notation is performed.

As one of the editing functions of the editing means 3, a function of displaying element information such as symbols defined in the diagram component definition table 13 on the display section 20 and selecting the information by means of a pointing device or the like. Shall be provided. Element information is displayed according to the notation. The system is configured such that the element information selected on the display unit 20 is notified to the diagram component reference unit 3-3.

The part relating to the storage mechanism for storing the edited diagram is constituted by the storage data format management means 6 and the data storage means 7. Saved data format management means 6
Is composed of a saved data format definition file 21, a data format definition table 22, and a definition file I / O unit 23. The save data format definition file 21 is a save file that holds the format of the save data in a text format corresponding to the symbols defined in the diagram component definition table 13. The definition file I / O unit 23 converts the information stored in the stored data format definition file 21 into a format that can be easily processed by a computer and stores the converted information in the data format definition table 22.

The editing diagram holding table 17
Is saved in the data storage unit 24 as save data. Data storage unit 24
Is read / written via the stored data input / output unit 25. The saved data input / output unit 25 converts the information of the editing diagram held in the editing diagram holding table 17 into a format defined in the data format definition table 22 and stores the converted data.

The format of the stored data is roughly classified into an object type symbol and an arrow type symbol defined in the diagram component definition table 13, and FIG.
As shown in (1), it can be expressed in the form of symbol keyword, text, and coordinate data regardless of the type of symbol. FIG.
As shown in the table, the saved data format definition file 21 specifies a symbol type for specifying whether the symbol is an object type symbol or an arrow type symbol for each symbol.
Register the specific name of the symbol keyword. Therefore, a format type and a keyword are defined in the data format definition table 22 based on the element numbers of the symbols.

Since the data format definition table 22 holds the storage format, the edit diagram holding table 17
Is given, the saved data input / output unit 25 extracts the saved format of the symbol to be saved from the data format definition table 22 using the element number as a key, and saves the saved format. The data is converted into a format and stored in the data storage unit 24 as storage data.

Thus, even if symbols of various notations are mixed by editing the editing diagram by combining various diagram notations,
Each component of the editing diagram can be stored and reproduced based on a predetermined storage format.

The software development support apparatus according to this embodiment has a system configuration so that the editing function can be extended. The part relating to the function of adding the editing function is constituted by the editing function extension means 2 and the extended editing function 3-2.

The editing function extension means 2 includes a diagram extended editing function definition file 26, an extended editing function table 2
7, an I / O unit 28 and a diagram extension editing library 29. An editing function to be added to each symbol defined in the diagram component definition table 13 is registered in the diagram extension editing library 29, and the name of the additional editing function in the diagram extension editing library 29 is written in text format in the diagram extension editing function definition file 26. To be kept. FIG. 9 shows a definition format of an extended function related to a symbol in the diagram extended editing function definition file 26. The extended symbol information defined in the diagram extended editing function definition file 26 in such a format is converted into a format that can be easily processed by a computer in the I / O unit 28 and stored in the extended editing function table 27. Each program that realizes the extended function of the symbol defined in the extended editing function table 27 is stored in the diagram extended editing library 29.

The diagram extension editing section 3-2 receives necessary information from the diagram extension editing library 29 based on the information of the additional editing function defined in the extension editing function table 27 when the editor designates the symbol extension function. By dynamically reading and executing the program, the editing diagram holding table 17 can be edited using the additional editing function.

The symbol data that can be fixedly held by the software development support apparatus is stored in a fixed symbol table 30. The fixed symbol table 30 stores a symbol pattern specified by the definition of the diagram component definition file 11 as graphic data, and an identifier (pattern number) for specifying a pattern used in the diagram component definition file 11.
And a type number that specifies the type of symbol (box type or arrow type).

The diagram component definition unit 31 extracts a symbol to be used by the software development support device from the fixed symbol table 30 and defines it, and stores the information of the symbol in a new diagram component definition file 11.
Create as This diagram component definition unit 31
Is typically configured using the symbol definition function held by the editor. When a new diagram component definition file 11 is created, it is converted by the file definition I / O unit 12 according to the processing mode of the computer when the editor is started as described above, and then stored in the diagram component definition table 13 for editing. Can be used for

In this embodiment, as a method of customizing a diagram, a method of directly modifying the diagram component definition file 11 and a new diagram configuration in the diagram component definition unit 31 using the fixed symbols of the fixed symbol table 30 are used. There is a method that the element definition file 11 creates.

According to this embodiment, the diagram to be edited created in a predetermined diagram notation is decomposed into items common to diagrams created in each notation and generalized, and the diagram component definition table 13 is created. The diagram can be created and edited using the component information stored in the diagram component definition table 13, so that the essential functions of each notation are independent of the notation of the diagram to be edited. You can edit freely while maintaining.

Therefore, it is possible to develop software by strategically combining the conventional method and the new method without modifying the editing program of the editing means, thereby improving productivity and quality. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a customization function with a high degree of freedom without depending on a specific method, and to use various computer systems and software structures / types. Software development support device that can respond to changes in

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual functional block diagram of a software development support device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a software development support device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a generalized concept of a diagram, and is a diagram illustrating a “connection relationship” between object figures and the like;

FIG. 4 is a diagram extracting and showing a part of “inclusive relation” between object figures in the diagram shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram extracting and showing a “containment relationship” between an object graphic and a sheet object in the diagram shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a storage format of a diagram component definition file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a stored data format of a symbol.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a storage format of a storage data format definition file.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a storage format of a diagram extended editing function definition file.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a data flow format as one of diagram notations.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state transition format as one of diagram notations.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a RED format as one of the diagram notations.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a module configuration format as one of diagram notations.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an object model format as one of the diagram notations.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an event trace format as one of diagram notations.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another state transition format as one of the diagram notations.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a class structure format as one of diagram notations.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Diagram generalization means 2 ... Editing function expansion means 3 ... Editing means 3-1 ... Fixed editing means 3-2 ... Extended editing means 3-3 ... Generalized information reference means 4 ... Editing information management means 5 ... Display means 6 ... Saved data format management means 7 ... Data storage means 11 ... Diagram component definition file 12 ... Definition file I / O unit 13 ... Diagram component definition table 14 ... Symbol element table 15 ... Symbol relation table 16 ... Sheet definition table 17 ... Edit diagram holding table

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A software development support device that provides an editing function for editing an editing target diagram created in a predetermined diagram notation, wherein components of the editing target diagram are represented by a concept common to a plurality of diagram notations. A generalized information managing unit that manages the arranged element information; a diagram editing unit that edits the edit target diagram using element information of the edit target diagram that is managed by the generalized information management unit; Editing diagram information holding means for holding, in the form of drawing information, a component related to the diagram being edited by the diagram editing means, and holding relation information between components included in the element information regarding the component; Based on the drawing information held by the editing diagram information holding means Software development support apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying an editing diagrams. 2. The software development support device according to claim 1, wherein: a storage data format management unit that manages a storage data format for element information managed by the generalized information management unit; and the editing diagram. External storage means for storing the drawing information of the editing diagram and the relationship information between the components held in the information holding means; and drawing information of the editing diagram and the relationship information between the components to be stored in the external storage means. A software development support device comprising: a storage data format conversion unit configured to convert according to a storage data format managed by a storage data format management unit. 3. The software development support device according to claim 1, wherein the name of the editing function extended with respect to the element information managed by the generalized information management means is in a table format corresponding to the element information. An extended editing function table stored, an extended editing library in which a program realizing the extended editing function registered in the extended editing function table is stored corresponding to each name, and stored in the extended editing function table Extended editing means for dynamically calling a program for a required extended editing function from the extended editing library based on the information being provided and providing an extended editing function. apparatus. 4. The software development support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fixed pattern table in which patterns of various symbols constituting the diagram to be edited are fixedly stored in advance. Processing the patterns of the various symbols stored in the fixed pattern table into a format that matches the format of the element information in the generalized information management means, and additionally retains the pattern as one of the element information in the generalized information management means And a component defining means for causing the software development. 5. The software development support device according to claim 1, wherein the generalized information management unit is configured to identify a type of each symbol constituting a diagram to be edited. A symbol element table in which table information including an element number, a type number indicating a symbol type, and a pattern number indicating a drawing pattern of the symbol is stored; and the element number indicating the type of a relation source symbol of the symbol and the symbol Connection relationship with other symbols related to
A symbol relation table in which table information including relation type designation information for designating relevant relation information out of an inclusive relation and a dependent relation and the element number indicating a type of a relation destination symbol of the symbol is stored. Software development support device characterized by the following. 6. The software development support device according to claim 1, wherein said editing diagram information holding means includes an element number of each symbol constituting an editing diagram and a symbol number of the symbol. The edit symbol table holding the table information consisting of the arrangement position and, if applicable, text information, the element numbers of the individual symbols constituting the edit diagram, the start symbol and the end symbol or the intermediate point, and And an editing relation table holding table information including relation information indicating the relation of