Variable namespaces and scoping for variables in an object model

• US 20060010423A1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Haselden, J. Kirk
• Application Number:
  US10/887,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010423A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented

Abstract

Providing for the utilization of namespaces in connection with an object model variable enables variables to be differentiated by associating each variable with one of a number of available namespaces. Related variables can be grouped together by associating a group of variables with a particular namespace, thereby making it easier to recognize related variables. Providing scoping capabilities for a variable is enabled by associating a variable with the object that created it and making that variable inaccessible to another object within the execution environment.

Claims

1. A system for differentiating variables in an object model comprising:

an execution environment that associates a first variable with a first namespace in the object model, the first variable thereby differentiated from a second variable in a second namespace.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the object model comprises a data transformation system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the object model comprises a container, the container comprising a subsection of the object model.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the object model is associated with a function and the first namespace is associated with the function.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of variables are grouped by associating the plurality of variables with the first namespace.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a name of the first variable and a name of the second variable are identical.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the object model comprises a first function and a second function, the first function associated with the first namespace and the second function associated with the second namespace.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein an identifier for the first variable comprises the first namespace and a name of the first variable.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the object model comprises a first container and a second container and the first variable is associated with the first container and the second variable is associated with the second container, wherein the first variable is inaccessible to the second container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second variable is inaccessible to the first container.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first namespace is associated with a component that uses the first variable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a name of the first variable reflects a use of the first variable.

13. A method for differentiating a first variable from a second variable in an object model, the object model comprising a first component, the method comprising:

associating a namespace with the first component, the first component associated with the first variable, the first variable associated with a first variable name;

combining the namespace with the first variable name to generate a unique identifier for the first variable.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a definition of the first component in the object model.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a definition of the first variable in the object model.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first variable name and a name associated with the second variable are identical.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein an identifier for the namespace reflects a function of the first component.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first variable name reflects a use of the first variable.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:

associating a namespace with a first component, the first component associated with a first variable, the first variable associated with a first variable name;

combining the namespace with the first variable name to generate a unique identifier for the first variable.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, comprising further computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a definition of the first component in the object model.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, comprising further computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a definition of the first variable in the object model.

22. A system for scoping variables comprising:

an execution environment that executes an object model comprising a first container and a second container, the execution environment associating a first variable with the first container, the first variable inaccessible to the second container.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a storage area for storing the first variable comprises a call stack.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the call stack is reset when the first container is exited.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the execution environment comprises a data transformation system.

26. A method for making a first variable associated with a first subsection of an object model inaccessible to a second subsection of the object model, comprising:

receiving a definition for the first subsection of the object model, the first subsection definition comprising a first variable definition for the first variable;

storing the first variable in a location inaccessible to the second subsection of the object model.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising storing the first variable in a call stack.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising resetting the call stack when the first subsection exits.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a second subsection definition, the second subsection definition defining a second variable, wherein the second variable is inaccessible to the first subsection.

30. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a definition for a first subsection, the first subsection definition comprising a first variable definition for a first variable;

storing the first variable in a location inaccessible to a second subsection of the object model.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, comprising further computer-executable instructions for:

storing the first variable in a call stack.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, comprising further computer-executable instructions for:

resetting the call stack when the first subsection exits.