Mapping source and target objects

• US 20070162489A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hobbs, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24565 Triggers; Constraints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/86 Mapping to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Provided are techniques for drawing mapping lines between source and target objects. A main view is displayed that shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects, wherein a mapping line represents each mapping. Input that modifies the main view is received. In response to receiving the input, the mapping lines are sorted with a mapping strategy, and the mapping lines are drawn based on the mapping strategy.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for drawing mapping lines between source and target objects, comprising:

displaying a main view that shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects, wherein a mapping line represents each mapping;

receiving input that modifies the main view; and

in response to receiving the input,

sorting the mapping lines with a mapping strategy; and

drawing the mapping lines based on the mapping strategy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a new mapping between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises scrolling of at least one of a source area, a mapping area, and a target area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the mapping strategy by user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping strategy uses a slope of a line to sort and draw lines, further comprising:

determining the slope of each mapping line to be drawn, wherein the sorting comprises sorting based on the slope and wherein the drawing comprises drawing each mapping line according to the slope of that mapping line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each mapping line that has a smaller slope than each of the other mapping lines is drawn before the other mapping lines.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

display a main view that shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects, wherein a mapping line represents each mapping;

receive input that modifies the main view; and

in response to receiving the input,

sort the mapping lines with a mapping strategy; and

draw the mapping lines based on the mapping strategy.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the input comprises a new mapping between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the input comprises scrolling of at least one of a source area, a mapping area, and a target area.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive the mapping strategy by user input.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the mapping strategy uses a slope of a line to sort and draw lines, and wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

determine the slope of each mapping line to be drawn, wherein the sorting comprises sorting based on the slope and wherein the drawing comprises drawing each mapping line according to the slope of that mapping line.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein each mapping line that has a smaller slope than each of the other mapping lines is drawn before the other mapping lines.

13. A system for drawing mapping lines between source and target objects, comprising:

logic capable of performing operations, the operations comprising;

displaying a main view that shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects, wherein a mapping line represents each mapping;

receiving input that modifies the main view; and

in response to receiving the input,

sorting the mapping lines with a mapping strategy; and

drawing the mapping lines based on the mapping strategy.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the input comprises a new mapping between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the input comprises scrolling of at least one of a source area, a mapping area, and a target area.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the mapping strategy by user input.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the mapping strategy uses a slope of a line to sort and draw lines, and wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the slope of each mapping line to be drawn, wherein the sorting comprises sorting based on the slope and wherein the drawing comprises drawing each mapping line according to the slope of that mapping line.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each mapping line that has a smaller slope than each of the other mapping lines is drawn before the other mapping lines.