NAVIGATION TO A DATA DEFINITION IN A DIFF CONTEXT

• US 20130346909A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: ADVANI, PAVAN L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/194 Calculation of difference between files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/33 Intelligent editors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Navigation to a data definition in a diff context. A diff comparison can be generated between at least two versions of a first file. The diff comparison can identify syntax of at least a first method identified in a portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the first file, the first method defined by a data definition in a second file. The diff comparison can configure syntax of the first method to be a first navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the first file. At least two versions of the first file can be presented to a user in a file difference window, and a user input can be received selecting the first navigable block of data. Responsive to the user input, the second file can be presented to the user in the file difference window.

Claims

1. A method of navigating to a data definition in a diff context, the method comprising:

via a processor, generating a first diff comparison between at least two versions of a first file, the first diff comparison identifying syntax of at least a first method identified in a portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the first file, the first method referencing a first data definition in a second file, and the first diff comparison configuring syntax of the first method to be a first navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the first file;

presenting to a user the at least two versions of the first file in a file difference window;

receiving a user input selecting the first navigable block of data; and

responsive to the user input, presenting to the user the second file in the file difference window.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a second diff comparison between at least two versions of the second file, the second diff comparison identifying syntax of at least a second method identified in the portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the second file, the second method referencing a second data definition in a third file, and the second diff comparison configuring syntax of the second method to be a navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the second file;

wherein presenting to the user the second file in the file difference window comprises presenting the at least two versions of the second file in the file difference window.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the versions of the second file correspond to respective versions of the first file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying at least one effect that distinguishes the portion of syntax in a first of the two versions from the portion of syntax in a second of the two versions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying at least one effect that distinguishes the syntax of the method in a first of the two versions from syntax of the method in a second of the two versions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user input selecting the first navigable block of data, presenting to the user in the file difference window a call hierarchy, the call hierarchy identifying at least a second data definition which defines a second method called by the first method.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the call hierarchy further identifies at least a third data definition which defines a third method called by the second method.

8. A data processing system comprising:

a processor configured to initiate executable operations comprising;

generating a first diff comparison between at least two versions of a first file, the first diff comparison identifying syntax of at least a first method identified in a portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the first file, the first method referencing a first data definition in a second file, and the first diff comparison configuring syntax of the first method to be a first navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the first file;

presenting to a user the at least two versions of the first file in a file difference window;

receiving a user input selecting the first navigable block of data; and

responsive to the user input, presenting to the user the second file in the file difference window.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor further is configured to initiate executable operations comprising:

generating a second diff comparison between at least two versions of the second file, the second diff comparison identifying syntax of at least a second method identified in the portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the second file, the second method referencing a second data definition in a third file, and the second diff comparison configuring syntax of the second method to be a navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the second file;

wherein presenting to the user the second file in the file difference window comprises presenting the at least two versions of the second file in the file difference window.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the versions of the second file correspond to respective versions of the first file.

11. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor further is configured to initiate executable operations comprising:

applying at least one effect that distinguishes the portion of syntax in a first of the two versions from the portion of syntax in a second of the two versions.

12. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor further is configured to initiate executable operations comprising:

applying at least one effect that distinguishes the syntax of the method in a first of the two versions from syntax of the method in a second of the two versions.

13. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor further is configured to initiate executable operations comprising:

responsive to the user input selecting the first navigable block of data, presenting to the user in the file difference window a call hierarchy, the call hierarchy identifying at least a second data definition which defines a second method called by the first method.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the call hierarchy further identifies at least a third data definition which defines a third method called by the second method.

15. A computer program product for navigating to a data definition in a diff context, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed, configures a processor to perform executable operations comprising;

generating a first diff comparison between at least two versions of a first file, the first diff comparison identifying syntax of at least a first method identified in a portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the first file, the first method referencing a first data definition in a second file, and the first diff comparison configuring syntax of the first method to be a first navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the first file;

presenting to a user the at least two versions of the first file in a file difference window;

receiving a user input selecting the first navigable block of data; and

responsive to the user input, presenting to the user the second file in the file difference window.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, the executable operations further comprising:

generating a second diff comparison between at least two versions of the second file, the second diff comparison identifying syntax of at least a second method identified in the portion of syntax that is different between the at least two versions of the second file, the second method referencing a second data definition in a third file, and the second diff comparison configuring syntax of the second method to be a navigable block of data in at least one of the versions of the second file;

wherein presenting to the user the second file in the file difference window comprises presenting the at least two versions of the second file in the file difference window.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the versions of the second file correspond to respective versions of the first file.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, the executable operations further comprising:

applying at least one effect that distinguishes the portion of syntax in a first of the two versions from the portion of syntax in a second of the two versions.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, the executable operations further comprising:

applying at least one effect that distinguishes the syntax of the method in a first of the two versions from syntax of the method in a second of the two versions.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, the executable operations further comprising:

responsive to the user input selecting the first navigable block of data, presenting to the user in the file difference window a call hierarchy, the call hierarchy identifying at least a second class which defines a second method called by the first method.