Method and apparatus for transforming objects in data models

• US 5,315,709 A
• Filed: 12/03/1990
• Issued: 05/24/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bachman Information Systems, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Quayle, Kenneth W. III, Farrell, John J. III, Alston, Lawrence E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US07/621,751
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 395/500, 395/600, 395/650, 395/700, 395/800
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

The invention is directed to a computer implemented system and apparatus for transforming objects in a first data model (source design objects) to objects in a second data model (target design objects) and synchronizing the two data models. The result of the transformation is that at least one of the target design objects is associated with a corresponding source design object. The system associates a unique identifier with each of the target design objects and source design objects, the unique identifier being associated with each map associated with each design object.

Claims

1. A digital computer implemented method for automatically coordinating objects in a first data model, said first data model having source design objects in a source design space, with corresponding objects in a second data model, said second data model having target design objects in a target design space, one or more of said target design objects being associated with a corresponding one of said source design objects, and for synchronizing, in real time, said first data model and said second data model, comprising steps of:

A. associating a unique source identifier with each of said source design objects;

B. associating at least one selectively modifiable source map with one or more of said source design objects, said source map having source map objects and being associated with said unique source identifier for said one or more of said source design objects, at least one of said source map objects being representative of source parameters for use in implementing a predetermined set of rules in said source design space, said rules including source design object transformation rules;

C. associating a unique target identifier with each of said target design objects;

D. associating at least one selectively modifiable target map with one or more of said target design objects, said target map having target map objects and being associated with said unique target identifier for said one or more of said target design objects, at least one of said target map objects being representative of target parameters for use in implementing said predetermined set of rules in said target design space;

E. generating from one or more of said source design objects one or more conversion objects in said target design space in accordance with said source design object transformation rules, said conversion objects each having an associated conversion map; and

F. merging one or more of said conversion objects and said associated conversion maps into one or more of said corresponding target design objects and said associated target maps to establish a merged object and associated merged map, whereby said one or more of said target design objects have their associated unique target identifier related to said unique source identifier associated with said one or more of said source design objects.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said source design map and said target design map define a single composite map in a distinct design space, the method further comprising steps of:

A. associating a unique composite map identifier with said composite map;

B. establishing a unique relationship between said composite map identifier and said source design objects; and

C. establishing a unique relationship between said composite map identifier and said target design objects.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein step (B) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said source design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein step (D) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising a step, prior to said converting step (E) for a source design object, of:

identifying zero, one, or more target design objects in said target design space, as being said target design objects associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, said association being represented by system map objects in said system maps.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said identifying step further comprises substeps of:

A. identifying instances when zero target design objects are identified; and

B. initiating an action in response to said identified instance, said action including one from the set consisting of delete said source map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, rebuild a user map, and create a null map for said source design objects in said target design space.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein steps (A) through (F) are sequentially performed for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

8. The method according to claim 2 wherein steps (A) through (F) are sequentially performed for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said source design space includes one or more classtypes of said source design objects, and wherein steps (A) through (F) are further sequentially performed for each of said source design objects of a similar classtype.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein each of said classtypes includes an associated hierarchy value, and wherein said steps (A) through (F) are further sequentially performed in accordance with said hierarchy value.

11. The method according to claim 2 wherein said target map includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said method further comprising steps of:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. responsive to identification of said null reference, selectively modifying said one of said target design objects and said target map associated with said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said predetermined action is a nullify target action, including a substep of removing said reference from said target map associated with said one of said target design objects.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said predetermined action is a delete map action, including the substep of deleting said associated target map.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including a substep of removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

15. The method according to claim 2 further comprising a step of generating a template for naming each of said source design objects and each of said target design objects, said template including a selectively predetermined object identifier, and a selectively modifiable object variable.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects does not match said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object; and

B. initiating addition of said one conversion object to said target design space for said instances identified.

17. The method according to claim 2 wherein said merging step (F) further comprises the substeps of:

A. comparing said merged object with said predetermined set of rules;

B. identifying instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules; and

C. generating a signal representative of each of said instances.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising substep of resolving, following said generated signal, said instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules in response to external input.

19. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said target design objects includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said method further comprising the steps of:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. responsive to identification of said null reference, selectively modifying said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including the substep of removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

21. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises substeps of:

A. identifying instances when one of said conversion objects has an associated name that matches said name associated with one of said target design objects and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object matches said target map associated with said one target design object; and

B. fusing said one conversion object with said one target design object, including the further substep of over-writing properties of said one conversion object to said one target design object for each of said instances identified.

22. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said name associated with one of said conversion objects matches said name associated with one of said target design objects, and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object does not match said target map of said one target design object;

B. generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. initiating an action in response to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said action including one from the set consisting of;

i. append said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object;

ii. rename said one conversion object; and

,

iii. append said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object, then over-write properties of said conversion object to said one target design object.

23. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects matches said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object;

B. generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. initiating an action in response to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said action including one from the set consisting of;

i. append said target map associated with said one target design object to said source design object associated with said one conversion object, build said one conversion object into said target design space, then over-write properties of said conversion object to said one target design object;

ii. remove said target map associated with said one target design object, and build said one conversion object into said target design space; and

,

iii. replace said source design map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects with said target map associated with said one target design object, then over-write properties of said source design object to said one target design object.

24. The method according to claim 2 wherein step (D) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

25. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said target design objects is selectively modifiable by a user, said method further comprising a step of maintaining said unique target identifier associated with each modified target design object.

26. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first data model is a relational data model, and said second data model is an extended entity data model.

27. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first data model is an extended entity data model, and said second data model is a relational model.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein steps (A) through (F) are sequentially performed for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said source design space includes one or more classtypes of said source design objects, and wherein steps (A) through (F) are further sequentially performed for each of said source design objects of a similar classtype.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein each of said classtypes includes an associated hierarchy value, and wherein said steps (A) through (F) are further sequentially performed in accordance with said hierarchy value.

31. The method according to claim 27 wherein step (B) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said source design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein step (D) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

33. The method according to claim 32 further comprising a step, prior to said converting step (E) for a source design object, of:

identifying zero, one, or more of said target design objects in said target design space, as being said target design objects associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, said association being represented by system map objects in said system maps.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein said identifying step further comprises substeps of:

A. identifying instances when zero target design objects are identified; and

B. initiating an action in response to said identified instances, said action including one from the set consisting of delete said source map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, rebuild a user map, and create a null map for said corresponding one of said source design objects in said target design space.

35. The method according to claim 33 wherein steps (A) through (F) are sequentially performed for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

36. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (B) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said source design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein step (D) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with at least one of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

38. The method according to claim 37 further comprising a step, prior to said step (E) for a source design object, of:

identifying zero, one, or more of said target design objects in said target design space, as being said target design objects associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, said association being represented by system map objects in said system maps.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein said identifying step further comprises substeps of:

A. identifying instances when zero target design objects are identified; and

B. initiating an action in response to said identified instance, said action including one from the set consisting of delete said source map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, rebuild a user map, and create a null map for said corresponding one of said source design objects in said target design space.

40. The method according to claim 38 wherein steps (A) through (F) are sequentially performed for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

41. The method according to claim 1 wherein steps (A) through (F) are sequentially performed for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

42. The method according to claim 41 wherein said source design space includes one or more classtypes of source design objects, and wherein steps (A) through (F) are further sequentially performed for each of said source design objects of a similar classtype.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein each of said classtypes includes an associated hierarchy value, and wherein said steps (A) through (F) are further sequentially performed in accordance with said hierarchy value.

44. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of generating a template for naming each of said source design objects and each of said target design objects, said template including a selectively predetermined object identifier, and a selectively modifiable object variable.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects does not match said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object; and

B. initiating addition of said one conversion object to said target design space for said instances identified.

46. The method according to claim 1 wherein said merging step (F) further comprises the substeps of:

A. comparing said merged object with said predetermined set of rules;

B. identifying instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules; and

C. generating a signal representative of each of said instances.

47. The method according to claim 46 further comprising substep of resolving, following said generated signal, said instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules in response to external input.

48. The method according to claim 1 wherein said target map includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said method further comprising steps of:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. responsive to identification of said null reference, selectively modifying said one of said target design objects and said target map associated with said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

49. The method according to claim 48 wherein said predetermined action is a nullify target action, including the substep of removing said reference from said target map associated with said one of said target design objects.

50. The method according to claim 48 wherein said predetermined action is a delete map action, including substep of deleting said associated target map.

51. The method according to claim 48 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including a substep of removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

52. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said target design objects includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said method further comprising steps of:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. responsive to identification of said null reference, selectively modifying said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

53. The method according to claim 52 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including a substep of removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

54. The method according to claim 27 wherein said target map includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said method further comprising steps of:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. responsive to identification of said null reference, selectively modifying said one of said target design objects and said target map associated with said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

55. The method according to claim 54 wherein said predetermined action is a nullify target action, including a substep of removing said reference from said target map associated with said one of said target design objects.

56. The method according to claim 54 wherein said predetermined action is a delete map action, including a substep of deleting said target map associated with said one of said target design objects.

57. The method according to claim 54 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including a substep of removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

58. The method according to claim 27 wherein said merging step (F) further comprises substeps of:

A. comparing said merged object with said predetermined set of rules;

B. identifying instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules; and

C. generating a signal representative of each of said instances.

59. The method according to claim 58 further comprising substep of resolving, following said generated signal, said instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules in response to external input.

60. The method according to claim 27 wherein step (D) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

61. The method according to claim 27 further comprising a step of generating a template for naming each of said source design objects and each of said target design objects, said template including a selectively predetermined object identifier, and a selectively modifiable object variable.

62. The method according to claim 27 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises substeps of:

A. identifying instances when one of said conversion objects has an associated name that matches said name associated with one of said target design objects and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object matches said target map associated with said one target design object; and

B. fusing said one conversion object with said one target design object, including a further substep of over-writing properties of said one conversion object to said one target design object for each of said instances identified.

63. The method according to claim 27 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said name associated with one of said conversion objects matches said name associated with one of said target design objects, and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object does not match said target map of said one target design object;

B. generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. initiating an action in response to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said action including one from the set consisting of;

i. append said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object;

ii. rename said one conversion object; and

,

iii. append said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object, then over-write properties of said conversion object to said one target design object.

64. The method according to claim 27 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects matches said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object;

B. generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. initiating an action in response to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said action including one from the set consisting of;

i. append said target map associated with said one target design object to said source design object associated with said one conversion object, build said one conversion object into said target design space, then over-write properties of said conversion object to said one target design object;

ii. remove said target map associated with said one target design object, and build said one conversion object into said target design space; and

,

iii. replace said source design map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects with said target map associated with said one target design object, then over-write properties of said source design object to said one target design object.

65. The method according to claim 27 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects does not match said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object; and

B. initiating addition of said one conversion object to said target design space for said instances identified.

66. The method according to claim 27 wherein each of said target design objects includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said method further comprising steps of:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. responsive to identification of said null reference, selectively modifying said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

67. The method according to claim 66 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including a substep of removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

68. The method according to claim 27, wherein each of said target design objects is selectively modifiable by a user, said method further comprising a step of maintaining said unique target identifier associated with each modified target design object.

69. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (D) includes establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps and associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

70. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises substeps of:

A. identifying instances when one of said conversion objects has an associated name that matches said name associated with one of said target design objects and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object matches said target map associated with said one target design object; and

B. fusing said one conversion object with said one target design object, including the further substep of over-writing properties of said one conversion object to said one target design object for each of said instances identified.

71. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said name associated with one of said conversion objects matches said name associated with one of said target design objects, and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object does not match said target map of said one target design object;

B. generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. initiating an action in response to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said action including one from the set consisting of;

i. append said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object;

ii. rename said one conversion object; and

,

iii. append said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object, then over-write properties of said conversion object to said one target design object.

72. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and wherein said merging step (F) further comprises steps of:

A. identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects matches said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object;

B. generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. initiating an action in response to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said action including one from the set consisting of;

i. append said target map associated with said one target design object to said source design object associated with said one conversion object, build said one conversion object into said target design space, then over-write properties of said conversion object to said one target design object;

ii. remove said target map associated with said one target design object, and build said one conversion object into said target design space; and

,

iii. replace said source design map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects with said target map associated with said one target design object, then over-write properties of said source design object to said one target design object.

73. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said target design objects is selectively modifiable by a user, said method further comprising a step of maintaining said unique target identifier associated with each modified target design object.

74. An apparatus for automatically coordinating objects in a first data model, said first data model having source design objects in a source design space, with corresponding objects in a second data model, said second data model having target design objects in a target design space, at least one of said target design objects being associated with a corresponding one of said source design objects, and for synchronizing, in real time, said first data model and said second data model, comprising:

A. means for associating a unique source identifier with each of said source design objects;

B. source map means for associating one or more selectively modifiable source maps with one or more of said source design objects, each of said source maps having source map objects and being associated with said unique source identifier for said one or more of said source design objects, at least one of said source map objects being representative of source parameters for use in implementing a predetermined set of rules in a source design space, said rules including source design object transformation rules;

C. means for associating a unique target identifier with each of said target design objects;

D. target map means for associating one or more selectively modifiable target maps with one or more of said target design objects, each of said target maps having target map objects and being associated with said unique target identifier for said one or more of said target design objects, at least one of said target map objects being representative of target parameters for use in implementing said predetermined set of rules in a target design space;

E. conversion means for generating, from one or more of said source design objects, one or more conversion objects in said target design space in accordance with said source design object transformation rules, said conversion objects each having an associated conversion map; and

F. merging means for merging one or more of said conversion objects and said associated conversion maps into one or more of said corresponding target design objects and said associated target maps to establish a merged object and associated merged map, whereby said one or more of said target design objects have their associated unique target identifier related to said unique source identifier associated with said one or more of said source design objects.

75. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said first data model is an extended entity data model, and said second data model is a relational model.

76. Apparatus according to claim 74 further comprising controller means for controlling operations of said means (A) through (F) to be sequentially operative in a predetermined order for each of said source design objects in said source design space.

77. Apparatus according to claim 76 wherein said source design space includes one or more classtypes of source design objects, said controller means operating said means (A) through (F) to be sequentially operative in a predetermined order for each of said source design objects of a similar classtype.

78. Apparatus according to claim 77 wherein each of said classtypes includes an associated hierarchy value, and wherein said predetermined order is in accordance with said hierarchy value.

79. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said source map means includes means for establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps, and means for associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said source design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

80. Apparatus according to claim 79 wherein said target map means includes means for establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps, and means for associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system map being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

81. Apparatus according to claim 80 further comprising ID means for identifying zero, one, or more target design objects in said target design space, as being said target design objects associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects, said association being represented by system map objects in said system maps.

82. Apparatus according to claim 81 wherein said ID means further comprises:

A. means for identifying instances when zero target design objects are identified; and

B. response means for acting in response to said identified instance, said response means including one from the set consisting of;

means for deleting said source map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects;

means for rebuilding a user map; and

, means for creating a null map for said corresponding one of said source design objects in said target design space.

83. Apparatus according to claim 81 further comprising controller means for controlling said means (A) through (F) to be sequentially operative in a predetermined order for each source design object in said source design space.

84. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said target map means includes means for establishing one or more system maps and one or more user maps, and means for associating one or more of said system maps and one or more of said user maps with one or more of said target design objects, said system maps being immutable by a user and said user maps being selectively modifiable by said user.

85. Apparatus according to claim 74 further comprising naming means for generating a template for naming each of said source design objects and each of said target design objects, said template including a selectively predetermined object identifier, and a selectively modifiable object variable.

86. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, and wherein said merging means further comprises:

A. means for identifying instances when one of said conversion objects has an associated name that matches one of said names associated with said target design objects and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object matches said target map associated with said one identified target design object; and

B. fusing means for fusing said one conversion object with said one target design object, including means for over-writing properties of said conversion object to said one target design object for each of said instances identified.

87. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein each of said conversion objects includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects includes an associated name, wherein said merging means further comprises:

A. means for identifying instances when said name associated with one of said conversion objects matches said name associated with one of said target design objects, and said conversion map associated with said one conversion object does not match said target map of said one target design object;

B. signal means for generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. response means for responding to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said response means including one from the set consisting of;

i. means for appending said conversion map to said target map associated with said one target design object;

ii. means for renaming said one conversion object; and

,

iii. means for appending said conversion map associated with said one conversion object to said target map associated with said one target design object, and means for over-writing properties of said conversion object to said one target design object.

88. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, wherein said merging means further comprises:

A. means for identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects matches said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object;

B. signal means for generating a signal representative of each of said instances identified; and

C. response means for responding to external input, said external input being responsive to said signal, said response means including one from the set consisting of;

i. means for appending said target map associated with said one target design object to said source design object associated with said one conversion object, means for building said one conversion object into said target design space, and means for over-writing properties of said conversion object to said one target design object;

ii. means for removing said target map associated with said one target design object, and means for building said one conversion object into said target design space; and

,

iii. means for replacing said source design map associated with said corresponding one of said source design objects with said target map associated with said one target design object, and means for over-writing properties of said source design object to said one target design object.

89. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein each of said conversion objects in said target design space includes an associated name, and each of said target design objects in said target design space includes an associated name, wherein said merging means further comprises:

A. means for identifying instances when said conversion map associated with one of said conversion objects does not match said target map associated with one of said target design objects, and said name associated with said one conversion object does not match said name associated with said one target design object; and

B. means for initiating addition of said one conversion object to said target design space for said instances identified.

90. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said merging means further comprises:

A. means for comparing said merged object with said predetermined set of rules;

B means for identifying instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules; and

C. means for generating a signal representative of each of said instances.

91. Apparatus according to claim 90 further comprising means for resolving, following said generated signal, said instances when said merged map is inconsistent with ones of said rules in response to external input.

92. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein each of said target design objects includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said apparatus further comprising:

A. for at least one of said target design objects, means for identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. means, responsive to identification of said null reference, for selectively modifying said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

93. Apparatus according to claim 92 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including means for removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

94. Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said target map includes a reference to zero, one, or more of said source design objects, said apparatus further comprising:

A. for at least one of said target design object, means for identifying instances when said reference is to zero of said source design objects, said instances being representative of a null reference; and

B. means, responsive to identification of said null reference, for selectively modifying said one of said target design objects and said target map associated with said one of said target design objects in accordance with a predetermined action.

95. Apparatus according to claim 94 wherein said predetermined action is a nullify target action, including means for removing said reference from said target map associated with said one of said target design objects.

96. Apparatus according to claim 94 wherein said predetermined action is a delete map action, including means for deleting said target map associated with said one of said target design objects.

97. Apparatus according to claim 94 wherein said predetermined action is a delete propagate action, including means for removing said one of said target design objects from said target design space.

98. Apparatus according to claim 74, wherein each of said target design objects is selectively modifiable by a user, said method further comprising the step of maintaining said unique target identifier associated with each modified target design object.