Method and apparatus for executing stored code objects in a database

• US 6,108,659 A
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vincent, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Application Number:
  US09/219,253
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-4, 707/103, 707/200-206, 707/101-102, 395/701, 395/703, 395/704, 395/708, 714/38
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2443 Stored procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/427 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/74 Reverse engineering; Extracting design information from source code
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system, method and database development tool are disclosed for automatically generating parameters for use in executing a stored code object in a data base, by parsing source code derived from existing data base code which represents the stored code object, wherein the parameters may represent complex data types.

Claims

1. A method for generating an executable anonymous block that can be used to execute a subprogram in an Oracle database, using a computer which has at least a processor, memory, display, input/output devices and connectivity software to connect to the Oracle server, the method comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a subprogram from an Oracle catalog;

b) getting source code for the subprogram by reverse engineering the subprogram;

c) parsing the source code to extract a declaration of parameters from the source code; and

d) generating an executable anonymous block using parameter values indicated by the declaration of parameters.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable anonymous block can be used to execute a subprogram in an Oracle database as part of a PL/SQL testing tool.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable anonymous block can be used to execute a subprogram in an Oracle database as part of a PL/SQL code coverage tool.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable anonymous block can be used to execute a subprogram in an Oracle database as part of a PL/SQL profiling tool.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable anonymous block can be used to execute a subprogram in an Oracle database as part of a PL/SQL debugger.

6. A method of generating valid declaration statements of an Oracle subprogram in an Oracle database, using a computer which has at least a processor, memory, display, input/output devices and connectivity software to connect to the Oracle server, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a database development tool configured to be used to develop PL/SQL code against an Oracle database server;

b) reverse engineering source code of a subprogram from an oracle catalog;

c) parsing the source code for a parameter declaration and then modifying the declaration to make it a valid variable declaration statement; and

d) using the variable declaration statement to develop the PL/SQL code.