Method of upgrading a software application in the presence of user modifications

• US 6,367,077 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hastings, Mark C, Coker, John L., Brodersen, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Ted T.
• Application Number:
  US09/377,892
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11, 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 717/174, 717/175, 707/511
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

A method for upgrading (31-b of FIG. 1) a software application (35-b) from a prior version to a subsequent version while preserving user modifications to the prior application. The method includes comparing differences between the two versions of the software applications. This is followed by enumerating the differences between the two versions of the software applications; and determining which differences between the two versions of the software are conflicting and which are compatible. The compatible changes are made (7). Also disclosed is an article of manufacture containing computer readable program code for carrying out the above process, and a program storage device carrying the code.

Claims

1. A method of upgrading a software application from a user modified prior version thereof to an upgrade version thereof, said software application having at least one attribute and wherein the user modified prior version includes user customized object definition files, said method comprising:

a) querying the application attributes for each of

i) an unmodified prior version,

ii) the user modified prior version, and

iii) the upgrade version of the software application;

b) enumerating and comparing differences in attributes between

i) the user modified prior version,

ii) the unmodified prior version, and

iii) the upgrade version of the software application;

c) determining which differences in the attributes between the three versions of the software application are conflicting and which are compatible; and

d) applying changes associated with the compatible attributes.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying the conflicting changes for user selection.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising visually displaying compatible and conflicting object differences between the software applications.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein an installed version of the software contains user modifications, comprising comparing the installed user modified prior version and upgrade version of the software the unmodified prior version to determine which differences are conflicting and which are compatible.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively applying incompatible changes.

6. A program product residing on one or more computers and comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing upgrading a software application from a user modified prior version thereof to a subsequent version, wherein the user modified prior version includes user customized object definition files, the computer readable program means comprising;

a) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect querying attributes in the software applications;

b) computer readable program code for comparing differences in the attributes between the two versions of the software applications;

c) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect enumerating the differences in attributes between the two versions of the software applications;

d) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect determining which differences in attributes between the two versions of the software applications are conflicting and which are compatible; and

e) computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect making the changes associated with compatible attributes.

7. The program product of claim 6 further comprising computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect displaying the conflicting attributes for user selection.

8. The program product of claim 6 comprising computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect visually displaying compatible and conflicting differences between the software applications.

9. The program product of claim 6 comprising computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect comparing both versions of the application with an unmodified prior version to determine which differences are conflicting and which are compatible.

10. The program product of claim 6 further comprising computer readable program code to selectively apply incompatible changes.

11. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for upgrading a software application from a user modified prior version thereof to a subsequent version thereof, said software application having at least one attribute and wherein the user modified prior version includes user customized object definition files, said method steps comprising:

a) comparing attribute differences between attributes of the two versions of the software applications;

b) enumerating the attribute differences between the two versions of the software applications;

c) determining which attribute differences between the two versions of the software are conflicting and which are compatible; and

d) making the changes associated with compatible attributes.

12. The program storage device of claim 11 wherein said method steps further comprise selectively applying incompatible changes.

13. A method of upgrading a software application from a user modified prior version thereof, said software application having at least one attribute and wherein the user modified prior version includes user customized object definition files, to a subsequent version thereof, said method comprising:

a) enumerating and comparing the attribute differences between the user modified prior version, an unmodified prior version, and the subsequent version of the software applications;

b) determining which attribute differences between the three versions of the software are conflicting and which are compatible; and

c) applying changes associated with compatible attributes.

14. A system for upgrading a software application from a user modified prior version thereof to an upgrade version thereof, said software application having at least one attribute and wherein the user modified prior version includes user customized object definition files, said system being configured to carry out the method comprising:

a) querying the application attributes for each of

i) an unmodified prior version,

ii) the user modified prior version, and

iii) the upgrade version of the software application;

b) enumerating and comparing differences in attributes between

i) the user modified prior version,

ii) the unmodified prior version, and

iii) the upgrade version of the software application;

c) determining which differences in the attributes between the three versions of the software application are conflicting and which are compatible; and

d) applying changes associated with compatible attributes.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the system is a client-server system, and the upgrade is downloaded from the server to the client.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the system is a single computer system.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the system is further configured to display the conflicting changes for user selection.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the system is further configured to visually display compatible and conflicting differences between the software applications.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein an installed version of the software contains user modifications, wherein the system is further configured to compare the installed user modified prior version and upgrade version of the software with the unmodified prior version to determine which differences are conflicting and which are compatible.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the system is further configured to allow a user to selectively apply incompatible upgrades.