Method for compile-time type-checking of arguments for externally-specified format strings

• US 6,381,736 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klotz, Frank, Kluft, Ian, May, William B. Jr., Hiller, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/416,311
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 717/4, 717/5, 717/2, 717/6, 717/8, 717/10, 714/37-39, 345/804-805
• US Class Current: 717/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3624 by performing operations on the source code, e.g. via a compiler

Abstract

A method for type-checking format arguments during compile time which uses data in an external file. Data from the external file is converted into a generated source file suitable for “inclusion” in a program source file, which is the subject of compilation. The generated source file is compiled together with the program source file and performs, among other things, type-checking of format arguments contained within the program source file and the generated source file.

Claims

1. A method for error-checking format arguments comprising:

a) providing a program source file for compilation;

b) providing an error message text file having data for output by said program source file;

c) converting said error message text file into a generated source file suitable for inclusion into said program source file;

d) including said generated source file into said program source file; and

e) compiling said program source file together with said generated source file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said error message text file comprises global sections, each global section having at least one message subsection, each subsection having message data for output by said generated source file, said generated source file having a function definition for each said message subsection within each said global section.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each said function definition comprises a function body having a function call which includes non-variable arguments.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said converting said data file into a generated source file comprises:

a) reading said error message text file;

b) identifying global sections within said error message text file;

c) identifying message subsections within each said global section;

d) iterating through each said global section and each said message subsection;

e) determining format string for each said message subsection; and

f) creating a generated source file having a function definition for each message subsection in said error message text file.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining at least one format specifier for each said format string before creating said generated source file.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said function definition requires arguments for each said format specifier.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining a plurality of format specifiers for each said format string before creating said generated source file.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said function definition requires arguments for each said format specifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps are provided in a perl script.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting said data file into a generated source file comprises:

a) reading said error message text file;

b) determining format string of an error message from said error message text file;

c) determining at least one format specifier for said format string; and

d) creating a generated source file having a function definition for said error message in said error message text file, said function definition requiring arguments for each said format specifier.

11. A method for converting an error message text file into a generated source file suitable for inclusion into and compilation with a program source file comprising:

a) reading said error message text file;

b) determining format string of an error message from said error message text file;

c) determining at least one format specifier for each said format string before creating said generated source file; and

d) creating a generated source file having a function definition for said error message in said error message text file, said function definition requiring arguments for each said format specifier.

12. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for converting an error message text file into a generated source file suitable for inclusion into and compilation with a program source file, the method including:

a) reading said error message text file;

b) determining format string of an error message from said error message text file;

c) determining at least one format specifier for each said format string before creating said generated source file; and

d) creating a generated source file having a function definition for said error message in said error message text file, said function definition requiring arguments for each said format specifier.

13. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for error-checking format arguments, the method including:

a) providing a program source file for compilation;

b) providing an error message text file having data for output by said program source file;

c) converting said error message text file into a generated source file suitable for inclusion into said program source file;

d) including said generated source file into said program source file; and

e) compiling said program source file together with said generated source file.

14. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein said converting said data file into a generated source file comprises:

a) reading said error message text file;

b) identifying global sections within said error message text file;

c) identifying message subsections within each said global section;

d) iterating through each said global section and each said message subsection;

e) determining format string for each said message subsection; and

f) creating a generated source file having a function definition for each message subsection in said error message text file.

15. The program storage device of claim 14, said method further comprising determining at least one format specifier for each said format string before creating said generated source file.

16. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein said function definition requires arguments for each said format specifier.

17. The program storage device of claim 14, further comprising determining a plurality of format specifiers for each said format string before creating said generated source file.

18. The program storage device of claim 17, wherein said function definition requires arguments for each said format specifier.

19. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein said steps are provided in a perl script.

20.The program storage device of claim 13, wherein said converting said data file into a generated source file comprises:

a) reading said error message text file;

b) determining format string of an error message from said error message text file;

c) determining at least one format specifier for said format string; and

d) creating a generated source file having a function definition for said error message in said error message text file, said function definition requiring arguments for each said format specifier.