Integrated source code file and method and apparatus for creating a computer program therefrom

• US 6,792,598 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Original Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Menger, William Meredith, Sherrill, Michael L., Stoeckley, Thomas R., Vunderink, Donna Kay, Burch, Charles Carroll Jr., Burch, Charles Ivan, Day, Richard Salisbury, Goodger, Karen Pauline, Hanson, Douglas Wade, Burton, Maximillian McCalla
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US09/951,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 717/136-150, 717/105, 717/108-109, 717/123, 709/328, 345/744, 345/760, 345/762, 715/520, 715/513
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

An integrated source code file and a method and apparatus for creating a computer program from the integrated source code file. The integrated source code file is stored on a computer readable medium and the computer program created therefrom is executable by a computer system having a front-end for interfacing with a user, and a back-end for performing batch functions. The computer program comprises instructions for performing a function, which requires at least one parameter for its operation. The computer program further comprises instructions for validating the parameter, the instructions adapted to run on both the front-end and the back-end. The computer program also comprises graphical user interface information for creating a graphical user interface, which can be used to receive the parameter. The computer program still further comprises a documentation section for providing information related to the function, which is adapted for display via the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer system having a front-end for interfacing with a user and a back-end for performing batch functions, the computer program comprising:

instructions for performing a function, said function adapted to run on said back-end and requiring at least one parameter;

instructions for validating said at least one parameter, said instructions for validating being adapted to run on both said front-end and said back-end;

graphical user interface information for creating a graphical user interface for receipt of said at least one parameter, said graphical user interface being adapted to run on said front-end; and

a documentation section for providing information related to said function, said information adapted for display via said graphical user interface.

2. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said instructions for validating said parameter are adapted to be compiled by a first compiler to create a first set of executable code for running on said front-end, said instructions for validating said parameter being adapted to be compiled by a second compiler to create a second set of executable code for running on said back-end.

3. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface information is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, a graphical user interface parser extracting said graphical user interface information based on said begin tag and said end tag.

4. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said documentation section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, a documentation parser extracting said documentation section based on said begin tag and said end tag.

5. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a revision history section for providing revision history information regarding said computer program.

6. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said documentation section comprises programming comments relating to said instructions for performing said function.

7. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said documentation section comprises documentation for providing help to a user of said computer program.

8. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer program is system independent.

9. A computer program in accordance with claim 1, wherein said front-end utilizes a different computer architecture from said back-end, said instructions for validating said parameter adapted to be compiled by a first compiler to create a first set of executable code for running on said front-end, and adapted to be compiled by a second compiler to create a second set of executable code for running on said back-end.

10. A software package, stored on a computer readable medium and executable by computer system having a front-end for interfacing with a user and a back-end for performing batch functions, the software package comprising:

a plurality of computer programs, each of said computer programs adapted for performing a function and including;

instructions for performing said function, said function adapted to run on said back-end and requiring at least one parameter;

graphical use interface information for creating a graphical user interface for receipt of said at least on parameter, said graphical user interface being adapted to run on said front-end; and

a documentation section for providing information related to said function, said information adapted for display via said graphical user interface;

wherein each of said plurality of computer programs can be modified without affecting others of said plurality of computer programs in said software package; and

wherein each of said computer programs further includes instructions for validating said at least one parameter, said instructions for validating being adapted to run on both said front-end and said back-end.

11. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said instructions for validating are adapted to be compiled by a first compiler to create a first set of executable code for running on said front-end, said instructions for validating said parameter being adapted to be compiled by a second compiler to create a second set of executable code for running on said back-end.

12. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said graphical user interface information is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, a graphical user interface parser extracting said graphical user interface information based on said begin tag and said end tag.

13. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said documentation section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, a documentation parser extracting said documentation section based on said begin tag and said end tag.

14. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said each of said computer programs further comprises a revision history section for providing revision history information regarding said computer program.

15. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said documentation section comprises programming comments relating to said instructions for performing said function.

16. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said documentation section comprises documentation for providing help to a user of said computer program.

17. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said software package is system independent.

18. A software package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said front-end utilizes a different computer architecture from said back-end, said instructions for validating adapted to be compiled by a first compiler to create a first set of executable code for running on said front-end, and adapted to be compiled by a second compiler to create a second set of executable code for running on said back-end.

19. A method for creating instructions, executable by a computer system, from a computer program having a source code section, a documentation section, and graphical user interface section, the method comprising the steps of:

compiling said source code section to create instructions, adapted for execution on a back-end of a computer system, for performing a function and for validating a parameter associated with aid function;

compiling said source code section to create instructions, adapted for execution on a front-end of a computer system, for validating said parameter;

extracting said graphical user interface section and creating a graphical user interface therefrom for receipt of said parameter; and

extracting said documentation section for display via said graphical user interface.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said graphical user interface section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, said step of extracting said graphical user interface being performed based on said begin tag and said end tag.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said documentation section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, said step of extracting said documentation section being performed based on said begin tag and said end tag.

22. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said computer program further has a revision history section for providing revision history information regarding said computer program.

23. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said documentation section comprises programming comments relating to said instructions for performing said function.

24. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said documentation section comprises documentation for providing help to a user of said computer program.

25. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said computer program is system independent.

26. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said front-end utilizes a different computer architecture from said back-end.

27. An apparatus for creating instructions, executable by a computer system, from a computer program having a source code section, a documentation section, and a graphical user interface section, the apparatus comprising:

a compiler for compiling said source code section to create instructions for performing a function and instructions for validating a parameter associated with said function, wherein said instructions for performing said function are adapted for execution on a back-end of a computer system, and said instructions for validating are adapted for execution on said back-end and are further adapted for execution on a front-end of a computer system;

a first parser for extracting said graphical user interface section and creating a graphical user interface therefrom for receipt of said parameter; and

a second parser for extracting said documentation section for display via said graphical user interface, said documentation section containing information related to said function.

28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said graphical user interface section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, said first parser extracting information between said begin tag and said end tag.

29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said documentation section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag, said second parser extracting information between said begin tag and said end tag.

30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said computer program further has a revision history section for providing revision history information regarding said computer program.

31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said documentation section comprises programming comments relating to said instructions for performing said function.

32. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said documentation section comprises documentation for providing help to a user of said computer program.

33. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein said instructions are system independent.

34. A method for creating instructions, executable by a computer system, from a computer program having a source code section, a documentation section, and graphical user interface section, the method comprising the steps of:

compiling said source code section with a first compiler to create a first set of executable code adapted to run on a back-end of a computer system, said first set of executable code including instructions for performing a function and instructions for validating a parameter associated with said function;

compiling said source code section with a second compiler to create a second set of executable code adapted to run on a front-end of a computer system, said second set of executable code including instructions for validating said parameter;

extracting said graphical user interface section and creating a graphical user interface therefrom for receipt of said parameter; and

extracting said documentation section for display via said graphical user interface.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said graphical user interface section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag.

36. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said documentation section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag.

37. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said computer program further has a revision history section for providing revision history information regarding said computer program.

38. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said documentation section comprises programming comments relating to said instructions for performing said function.

39. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said documentation section comprises documentation for providing help to a user of said computer program.

40. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said computer program is system independent.

41. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said front-end utilizes a different computer architecture from said back-end.

42. An apparatus for creating instructions, executable by a computer system, from computer program having a source code section, a documentation section, and graphical user interface section, the apparatus comprising:

a first compiler for compiling said source code section to create a first set of executable code adapted to run on a back-end of a computer system, said first set of executable code including instructions for performing a function and instructions for validating a parameter associated with said function;

a second compiler for compiling said source code section to create a second set of executable code adapted to on a front-end of a computer system, said second set of executable code including instructions for validating said parameter;

a first parser for extracting said graphical user interface section and creating a graphical user interface therefrom for receipt of said parameter; and

a second parser for extracting said documentation section for display via said graphical user interface.

43. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said graphical user interface section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag.

44. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said documentation section is delineated by a begin tag and an end tag.

45. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said computer program further has a revision history section for providing revision history information regarding said computer program.

46. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said documentation section comprises programming comments relating to said instructions for performing said function.

47. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said documentation section comprises documentation for providing help to a user of said computer program.

48. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said computer program is system independent.

49. An apparatus in accordance with claim 42, wherein said front-end utilizes a different computer architecture from said back-end.