JP5228566B2 - Software development support apparatus, program, and block diagram search method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a software development support apparatus that automatically generates a program in a computer language based on a block diagram in which processing procedures are expressed by connecting block elements, a program, and a block diagram search method in the software development support apparatus.

  Conventionally, when creating a program for causing a computer to perform a specific process, the specification of the program is described in a block diagram or the like, and a programmer can create a program code using a computer language based on the block diagram. Has been done. Therefore, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 propose a software development support apparatus that directly converts a block diagram described as a program specification into a program code in a computer language in order to shorten the work time and prevent mistakes by a programmer. Has been.

Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for generating a control program in machine language from a block diagram described as a program specification. Patent Document 2 proposes a technique for generating a program code using a computer language from a block diagram described as a program specification. Further, Patent Document 3 proposes a system for extracting a similar lexical sequence from a program code created in a computer language. In Patent Document 3, the target text is extracted in lexical units, and after the extracted lexical is converted, the same text is identified.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-88869 JP 2006-301989 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-29978

In Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is possible to create a program code from a block diagram, which is effective in reducing the work time of a programmer. However, when maintaining the program code, it is necessary to correct the block diagram instead of correcting the program code. At this time, it is necessary to search for a part composed of a plurality of block elements, but the specific method is not disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document. For this reason, it is necessary for the programmer to visually check the block diagram, which takes time and may cause errors such as oversight.
In addition, the created block diagram may be partially cut and pasted. When the cut and pasted portion needs to be corrected, it is necessary to search all the cut and pasted portions from the viewpoint of maintenance. In Patent Document 3, it is possible to detect a similar lexical arrangement in a program code, but it does not disclose a method for specifying a cut-and-paste portion of a block diagram.

  Therefore, the present invention enables searching for a desired part in a block diagram in a software development support apparatus that automatically creates a program from the block diagram, and is the same in the block diagram for specifying a cut and paste part of the block diagram. It is intended to increase the efficiency of block diagram maintenance work by enabling retrieval of block elements composed of patterns.

  The present invention relates to a software development support apparatus that automatically generates a program in a computer language based on a block diagram representing a processing procedure. In order to achieve the above object, the software development support apparatus includes a block diagram connection information extracting unit that extracts a plurality of block elements represented in the block diagram and a connection relationship between the block elements as block diagram connection information; Block diagram connection information storage means for storing block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction means, a plurality of block elements to be searched, and connection relations between the block elements for search block diagram connection A block diagram connection information storage unit for search stored as information, and whether or not there is a portion that matches the block diagram connection information for search in the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit Block diagram match determination means.

  The software development support apparatus according to the present invention is realized by cooperating a general computer and software. That is, hardware resources such as computer input means, storage means, and arithmetic means are specifically operated by software to realize operation as a dedicated device.

  The input means accepts input by a user operation such as a keyboard and a mouse, input by a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or input by an electrical signal such as a communication line or a LAN (local area network). Including means. The storage means is means for storing data such as characters and numbers, programs, and the like. For example, a random access memory or a hard disk in a computer. The calculation means is a numerical calculation means for executing a program. For example, it is generally called a central processing unit or CPU. A computer refers to an electronic computer including at least input means, storage means, and calculation means as described above.

  In the claims and the description, the “search target” indicates a part of the block diagram to be searched, and does not indicate a set of data (search range) to be searched. Absent.

  The software development support device further includes a search input means for inputting the plurality of block elements to be searched and the connection relation in order to search for a portion of the block diagram, and the search input means When a plurality of block elements to be searched and the connection relation are input, the block diagram connection information for search is extracted from the input block element and the connection relation by the block diagram connection information extracting unit. You may comprise so that it may be extracted.

  As an example, the software development support apparatus automatically detects, from the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage means, a portion in which the plurality of block elements and the connection relationship are configured in the same pattern. The automatic block diagram connection information detecting means further comprises an automatic block diagram connection information detecting means for receiving the number of block elements constituting the pattern, wherein the number of block elements is determined by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means. If accepted, the block diagram connection information for search is obtained by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means extracting the block diagram connection information in units of the number of block elements.

  In addition, a block diagram creating means for creating the block diagram by expressing a plurality of block elements and connection relations between the block elements, and a program generating means for automatically generating a program in a computer language from the block diagram connection information You may comprise so that.

  The present invention is also realized as a software development support program for causing a computer to function as each means of the software development support apparatus.

  Further, the present invention is a block diagram search method executed in a software development support apparatus for automatically generating a program in a computer language based on a block diagram expressing a processing procedure, wherein the block diagram connection information extracting means A block diagram connection information extracting step for extracting, as block diagram connection information, a plurality of block elements represented in the block diagram and connection relationships between the block elements; A block diagram connection information storing step for storing the block diagram connection information extracted by the block, and a search block diagram connection information storage means for searching a plurality of block elements to be searched and a connection relationship between the block elements Block diagram for searching connection information stored as diagram connection information, and block diagram The match determination means includes a block diagram match determination step for determining whether or not there is a portion that matches the block diagram connection information for search in the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage means. .

  The block diagram search method further includes a search input step in which the search input means inputs the plurality of block elements to be searched and the connection relationship in order to search the portion of the block diagram. When a plurality of block elements to be searched and the connection relation are input by the search input means, the search block diagram connection information is obtained from the input block element and the connection relation. You may comprise so that it may be extracted by the figure connection information extraction means.

  As an example, in the block diagram search method, the automatic block diagram connection information detection means uses the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage means so that the plurality of block elements and the connection relationship have the same pattern. An automatic block diagram connection information detecting step for receiving the number of block elements constituting the pattern in order to automatically detect a configured part, and the number of block elements is determined by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means. If accepted, the block diagram connection information for search is obtained by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means extracting the block diagram connection information in units of the number of block elements.

In the software development support device according to the present invention, a plurality of block elements described in the block diagram and the connection relationship between the block elements are extracted as block diagram connection information, and the block diagram for search is included in the block diagram connection information. It is determined whether there is a part that matches the connection information. The block diagram connection information for search is information indicating a plurality of block elements to be searched and a connection relation between the block elements. Therefore, in the present invention, in the block diagram, it is possible to search for a desired part configured by a plurality of block elements and connection relations between the block elements, and also search for block elements configured by the same pattern. It is also possible to do.
As a result, the time for the block diagram maintenance work is shortened, the work load on the programmer and human error are reduced, and the efficiency of the block diagram maintenance work can be increased.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a software development support apparatus according to the present embodiment. The software development support apparatus 1 is realized by causing a general computer and software to cooperate with each other. In other words, hardware resources such as computer input means, storage means, and arithmetic means are specifically operated by software to realize operation as a dedicated device.

The software development support device 1 includes an input device 2 and a display device 3. The input device 2 receives input from the outside, and the display device 3 displays various input screens, various data, and output results of the software development support device 1.
The block diagram creation unit 4 creates and / or corrects a plurality of block elements and connection relationships between the block elements based on the block diagram creation screen displayed on the display device 3 and data input via the input device 2. To create and / or modify the block diagram.

The block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 extracts the block elements described in the block diagram creation unit 4 and the connection relationship between the block elements as block diagram connection information. The block diagram connection information is information indicating a connection relationship between a plurality of block elements described in the block diagram, and a specific example will be described later. In addition, a plurality of block elements created by the search block diagram creation unit 8 and their connection relationships are extracted as search block diagram connection information. The block diagram connection information for search is information indicating a connection relationship between a plurality of block elements to be searched and the block elements, and a specific example will be described later.
The block diagram connection information storage unit 6 stores the block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction unit 5. The program generation unit 7 automatically generates a program in a computer language based on the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit.

Based on the search block diagram creation screen displayed on the display device 3 and the data input via the input device 2, the search block diagram creation unit 8 and a plurality of block elements desired as search targets and their Create a connection relationship. In this embodiment, the search block diagram creation unit 8 functions as a search input unit.
The automatic block diagram connection information detecting unit 11 is a block diagram in which a plurality of block elements and their connection relationships are configured in the same pattern from the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6. Is provided for automatic detection. The automatic block diagram connection information detection unit 11 receives the number of block elements constituting the pattern, extracts the block diagram connection information in units of the received block elements, and uses the extracted information as search block diagram connection information get.

  As will be described later, in the present embodiment, the software development support apparatus 1 includes two menus of “drawing search” and “automatic search” for searching a block diagram. The search block diagram creation unit 8 functions in the case of “drawing search”, and the automatic block diagram connection information detection unit 11 functions in the case of “automatic search”. Therefore, in this embodiment, the search block diagram creation unit 8 and the automatic block diagram connection information detection unit 11 are selectively used.

The detection block diagram connection information storage unit 9 includes the search block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 from the plurality of block elements created by the search block creation unit 8 and their connection relations. The search block diagram connection information extracted by the automatic block diagram connection information detection unit 11 is stored.
The block diagram match determination unit 10 determines whether there is a portion that matches the search block diagram connection information in the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a block diagram creation screen. The block diagram creation screen includes a screen 20 for creating and modifying the block element 21 and the connection 22 between the block elements, and various menus for performing operations necessary for creating the block diagram.
The menu includes a “file” 23 for performing file operations on the block diagram, a “block element selection” 24 for selecting a block element to be entered in the block diagram, and a “wiring” 25 for connecting the block elements. Yes. The user uses these menus to input the block element 21 and the wiring between the block elements, that is, the connection 22 and the input for correction via the input device 2.

  For example, when “select block element” 24 is clicked, a screen displaying various block elements opens, and the user can indicate the block element 21 on the screen 20 by selecting a desired block element therefrom. . As an example, when the “wiring” 25 is clicked, the shape of the mouse pointer changes, and an arrow line indicating a connection 22 can be written between desired block elements on the screen 20 by moving the mouse. .

The block diagram creation unit 4 creates a block diagram based on the block diagram creation screen and data input via the input device 2 by the user. The block element 21 and the connection 22 between the block elements shown in the block diagram are extracted by the block diagram connection information extracting unit 5 as block diagram connection information.
In the following, a data example of the block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 from the block diagram shown on the screen 20 of FIG. 2 is shown.

[Block diagram connection information]
The following data shows the line ID, line input block element (type: ID), and line output block element (type: ID) from the left.
W001, (A: F001), (B: F002)
W002, (B: F002), (C: F003)
W003, (C: F003), (D: F004)
W004 (D: F004), (A: F005)
W005, (A: F005), (B: F006)
W006, (B: F006), (E: F007)
W007, (E: F007), (D: F008)
W008, (D: F008), (A: F009)
W009, (A: F009), (B: F010)
W010, (B: F010), (C: F011)
W011, (C: F011), (D: F012)

In the above example, the data format of the block diagram connection information includes an ID (corresponding to W001 to W011) for identifying a solid line indicating connection of block elements, and a type (A, B, C) of the input block elements of the line. , D, E) and ID (corresponding to F001 to F011) for identifying the solid, and the type (corresponding to A, B, C, D, E) and solid as the output block element of the line IDs (corresponding to F002 to F012) are arranged in the order of flow in the block diagram.
The block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 is stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6.

  As a menu, an “automatic generation” 26 for automatically generating a program in a computer language from a block diagram is provided. When the user clicks “automatic generation” 26, based on the input, the program generation unit 7 automatically generates a program in a computer language based on block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6. .

  The menu of FIG. 2 further includes “search” 27. The “search” 27 has menus of “drawing search” 28 and “automatic search” 29 as shown in FIG. A drawing search process when “drawing search” 28 is selected will be described below.

[Drawing Search]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a search block diagram creation screen displayed when “drawing search” 28 in FIG. 2 is selected. The search block diagram creation screen includes a screen 30 for creating and modifying the search block element 31 and the connection 32 between the block elements, and a menu for performing operations necessary for creating the search block diagram. The menu includes a “block element selection” 33 for selecting a block element to be entered in the block diagram for search and a “wiring” 34 for connecting the block elements. Using these menus, the user inputs the search block element 31 and the wiring between the block elements, that is, the connection 32 via the input device 2.

  The search block diagram creation unit 8 creates a search block diagram based on the search block diagram creation screen and data input via the input device 2 by the user. The block diagram 31 and the connection 32 between the block elements shown in the block diagram for search are extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 as block diagram connection information for search. The following is a data example of the search block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 from the search block diagram of FIG.

[Block diagram connection information for search]
The following data shows the line ID, line input block element (type: ID), and line output block element (type: ID) from the left.
SW001, (A: SF001), (B: SF002)
SW002, (B: SF002), (C: SF003)

  In the above example, the data format of the search block diagram connection information is the same as the block diagram connection information. Element type (corresponding to A and B) and ID for identifying a solid (corresponding to SF001 and SF002), and as a line output block element, for identifying the type (corresponding to B and C) and solid IDs (corresponding to SF002 and SF003) are arranged in the order of flow in the block diagram.

  A “search start” 35 is further provided as a menu on the search block diagram creation screen of FIG. When the user clicks “start search” 35, a drawing search is started. The drawing search will be described in more detail in the description of the processing flow below.

FIG. 4 shows a processing flow when the drawing search process is executed.
When “drawing search” 28 is selected on the block diagram creation screen of FIG. 2 (step 1), the search block diagram creation unit 8 displays the search block diagram creation screen on the display device 3 (step 2). The user creates a block diagram for search, that is, a block element 31 desired as a search target and a connection 32 between the block elements (step 3). Next, in order to start the search, “start search” 35 is selected on the search block diagram creation screen (step 4).

  The block diagram connection information extraction unit 5 extracts search block diagram connection information from the created search block diagram (step 5). The search block diagram connection information storage unit 9 stores the extracted search block diagram connection information (step 6). Next, the block diagram match determination unit 10 is stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6 in the block diagram connection information for search, the types of input block elements of lines, the types and order of output block elements of lines. The type of the input block element of the line in the block diagram connection information, the type of the output block element of the line, and the order thereof are compared (step 7).

As a result of the comparison, it is determined whether or not there is an item whose order matches the type (step 8). If there is an item whose type matches the order, the matching block elements are highlighted on the block diagram creation screen (step 8). 9). FIG. 5 shows an example in which matching block elements are highlighted on the block diagram creation screen. In FIG. 5, the matched block element 21 is highlighted by surrounding it with a broken line.
Next, it is determined whether or not the comparison for all the block diagram connection information has been completed (step 10), and when the comparison for all the block diagram connection information has been completed, the drawing retrieval process ends (step 11). . The processing in steps 7 to 10 is executed until the comparison for all the block diagram connection information is completed.

  By executing the drawing search process as described above, it becomes easy to search for a desired part (desired block elements and their connection relations) in the block diagram, and the time for maintenance of the block diagram is shortened. The workload and human error are reduced, and the efficiency of block diagram maintenance work can be increased.

[Auto Search]
Next, automatic search processing when “automatic search” 29 is selected in FIG. 2 will be described. An example of an automatic search screen displayed by selecting “automatic search” 29 is shown in FIG. The automatic search screen includes a screen 40 having a search setting input unit and a search result display unit 43. The search setting input unit is provided with a block element number setting unit 41 for setting the number of block elements to be searched, and an emphasis display selection unit 42 for selecting an emphasis display of the matched portion.
The search result display unit 43 displays comparison source block diagram connection information (that is, block diagram connection information for search) and block diagram connection information that matches the comparison source block diagram connection information.

  As a menu on the automatic search screen of FIG. 6, “search start” 44 is further provided. When the user clicks “start search” 44, an automatic search is started. The automatic search will be further described in detail in the following processing flow description.

FIG. 7 shows a processing flow when the automatic search process is executed.
When “automatic search” 29 is selected on the block diagram creation screen of FIG. 2 (step 21), the automatic block diagram connection information detection unit 11 displays the screen for automatic search shown in FIG. 6 on the display device 3 (step 22). ). The number of block elements to be detected as the same pattern from the block diagram is set by the block element number setting unit 41 (step 23). In FIG. 6, “3” is input as an example.
Next, the “search start” 44 on the automatic search screen is selected to start the automatic search (step 24).

When “search start” 44 is selected, the automatic block diagram connection information detection unit 11 stores the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6 in units of the number of block elements set in step 23. And the extracted information is stored in the search block diagram connection information storage unit 9 as search block diagram connection information (step 25).
Next, the block diagram match determination unit 10 is stored in the block diagram connection information storage unit 6 in the block diagram connection information for search, the types of input block elements of lines, the types and order of output block elements of lines, and the order thereof. The type of line input block elements and the type of line output block elements in the block diagram connection information are compared with their order (step 26).

As a result of the comparison, it is determined whether or not there is an item whose order matches the type (step 27). If there is an item whose order matches the type, it is displayed on the search result display unit 43 shown in FIG. 6 (step 28). ). At this time, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of displays indicating the same content are not generated so that the IDs for identifying the individual blocks of the comparison block diagram connection information and the matching block diagram connection information match. Further, when highlighting is selected in the highlighting selection unit 42, the matched portion on the block diagram creation screen can be highlighted as shown in FIG.
Next, it is determined whether or not the comparison for all the block diagram connection information has been completed (step 29). When the comparison for all the block diagram connection information has been completed, the automatic search processing is completed (step 30). . The processes in steps 25 to 29 are executed until the comparison for all the block diagram connection information is completed.

In the screen for automatic search shown in FIG. 6 in the above embodiment, the number of search block elements is set to “3”, and is shown in FIG. 2 as comparison source block diagram connection information (search block diagram connection information). Only the three block elements from the top of the block diagram and their connection relations are displayed.
However, for the sake of explanation, this is an example of search block diagram connection information composed of three block elements, and a plurality of search block diagram connection information may exist. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, since the number of search block elements is “3”, the next block diagram connection information for search is 3 counted from the second block element (B) in the block diagram shown in FIG. Information extracted from one block element.
That is, the next search block diagram connection information is W002, (B: F002), (C: F003).
W003, (C: F003), (D: F004)
It becomes.

  Thus, when extracting block diagram connection information in units of the number of block elements, for example, the block diagram connection information for search is extracted in units of the number of block elements starting from each block element constituting the block diagram. Thus, all patterns configured by the set number of block elements can be used as search block diagram connection information. For each of these search block diagram connection information, the same pattern in the block diagram connection information is detected for all the patterns configured with the set number of block elements by searching in comparison with the block diagram connection information. Is possible.

  As described above, by executing the “automatic search” process, it is possible to specify block elements created in the same pattern in the block diagram. Therefore, when it is necessary to correct a certain pattern after a plurality of specific identical patterns are cut and pasted in the block diagram, it is easy to identify the plurality of identical patterns cut and pasted. Therefore, as in the “drawing search” process, the efficiency in the block diagram maintenance work can be increased.

It is a block diagram which shows the typical structure of the software development assistance apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the "block diagram creation screen" in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram showing a “search block diagram creation screen” in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the "drawing search" process in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the emphasis display on the "block diagram creation screen" in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the "automatic search screen" in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the "automatic search" process in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Software development support apparatus 2 Input device 3 Display apparatus 4 Block diagram creation part 5 Block diagram connection information extraction part 6 Block diagram connection information storage part 7 Program generation part 8 Search block diagram creation part 9 Block diagram connection information storage part for search 10 Block diagram match determination unit 11 Automatic block diagram connection information detection unit

Claims (4)

In a software development support device that automatically generates a program in a computer language based on a block diagram describing a processing procedure,
Block diagram connection information extracting means for extracting a plurality of block elements described in the block diagram and connection relationships between the block elements as block diagram connection information;
Block diagram connection information storage means for storing block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction means;
A search input means for inputting a plurality of block elements to be searched and a connection relationship between the block elements in order to search for a part of the block diagram;
Search block diagram connection information storage means for storing search block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction means from the input plurality of block elements to be searched and the connection relationship between the block elements. When,
Block diagram match determination means for determining whether there is a portion that matches the block diagram connection information for search in the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage means;
An automatic block diagram connection information detecting means for automatically detecting a portion in which the plurality of block elements and the connection relation are configured in the same pattern from the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage means. Automatic block diagram connection information detecting means for receiving the number of block elements constituting the pattern, and when the number of block elements is received by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means, the search The block diagram connection information for use is obtained by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means extracting the block diagram connection information in units of the number of block elements . A block diagram creating means for creating the block diagram by expressing a plurality of block elements and connection relationships between the block elements;
Wherein the block diagram connection information, and a program generation means for automatically generating a program by computer languages, software development support apparatus according to claim 1. Software development support program for functioning as a means of describing the computer to claim 1 or 2. A block diagram search method executed in a software development support device that automatically generates a program in a computer language based on a block diagram representing a processing procedure,
A block diagram connection information extracting means for extracting, as block diagram connection information, a plurality of block elements described in the block diagram and a connection relationship between the block elements;
A block diagram connection information storage means for storing the block diagram connection information extracted by the block diagram connection information extraction means;
An input step for searching for inputting a plurality of block elements to be searched and a connection relationship between the block elements in order for the input means for searching to search the portion of the block diagram;
A block diagram connection information extraction step for search, wherein the block diagram connection information extraction means extracts block diagram connection information for search from the input plurality of block elements to be searched and a connection relationship between the block elements;
A search block diagram connection information storage means for storing the search block diagram connection information;
A block diagram coincidence determining step for determining whether there is a portion in the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storing unit that matches the search block diagram connection information; ,
The automatic block diagram connection information detecting means automatically detects a portion in which the plurality of block elements and the connection relation are configured in the same pattern from the block diagram connection information stored in the block diagram connection information storage means. to, and accepts the number of the block elements constituting the pattern, see contains an automatic block diagram the connection information detection step, when the number of the block element is received by the automatic block diagram the connection information detection means, the search The block diagram connection information is obtained by the automatic block diagram connection information detecting means extracting the block diagram connection information in units of the number of block elements .

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