Methods of transforming application layer structure as objects

Abstract

Embodiments consistent with the invention transform business application logic entities or structures into OOP structures that represent the data, relationships, and operations of the business application structures. The business application structures are transformed from the application level, including consideration of the business application logic and relationships. In one embodiment, transformation is done using a set of automated transformation rules. The resulting OOP structure model of the business application structure may be used with OOP tools to analyze, maintain, debug, modify, and revise the business application structure, and to create new structures for the business application.

1 . A method for transforming a business application structure using object-oriented programming structures, comprising: 
 identifying a plurality of related table-based data structures in the business application;    defining a transformation rule for converting the related table-based data structures into an object-oriented structure, wherein the object-oriented structure reflects data relationships defined by the plurality of table-based data structures;    converting the related table-based data structures into the object-oriented structure based upon the transformation rule; and    expressing the object-oriented structure as an object-oriented programming structure that models the business application structure.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein defining the transformation rule further comprises: 
 identifying attributes that are common to a plurality of related business data structures;    identifying attributes that are not common to the plurality of related business data structures; and    defining a transformation rule to create an encompassing object-oriented structure to model the attributes that are common to the plurality of related business data structures and to create an encompassed object-oriented structure to model the attributes that are not common to the plurality of related business data structures.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein defining the encompassing object-oriented structure comprises a superclass, and the an encompassed object-oriented structure comprises a subclass of the superclass.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a user interface to hierarchically display the object-oriented programming structure to a user.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the business application is a payroll business application, the table-based data structure reflects a wagetype, and the object-oriented structure is an object-oriented programming language class structure.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein expressing the object-oriented structure as an object-oriented programming construct comprises: 
 including value data from the business application in the object-oriented programming structure.    
     
     
         7 . A method for modeling data structures from a business application in an object-oriented programming language, comprising: 
 identifying a plurality of business objects in the business application;    identifying a plurality of attributes common to the plurality of business objects;    defining an object-oriented programming language superclass to model the plurality of business objects, wherein the superclass includes a plurality of variables corresponding to the plurality of attributes common to the plurality of business objects;    defining an object-oriented programming language subclass to model a business object from the plurality of business objects in the business application, wherein the subclass includes a variable corresponding to an attribute not among the plurality of attributes common to the plurality of business objects; and    instantiating an object from the subclass, wherein the object represents the business object.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 displaying the object representing the business object using an object-oriented programming tool.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 detecting a problem associated with the object representing the business object using an object-oriented programming tool, wherein the problem corresponds to a problem in the business object.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 manipulating the object representing the business object using an object-oriented programming tool.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 converting the manipulated object representing the business object into a data structure usable by the business application.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 loading the data structure into the business application to affect an operation of the business application.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein defining an object-oriented programming language subclass to model a business object comprises: 
 including data values for the business object from the business application in the subclass.    
     
     
         14 . A system for modeling data structures from a business application in an object-oriented programming language, comprising: 
 a first identifying component adapted to identify a plurality of business objects in the business application;    a second identifying component adapted to identify a plurality of attributes common to the plurality of business objects;    a transforming component adapted to define an object-oriented programming language superclass to model the plurality of business objects, wherein the superclass includes a plurality of variables corresponding to the plurality of attributes common to the plurality of business objects, and adapted to define an object-oriented programming language subclass to model a business object from the plurality of business objects in the business application, wherein the subclass includes a variable corresponding to an attribute not among the plurality of attributes common to the plurality of business objects; and    a tool component adapted to instantiate an object from the subclass, wherein the object represents the business object.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a screen for displaying the object representing the business object using an object-oriented programming tool.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an object-oriented code analysis component for detecting a problem associated with the object representing the business object using an object-oriented programming tool, wherein the problem corresponds to a problem in the business object.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a user interface for manipulating the object representing the business object using an object-oriented programming tool.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a converting component adapted to convert the manipulated object representing the business object into a data structure usable by the business application.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a communications interface for loading the data structure into the business application to affect an operation of the business application.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the transforming component adapted to define an object-oriented programming language subclass to model a business object is adapted to include data values for the business object from the business application in the subclass.