Abstract: The method of the invention enables a computer to examine a software application, which includes operands and operators, and to identify operand fields which include a year value. A scan knowledge base includes scan rules that enable characteristics of operands to recognized, identified and initially classified. An operand association table is provided for each operator and indicates, based upon inter-relationships of operands associated with the operator, whether an associated operand that has been initially classified as a year field or a probable year field, should be assigned a revised classification and what that revised classification should be. The method reviews the application, using the scan knowledge base, to identify each operand which can be initially classified as a year field or a probable year field and lists each such operand in an operand table.

Abstract: A method determines if a revised fragment of a program provides an identical answer as does an original fragment of the program, wherein a fragment is one operator and one or more operands that are subject to processing by the operator. The method comprises the steps of: executing both an original fragment of the program and one or more revised fragment(s) which correspond to the original fragment, using first equvalent variables and determining if both fragments produce equivalent results; executing both the revised fragment(s) and the original fragment of the program using additional variables to determine if both fragments produce equivalent results under all test conditions; if the results are not equivalent, making a notation of that fact for later examination; and if the fragments are equivalent, repeating the aforementioned test steps until all revised code fragments have been tested.

Abstract: The method of the invention enables a computer to examine a software application, which includes operands and operators, and to identify operand fields which include a year value. An operand association table is provided for each operator and indicates, based upon inter-relationships of operands associated with the operator, whether an associated operand that has been classified as a year field or a probable year field, should be assigned a revised classification and what that revised classification should be. The method reviews the application to identify each operand which can be initially classified as a year field or a probable year field and lists each such operand in an operand table. The method also reviews the application to identify every operator listed therein and lists every operator and any associated operands in an operator table.