Abstract: A SQL Visualizer including means for transforming a textual SQL statement into a graphical diagram which represents the textual SQL statement.

Abstract: There is provided a method of creating computer instructions for transforming inbound instances, being instances of a hierarchical inbound data format, into outbound instances, being instances of at least one hierarchical outbound data format, wherein each inbound instance is transformed into zero, one or more outbound instances, the inbound and outbound data formats each having a number of segments arranged in a hierarchical manner, the method using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device, and the method including: retrieving from the memory and providing on the display device a number of operation icons each representing at least one operation to be performed on data; and enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the operation icons on the display device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a rule to a data object using a computing device having at least a processor, a computer-readable memory, a display device and an input device. A rule template is provided in the computer-readable memory, the rule template having attributes corresponding to attributes of at least one type of data object. A rule template icon associated with the rule template and a data object icon associated with a data object having corresponding attributes are also provided in the computer-readable memory. A developer of an application is allowed to associate the rule template icon with the data object icon and, as a result of the association of the rule template icon with the data object icon, the rule template is instantiated with the data object.

Abstract: A method of creating a software application using an integrated development environment, IDE, running on a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. The method includes retrieving from the memory and providing on the display device a number of graphical elements each representing at least one operation to be performed on data. The method further includes enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the graphical elements on the display device using the input device. The method includes enabling the user to arrange graphical links between the selected graphical elements, wherein the selected graphical elements and the graphical links together form one or more graphical models of a process to be performed on data by the software application, and displaying in the IDE a 3D representation of the graphical model or models.

Abstract: A method of creating a form-based web application using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. The method includes retrieving from the memory and providing on the display device a number of form icons, each form icon representing a form to be displayed to a user of the application. The method further includes retrieving from said memory and providing on the display device a number of service icons, each service icon representing a service which may be called in response to actions of the user. The method further includes allowing a developer of the application to use the input device to select one or more of the form icons and one or more of the service icons and to arrange the selected icons on the display device.

Abstract: A method of creating computer instructions for transforming inbound instances, being instances of an inbound data format, into outbound instances, being instances of an outbound data format. At least one of the inbound and outbound data formats has a number of segments arranged in a hierarchical manner. The method uses a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. The method includes allowing a developer to use the input device to create a graphical representation of the inbound data format on the display device and allowing the developer to use the input device to create a graphical representation of the outbound data format on the display device.

Abstract: A method of generating computer instructions for creating instances of a hierarchical data format from a flat record stream, the flat record stream containing data in a flat format and containing at least some data redundancy. The method uses a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. The method includes allowing a developer to use the input device to create a graphical representation of the hierarchical data format, and allowing a developer to use the input device to create a graphical representation of a mapping between the flat format and the hierarchical format. The method further includes generating, at the processor, computer instructions which when executed on a computer cause the computer to create from the flat record stream instances of the hierarchical format, wherein the instances of the hierarchical format remove the data redundancy.

Abstract: A method for automating a process includes the following steps: providing a user interface which graphically presents a plurality of icons to a user, wherein each icon represents an operation step having at least one input and at least one output; enabling the user to select one or more of the icons; enabling the user to form connections between the selected icons to represent data flow between the operation steps represented by the icons; and generating computer instructions for executing the operation steps corresponding to the selected icons, and in accordance with the connections, in such a way that each operation step can only be executed when data is present at all of its inputs, and cannot be executed when data is absent at any one of its inputs.

Abstract: A method including: displaying operation icons representing operations to be performed, a user selecting and arranging the operation icons to define a flow of data between operations and to form a graphical representation of a process, the user specifying an operation icon as a transaction boundary node at the end of a transaction region, and compiling instructions to execute the arranged operations wherein the beginning of a transaction region acts as a roll back point in the event of an error occurring in the transaction region.