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: 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; enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the operation icons on the display device, and to arrange graphical links between the selected operation icons, using the input device, so as to define a rule which takes data from a segment of the inbound data

Abstract: A method of creating SQL instructions defining a process to be performed on a relational database, 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 in a relational database; enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the operation icons on the display device using the input device; enabling the user to arrange graphical links between the selected operation icons to define the order of execution of the operations represented by the selected operation icons, wherein the selected operation icons and the data icons and the graphical links together from a graphical representation of the process; generating, at the processor, SQL instructions for executing the operations represented by the selected operation icons, in accordance with t

Abstract: A method of creating a form-based application using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device, 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; retrieving from the 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; 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 a display; allowing the developer to use the input device to arrange links between the selected icons, wherein the links together with the selected icons form an Application Diagram which represents the navigation of a user of the application between the forms and services represented by the selected form and service icons respe

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating dummy data for use in testing a data processing application using a computing device having a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. A developer specifies attributes of dummy data, and specifies at least one probability distribution. A representation of the probability distribution is then shown on the display device and the probability distribution is applied to the specified attributes to generate dummy data values.

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 and apparatus for programming a computer to execute a batch data processing procedure using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. The memory stores a plurality of functions arranged to process individual data messages or batches of data messages. A function is selected from the plurality of functions and retrieved from the memory. A data flow diagram is arranged on the display, in response to developer input, to specify a process. The data flow diagram includes a function icon corresponding to the selected function, at least one data icon corresponding to a data object, and at least one link connecting the function icon to the data icon. The function is arranged to perform one of disassociating a batch of data messages into individual data messages and associating data messages into a batch of data messages.

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing at least one data message using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device, 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; enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the operation icons on the display device using the input device; enabling the user to arrange graphical links between the selected operation icons to define the flow of data between the selected operation icons, wherein the selected operation icons and the graphical links together form a graphical representation of a process to be performed on the data message; enabling the user to specify at least one of the operation icons in the graphical representation as a transaction boundary node; defining at least one transaction region extending over part or all or the graphical representation

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing a collection of data items using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device, the method including: allowing a developer to use the display and input devices to select an algorithm from a number of algorithms, the algorithm being arranged to visit each data item in turn and the algorithm defining the sequence in which the data items are to be visited; allowing a developer to specify at least one of: an OnEnter Action defining an action to be performed when the algorithm arrives at each data item; or an OnLeave Action defining an action to be performed when the algorithm leaves each data item; and processing, at the processor, the collection of data items in the sequence defined by the algorithm using at least the OnEnter Action or the OnLeave Action.

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 a 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: allowing a developer to use the input device to create a graphical representation of the inbound data format on the display device; allowing the developer to use the input device to create a graphical representation of the outbound data format on the display device; allowing the developer to use the input device to create graphical links between segments of the inbound data format and segments of the outbound data format, the links representing a tran