Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow a user to compare different versions of a business application using an object-oriented model of the business application. By transforming business application structures into object-oriented structures, such as object-oriented language constructs, structures, and other elements, individual differences between versions of the business applications may be identified and displayed to a user, for example, on a user interface. A user may display object-oriented models of the business application representing, for instance, the latest control version, the latest deployed version, and a test version including test modifications. Having all three versions represented in object-oriented models allows a user to perform a three-way comparison between the object-oriented models, increasing productivity and efficiency of maintaining, debugging, modifying, controlling and deploying the business application.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems consistent with the present invention may transform business application objects and relationships into object-oriented programming elements, making it possible to display and manipulate representations of the business objects and their relationships in an easily comprehensible and manageable manner using standard object-oriented programming language tools. With this capability a user may easily see all the business objects that depend upon or are somehow related to the selected business object and gain awareness of the scope of objects in the business application that may be affected by a change to the selected business object. By using an object-oriented model of a complex, table-based business application, relationships not previously understandable may now be easily determined, displayed, and modified.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products consistent with the invention analyze a business application's data, operations, and relationships and create a corresponding object oriented programming (OOP) model of the application, comprising OOP objects, functions, and operators corresponding to the business application's entities. Each OOP entity in the model entity accurately represents the data, relationships, and rules associated with the corresponding business entity. Once converted to an OOP model, standard OOP tools may be used to understand, manipulate, design, redesign, analyze, optimize, and modify the business application model independent of the native business application system. Entities from the OOP model may be converted into corresponding business application entities having the same properties and installed in the native business application system.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may transform business application relationships or links into OOP constructs that represent the relationship, tying together different types of business objects, such as data and operations, in a manner that allows automated OOP tools to check the integrity of the relationships and thus the integrity of relationships in the modeled business application. In one embodiment, an automated system uses an object-oriented language construct, such as an assignment operator (e.g., “=” in Java), to link together OOP objects representing business data and business operations. The object-oriented language construct binds different OOP objects representing business application objects and enforces a relationship between them.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the invention may analyze a business application's data, operations, and relationships and create a corresponding object oriented programming (OOP) model corresponding to the business application entities. In one embodiment the OOP model may be realized in the Java programming language and may include OOP objects, functions, and operators. Each OOP model accurately represents the data, relationships, and rules associated with the corresponding business entity. Once converted to an OOP model, systems and methods consistent with the invention may use standard OOP tools to understand, manipulate, design, redesign, analyze, and modify the business application. This can be done independently of the native business application system, as the OOP model is separate and independent from the business application entities. Modifications made to the OOP model may then be converted back into business application entities and installed in the native system.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, methods and systems redesign a business application composed in a first programming format by receiving a model representing the business application in a second programming format and processing the model using a code refactoring tool in the second programming format. A modification to the model made by the code refactoring tool is analyzed and applied, in the first programming format, to the business application.