Granted Patent B2

US 7,721,270 · App. 11/238,583 · Granted May 18, 2010

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A method for converting information, the method comprises the following stages executed by a processor:

converting a non-structured information transformation specification to a structured information transformation specification;

generating information transformation code responsive to the structured information transformation specification;

altering the information transformation code; and

associating a code alteration indication to the non-structured information transformation specification in response to the alteration of the information transformation code, the associating further comprising:

performing a conversion of the information transformation code to a format compatible with the structured information transformation specification to generate an intermediate code alteration; and

performing a conversion of the intermediate code alteration to a format compatible with the non-structured information transformation specification to generate the code alteration indication.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the code alteration indication affects the non-structured information transformation specification.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining if the alteration of the information transformation code can be converted to a non-structured information specification conversion format.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the non-structured information transformation specification is a spreadsheet format information transformation specification.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprises providing indications of recommended non-structured information transformation specification rules.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprises generating non-structured information transformation specification shortcuts.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing versions of the information transformation code and determining an alteration by comparing between at least two versions of the information transformation code.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing versions of the structured information transformation specification and determining an alteration by comparing between at least two versions of the structured information transformation specification.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing versions of the non-structured information transformation specification and determining an alteration by comparing between at least two versions of the non-structured information transformation specification.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising altering the non-structured information transformation specification and attempting to generate a structured information transformation specification that represents the altered non-structured information transformation specification.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the structured information transformation specification comprises a MAPPERS element.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the structured information transformation specification comprises a LOOKUPS element.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the structured information transformation specification comprises an OVERRIDE element.

14. A computer readable medium that stores code executable by a processor that causes a computer to: convert the non-structured information transformation specification to a structured information transformation specification; generate information transformation code responsive to the structured information transformation specification, alter the information transformation code, and associate a code alteration indication to the non-structured information transformation specification in response to the alteration of the information transformation code, the association further comprising performing a conversion of the information transformation code to a format compatible with the structured information transformation specification to generate an intermediate code alteration, and performing a conversion of the intermediate code alteration to a format compatible with the non-structured information transformation specification to generate the code alteration indication.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code alteration indication affects the non-structured information transformation specification.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to determine if the alteration of the information transformation code can be converted to a non-structured information specification conversion format.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the non-structured information transformation specification is a spreadsheet format information transformation specification.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to provide indications of recommended non-structured information transformation specification rules.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to generate non-structured information transformation specification shortcuts.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to store versions of the information transformation code and determine an alteration by comparing between at least two versions of the information transformation code.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to store versions of the structured information transformation specification and determine an alteration by comparing between at least two versions of the structured information transformation specification.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to store versions of the non-structured information transformation specification and determine an alteration by comparing between at least two versions of the non-structured information transformation specification.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the code further causes the computer to alter the non-structured information transformation specification and to attempt to generate a structured information transformation specification that represents the altered non-structured information transformation specification.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the structured information transformation specification comprises a MAPPERS element.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the structured information transformation specification comprises a LOOKUPS element.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the structured information transformation specification comprises an OVERRIDE element.

27. An information converter, comprising:

an input for receiving non-structured information transformation specification; and

a processor adapted to perform executable instructions comprising:

(i) converting the non-structured information transformation specification to a structured information transformation specification;

(ii) generating information transformation code responsive to the structured information transformation specification;

(iii) altering the information transformation code; and

(iv) associating a code alteration indication to the non-structured information transformation specification in response to the alteration of the information transformation code, the associating further comprising:

performing a conversion of the information transformation code to a format compatible with the structured information transformation specification to generate an intermediate code alteration; and

performing a conversion of the intermediate code alteration to a format compatible with the non-structured information transformation specification to generate the code alteration indication.

Assignments (8)