API for obtaining unambiguous representation of objects in a relational database
View Patent ↗Various techniques for providing an application program interface (API) that facilitates the retrieval of information stored in a configuration repository directly from the configuration repository are provided. The API provides a direct channel of communication into the configuration repository through which a user can obtain an unambiguous representation of the objects in the configuration repository. When requested, the API retrieves an object or objects from the configuration repository, translates the retrieved result into an intermediate, well-defined representation that unambiguously represents the requested object or objects, and provides the requestor the unambiguous representation of the object or objects.
1. A method comprising:
issuing, by a first process, a request for at least one object stored in a first configuration repository, wherein
the first process comprises an automated test tool;
receiving, by a second process, the request for the at least one object stored in the first configuration repository, wherein
the second process comprises a software development tool,
the at least one object is stored in the first configuration repository in a normalized format, and
the first configuration repository is under the control of the second process,
retrieving one or more records from the first configuration repository, wherein
an application program interface (API) is configured to retrieve the one or more records;
constructing a hierarchical tree of nodes;
generating a representation of the requested at least one object using the hierarchical tree of nodes;
issuing a response to the request for the at least one object stored in the first configuration repository, the response comprising the representation of the requested at least one object;
retrieving the at least one object from the first configuration repository, wherein the first process uses the response to retrieve the at least one object; and
synchronizing the automatic test tool with a second configuration repository, wherein
the synchronizing comprises storing the at least one object in the second configuration repository,
the second configuration repository is under control of the first process, and
the first process is configured to use the at least one object from the second configuration repository to test an application.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested at least one object is associated with the application.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the representation of the requested at least one object includes a hierarchical path for the requested at least one object within the application.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for the at least one object is a request for a root object, the root object corresponding to an application in the first configuration repository.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for the at least one object is a request for a child object of a specified parent object, wherein the child object is a direct child of the specified parent object.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for the at least one object is a request for a container object of a specified parent object.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for the at least one object is a request for all objects of a specified parent object.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested at least one object is represented in an XML format.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the response is used to create an application.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a test automation asset, wherein
the automated test tool creates the test automation asset, and
the test automation asset comprises the at least one object.
11. A method in a computer system, the method comprising:
receiving a request for at least one object stored in a first configuration repository,
wherein
the computer system is configured to receive the request from a first process, wherein
the first process comprises an automated test tool,
the at least one object is stored in the first configuration repository in a normalized format, and
the first configuration repository is under the control of a second process, wherein
the second process comprises a software development tool;
retrieving records from the first configuration repository that correspond to the requested at least one object, wherein
an application program interface (API) is configured to retrieve the one or more records;
constructing a hierarchical tree of nodes;
generating a representation of the requested at least one object from the hierarchical tree of nodes; and
responding to the request for the at least one object stored in the first configuration repository, wherein
the response comprises the representation of the requested at least one object, and
the response is configured to facilitate retrieval of the at least one object from the first configuration repository by the first process;
synchronizing the automatic test tool with a second configuration repository, wherein
the synchronizing comprises storing the at least one object in the second configuration repository, and
the at least one object from the second configuration repository is configured to be used by the first process to test an application.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the records are retrieved from the first configuration repository one level at a time.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein constructing the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises populating the nodes with attributes of the objects contained in the retrieved records.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the request for the at least one object comprises a query criteria.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the query criteria includes a specification of a start date for the creation of the requested at least one object.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the query criteria includes a specification of an end date for the creation of the requested at least one object.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the query criteria includes a specification of a start time for the modification of the requested at least one object.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the query criteria includes a specification of an end time for the modification of the requested at least one object.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the query criteria includes a specification of a creator of the requested at least one object.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the query criteria includes a specification of a last modifier of the requested at least one object.
21. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for providing access to a first configuration repository, by a method comprising:
receiving a request from a first process for at least one object stored in the first configuration repository, wherein
the first process comprises an automated test tool,
the request is received by a second process, wherein the second process comprises a software development tool,
the at least one object is stored in the first configuration repository in a normalized format,
the first configuration repository is under the control of the second process;
retrieving records from the first configuration repository that corresponds to the requested at least one object, wherein
an application program interface (API) is configured to retrieve the one or more records;
constructing a hierarchical tree of nodes;
generating a representation of the requested at least one object from the hierarchical tree of nodes;
generating a response to the request for the at least one object stored in the first configuration repository, the response comprising the representation of the requested at least one object;
retrieving the at least one object from the first configuration repository, wherein the first process uses the response to retrieve the at least one object; and
synchronizing the automatic test tool with a second configuration repository, wherein
the synchronizing comprises storing the at least one object in the second configuration repository,
the second configuration repository is under control of the first process, and
the first process is configured to use the at least one object from the second configuration repository to test an application.
22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the representation of the objects includes the hierarchical path of the objects within an application that comprises the objects.