Methods of comparing and merging business process configurations
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.
1. A method of determining a current version of a business application, comprising:
receiving a first version of an object-oriented model representing the business application, wherein the first version includes a plurality of objects;
receiving a second version of the object-oriented model representing the business application, wherein the second version includes a plurality of objects;
receiving a third version of the object-oriented model representing the business application, wherein the third version includes a plurality of objects;
comparing the objects of the first version, the second version, and the third version of the object-oriented model to identify differences between the first version, the second version, and the third version of the object-oriented model;
determining, for each identified difference, which version of the object-oriented model is to be associated with the first version of the object-oriented model; and
assigning the first version of the object-oriented model as a current version of the object-oriented model.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the first version of the object-oriented model based on a configuration of the business application stored in a version control database.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the second version of the object-oriented model based on a currently deployed configuration of the business application.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the third version of the object-oriented model based on a modified configuration of the business application.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the business application is in a table-based format.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transforming the current version of the object-oriented model into a current version of the business application.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
storing the current version of the business application in a version control database.
8. A method of comparing configurations of a business application, comprising:
generating a first object-oriented model representing a first configuration of the business application stored in a control database;
generating a second object-oriented model representing a second configuration of the business application that is currently deployed;
generating a third object-oriented model representing a third configuration of the business application that has been modified from the currently deployed configuration;
comparing objects of the first object-oriented model, the second object-oriented model, and the third object-oriented model to identify a difference between the first object-oriented model, the second object-oriented model, and the third object-oriented model;
analyzing the identified difference to determine which object-oriented model represents a desired configuration of the business application; and
designating the object-oriented model representing the desired configuration of the business application, based on the analysis of the identified difference.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transforming the designated object-oriented model to create the desired configuration of the business application; and
replacing the configuration of the business application that is currently deployed with the desired configuration of the business application.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transforming the designated object-oriented model to create the desired configuration of the business application; and
replacing the configuration of the business application stored in the control database with the desired configuration of the business application.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying the identified difference together with a relevant portion of the first, second, and third object-oriented models using a single user interface.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the business application is in a table-based format.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a modification to the currently deployed configuration of the business application from a user via a user interface; and
enabling the user to request comparison of configurations of the business application by selecting a button on the user interface.
14. A system for comparing configurations of a business application, comprising:
a generating component configured to
generate a first object-oriented model representing a first configuration of the business application stored in a control database,
generate a second object-oriented model representing a second configuration of the business application that is currently deployed, and
generate a third object-oriented model representing a third configuration of the business application that has been modified from the currently deployed configuration;
a comparing component configured to compare objects of the first object-oriented model, the second object-oriented model, and the third object-oriented model to identify a difference between the first object-oriented model, the second object-oriented model, and the third object-oriented model;
an analyzing component configured to analyze the identified difference to determine which object-oriented model represents a desired configuration of the business application; and
a designating component configured to designate the object-oriented model representing the desired configuration of the business application, based on the analysis of the identified difference.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a transforming component configured to transform the designated object-oriented model to create the desired configuration of the business application; and
a replacing component configured to replace the configuration of the business application that is currently deployed with the desired configuration of the business application.
16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a transforming component configured to transform the designated object-oriented model to create the desired configuration of the business application; and
a replacing component configured to replace the configuration of the business application stored in the control database with the desired configuration of the business application.
17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a displaying component configured to display the identified difference together with a relevant portion of the first, second, and third object-oriented models using a single user interface.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the business application is in a table-based format.
19. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a receiving component configured to receive a modification to the currently deployed configuration of the business application from a user via a user interface; and
a button on the user interface configured to enable the user to request comparison of configurations of the business application.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the button is displayed together with the identified difference.