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ABSTRACT

Reusable code and higher generation languages have been sited as methods for systems development which will cause reduction of time to develop new code, and which will lead to significant reduction of developmental errors. In each generation of language syntactic elements of the language decompose into multiple statements at a lower level. Dataflex is a 4th GL associated with a hierarchical database. While it is an efficient language, it nonetheless consumes considerable numbers of statements to solve routine problems not solvable with its standard macros. Many routines seem to be repeated during development of many similar systems. A technique common among professional programmers is to clone whole programs. We proposed to build a preprocessor to automate the cloning process. It would either recognize keywords in a statement and then use associated parameters in an expansion process, or if no keywords were present, the statement would be copies without expansion. A scrolling window display routine command sequence was developed to test the preprocessor. Productivity gains of 25-50 to 1 were obtained with reduction or elimination of errors. While scrolling window routines are not inherently difficult, as much as 500 lines of code are required to handle a simple window, including editable fields, lookup or display-only type fields. To implement such a window #lines = 3 + # of fields in a line using the preprocessor. In development of accounting systems, posting routines were cloned wherein similar fields in one file were posted to fields in another file. Copy and update preprocessing macros increased coding efficiency by at least 25 to 1 these routines.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.4 Processors
          Subjects: Preprocessors

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT

General Terms:
Design, Languages