A method for conversion of digital computer source code software to operate in a system foreign to that from which the software originated. A library is created in which each entry incorporates the name of a code statement, or macro, which may require conversion and expanded code statements which may be selected to replace the macro. Each expanded code statement may be accompanied by one or more parametric triplets, each of which corresponds to a parameter within the expanded code and expresses a condition under which the expanded code is bypassed depending on the presence or absence of the parameter in any source code statement containing the macro. The source code statements are examined serially and any statement containing no macro entered in the library is passed to an output file, while any macro is replaced by any expanded code from the dictionary for which no bypass condition is satisfied. If it is desired to incorporate macros in expanded code, then the completed output file may replace the source file and the process may be repeated until no further macros are found.

An information managing apparatus comprising memories for storing a single or plural application kits including no decision process and no data storage process. The application kits are defined only by an execution element routine. A software kit interface is provided for constructing the application kits independently of hardware and operating system. The software kit interface includes a library group for storing and processing a flow of the constructed application kits. The information managing apparatus also includes a BASE section for integrally managing temporary storage and process of information shared by the application kits, an operating system interface for supplying a function group to operate the application kits and the BASE section while completely separating the application kits from the hardware and the operating system, and an application program interface for operating with the software kit interface and the application program interface to provide coordination with the application kits with no modification of the memories storing a working sequence operable only with a specified operation system.

A system software interface is provided which is called by applications programs using a standard format. All calls to system library routines are made through this interface. When called, the interface determines the location and original language of a desired library procedure. The interface then sets up parameters and calls such procedure using the calling convention which it expects. The interface receives any results generated by the library procedure, converts them to the return convention used by the calling application, and returns the results to the calling application.

A method and system for analyzing the physical characteristics of database records, such as in IMS databases. The information obtained during this analysis may then be used to perform a more efficient reorganization or restructuring of the database. In one embodiment, the method involves tracing the database retrieval process to collect physical location information for each segment of each database record in an IMS database. The database retrieval process for each database record may begin at the root segment of the database record and traverse the child segments of the database record, preferably in hierarchical order, e.g. top to bottom, left to right. The database retrieval process identifies the segment code causing the first reference to a block and the number of segments retrieved from the block before fetching a new block. The physical location information for each segment of each database record in the IMS database may be analyzed to identify one or more segments which represent a fragmented boundary twin chain. Two calculations may be performed for those segments which are boundary twin chains. If the total number of physical blocks currently used to hold the boundary twin chain exceeds the minimum number of physical blocks needed to hold the boundary twin chain by a pre-determined amount, the boundary twin chain may be determined to be fragmented. Similar calculations may be performed for the database record. A reorganization recommendation list for the database record may be created in response to determining whether the database record is fragmented.

Data base administrator (10) creates program communication blocks (11), and programmer (12) writes programs (13) using the program communication blocks (PCBs) to store data in bulk storage device (14). A user (15) not having data processing skills or experience is enabled by means of a utility to access data in bulk storage device (14) via the PCBs (11). The utility first reads the data base descriptions (DBDs) and PCB source statements and constructs a data directory, consolidating access paths into entry data bases which are displayed to the user (15) as a menu. The utility then evaluates all possible access paths that will satisfy a user query, weights them according to their efficiency, and selects the best.