Re: Package reformatting tool availability

[Pierre Dissaux <pierre.dissaux@tni.fr>]

Andy Askey wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I have several Ada legacy packages that contain multiple types.  I
> prefer that each type is in its own package/file for my Ada95
> development effort.  Does anyone have (or know of) a script or other
> tool that will turn a package with multiple types into multiple packages
> with one type?
> 
> Thanx.

You could use Ada2HOOD reverse engineering utility in order to re-design
your application.

You will get a non-terminal HOOD module that is the image of your
current composite package.
It will be then possible to create lower level modules and dispatch
types and related subprograms into each of them.
This second step is not automatic, but can be performed in a graphic
editor, if you can use a HOOD tool.
Ada code may be re-generated with the new packages organization.

Benefits of this approach is that you can work at design level, and
justify creation of each "class" by proper documentation.



HOOD (Hierarchical Object Oriented Design Method) was defined to fit
software design process requirements for European Space Agency projects.
It now also used for avionics, transport, and similar applications.
HOOD4 (the last version of the method) is very close to Ada95.

Ada2HOOD is freeware developed by TNI to help reengineering Ada software
with a HOOD approach. Current version suffers from some limitations but
it may be extended easily. It produces HOOD Standard Interchange Format
(SIF) files from Ada packages. These SIF files may be loaded into any
HOOD tool (and of course into STOOD, developed by TNI, but this one is
not a freeware).

To know more about HOOD/Ada design approach:
- participate to the 3rd "Workshop on Methods and Tools for Ada95" (next
week) http://workshopada.enst-bretagne.fr
- visit our web site: http://www.tni.fr/


Pierre Dissaux
TNI