Patent ID: 6233728
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of processing a computer source program, comprising the steps of:providing a data declaration extension syntax providing a date format attribute, wherein the syntax further provides Year 2000 solution attributes, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of Year 2000 solution techniques;receiving a plurality of programming language statements comprising a source program into a memory of a computer, wherein at least one of the received statements comprises a data declaration extension in the format of the provided data declaration syntax, the syntax specifying a Year 2000 solution attribute;identifying the statement comprising the data declaration extension to the compiler by identifying the date format attribute; andcompiling the source program into an object program in the memory of the computer, wherein the object program includes separate instructions for processing and/or invoking different procedures on a data field associated with the extended data declaration depending on the Year 2000 solution attribute;wherein said step of compiling comprises the steps of receiving at least one of a debug compiler option or debug compiler directive and, in response thereto, providing a debug hook in the object code for each source statement in the compilation that uses or is affected by a year 2000 data declaration extension.