| 摘要 |
A technique for combining a meta data file and Java source code to dynamically create Java classes and JavaBeans. This technique enables creating objects and JavaBeans in a new, more flexible manner. An approach similar to, but different from, existing macro definition and expansion is used. According to the present invention, placeholders for parameter values are specified in the main source code file, and the values to be substituted for these placeholders are contained in an auxilliary file, referred to as a "meta file" or "meta data file". By isolating the parameter values outside the source code file in this manner, the values are much easier to change. The change does not affect the source code file itself. Instead, the change is reflected in a new file created during the expansion process. This approach enables an end-user to easily specify objects to be created, and/or the instance data to be used for creating a particular object (i.e. the values to be used for the parameters), without having to know Java code syntax and without having to obtain write permissions to the Java source code. The approach of the present invention also allows a particular macro to be used in different ways throughout a source code file. A particular macro name can be referenced multiple times in the source code file, with the ability to specify substitution of a selectable subset of the parameter values where that subset may change from one reference to another. In addition, a macro name can be specified multiple times in the meta file of the present invention, with parameter values that may change from one specification to another. Optionally, a conditional expansion feature may be used. The technique of the present invention may be used advantageously with object-oriented languages other than the Java programming language.
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