Creating transient hypertextual access structures for C programs

The paper describes how hypertextual access structures can be formed to support the maintenance of C programs. The access structures are formed automatically based on the HyperSoft model and method developed earlier. The automatic creation is based on syntactical fragmentation of program text and on relationships between these fragments. The access structures are transient, meaning that instead of storing them permanently they are created on user request. HyperSoft enables flexible navigation between the program parts which are relevant to a certain maintenance situation. The HyperSoft system currently supports C language and five access structures: occurrence lists for variables and functions, forward and backward calling dependence structures, intraprocedural backward slices, and interprocedural forward slices. Access structures are represented to the user as a set of highlighted nodes and graphical links on top of the original program text. The HyperSoft system has been developed in co-operation with the four largest software houses in Finland.