Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for transforming character strings that are contained in a unit of code. A conversion mechanism performs a macro substitution by transforming hard coded strings into unique macro strings. The conversion mechanism is configured to receive a set of computer instructions that are contained in one or more files. The conversion mechanism parses the instructions to identify character strings included within the computer instructions, while copying the files to one or more output source code files. Upon identifying each string, the conversion mechanism generates a unique macro string as a substitute for the original string. The conversion mechanism then substitutes the unique macro string for the identified string in the source code of the computer program. The conversion mechanism also generates an entry in a macro list that associates the unique macro string with the identified string for use during compilation of the computer instructions. A reference to the macro list is stored in each of the output source code files. When a compiler compiles the output source code files, the compiler may read the macro list and substitute each instance of the unique macro string with its associated identified string.

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First Claim