Excel Software has released version 2.0 of their software reengineering tool, MacTranslator. MacTranlator 2.0 assists in the process of generating software models from source code. According to Excel Software:
Used in conjunction with the MacA&D modeling tool, it allows software developers to automatically generate UML class diagrams and an integrated dictionary from Java, C++ or Object Pascal code. Structure charts generated from C, Pascal, procedural Basic or Fortran code illustrate a program's function calling structure. Used in conjunction with the QuickCRC modeling tool, CRC cards can be generated from Java, C++ or Object Pascal. MacTranslator 2.0 adds Java language support, project scripting and a reengineering wizard. It can process code files in large projects up to 10 times faster than version 1.0.
MacTranslator 2.0 supports new Java features like nested classes. Java packages translate to design namespaces that handle name scope and map design elements to files in code folders. The new MacA&D 7.0 or QuickCRC 1.2 is required for generating design models from Java code with MacTranslator.
From a user's perspective, the typical code reengineering process involves issuing commands to build a list of code files, extracting dictionary information to a text file, adding comment delimited code keys to the source files and generating a list of referenced modules. Output files are imported into MacA&D or QuickCRC to generate models. MacTranslator commands can be issued from a menu or invoked from a project script.
MacTranslator commands can be written as a text script called a project file that can be executed with one command. This makes it easy to automate the reengineering process. Large projects may include thousands of files partitioned into hundreds of code folders. An interactive wizard steps the user through the reengineering process with a series of screens. It then creates and runs a project file for object-oriented or procedural-oriented projects.
Users can customize MacTranslator and its output by selecting the language and default options. Detailed information can be collected from the source code such as class attribute and operation data types, function arguments and descriptive comments. A generated design can be enhanced with MacA&D to generate new code. Several types of library files are supported for processing large projects with multiple code folders. MacTranslator can edit list files, reports, library files and code files with user definable file extensions that are easily customized for any development environment.
MacTranslator 2.0 is available for US$495. 5 user and unlimited site license's are also available. You can find more information at the company's web site.