Adaptable Data Source Connection String Converter
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in maintaining and migrating software applications that use legacy APIs to modern native APIs without requiring manual editing or modification of existing connection strings, as different APIs use varying connection string styles and attributes.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves converting a connection string configured for a first API to a second API by identifying the data source type, parsing connection information into a key-value dictionary, and using this information to generate a new connection string compatible with the second API, allowing for seamless migration without manual editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual revision of configuration and settings is used to migrate from legacy APIs to modern APIs, then the application can support various APIs, but the maintenance complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connection string converter as an intermediary component that automatically transforms connection strings between different APIs (ODBC, OLE DB, ADO.NET). This converter acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of API migration, eliminating the need for manual configuration revision and reducing maintenance complexity while preserving API compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The converter changes the parameters and format of connection strings to adapt them for different APIs. By automatically modifying connection string parameters and structures, the system enables seamless migration between legacy and modern APIs without manual intervention, thereby reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual editing of connection strings is performed to support different APIs, then the application can connect to various data sources, but the time consumption and productivity loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection string converter operates autonomously to perform the migration task. It automatically detects the source API type, analyzes the connection string structure, and generates the appropriate target API connection string without requiring manual editing. This self-service capability dramatically improves migration efficiency while maintaining data source compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The converter performs preliminary analysis and transformation of connection strings before the actual migration occurs. By pre-processing the connection string information and preparing the transformed version in advance, the system enables rapid migration with minimal time consumption while ensuring compatibility with various data sources.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing connection strings are modified to support new APIs, then the application can use modern APIs, but the risk of introducing errors and reducing reliability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The converter creates a copy of the original connection string and transforms it into the target API format. This copying approach preserves the original connection string unchanged, allowing for verification and rollback if needed. The transformation process maintains the integrity and reliability of connections while enabling API modernization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to validate the transformed connection strings and ensure they maintain proper connectivity. By verifying the transformed connection strings against expected formats and testing their functionality, the converter ensures reliability is maintained during API modernization while achieving adaptability to new APIs.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer-program products for converting a connection string configured to use a first API to connect to a data source of a data source type to using a second, different API to connect to the data source. The data source type is identified as being associated with the string and the string is parsed and stored in a key-value dictionary. An object is instantiated for a subclass designed for the data source type. This subclass inherits from a base class that includes an abstract version of a method defined for the second API and the subclass includes a non-abstract version of this method. A string is generated by calling the method associated with the object, causing the non-abstract version to be executed, which uses the dictionary to generate the string configured to use the second API to connect to the data source.