I need help with translation

Howdy,
Here is my problem:
I have list of ~150 powerbuilder functions that I need to translate
into their associated Java function calls.
I do not need to translate the entire powerscript language, I am only
translating powerscript expression.
Here is an example of a typical expression that would need to be
translated:


left(gf_RetrieveValue( 'patient', 'phone',
'patient_identity='+string(gf_GetPatientIdentity( )), 'No Phone Number
on File' ),3)+'-'+mid(gf_RetrieveValue( 'patient', 'phone',
'patient_identity='+string(gf_GetPatientIdentity( )), 'No Phone Number
on File' ), 0, 100)


the function prototypes would be:


left(String s, int n) => return a string of the leftmost 3 chars
gf_RetrieveValue(String table, String column, String whereClause,
String default) => returns a string from a table/field/whereclause in
a DB
string(int n)=> converts into to string
gf_GetPatientIdentity( )=> Returns an int. This would be the patientID
in the current context
mid(String s, int start, int length)=>returns subtring of s starting
from start and ending at length


Some of these functions do not have associated standard java function
calls (e.g., gf_RetrieveValue), so I would have to write them.


All function parameters can themselves be string or numeric
expressions


I do not wish to compute the values of the expressions, as they could
be dependent on data that would not be available in the running
context. I only wish to generate the associated java specific
translation. This translation along with a condition under which to
execute the code will be put into a format that will be sent to a
rules engine (http://www.drools.org/) for processing.




Is there any easy way to do this???


Is there an example/tutorial out there of something similar to this?


What would be a good way to approach this problem?


I have ~ 1.5 months to get this done, and it's been a long time since
class 141, compiler construction!


John McClain
Senior Software Engineer
TCS Healthcare
jmcclain@tcshealthcare.com
(530)886-1700x235
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes."

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