Generating a 2D Representation of a Complex Data Structure

A computer program, designed to assist in the development and debugging of other software, generates a two-dimensional (2D) representation of a possibly complex ndimensional (where n is an integer >2) data structure or abstract rank-n object in that other software. The nature of the 2D representation is such that it can be displayed on a non-graphical output device and distributed by non-graphical means. The purpose served by this representation is to assist the user in visualizing and understanding the complex data structure or arbitrarily dimensioned object. This is the only known program that enables a programmer to map an n-dimensional data structure to a flat 2D space. This program does not depend upon the hardware characteristics of a particular output device, and can be executed on a variety of computers from different manufacturers. It can be distributed in source-code or binary-code form. It requires a Lisp compiler. It has no specific memory requirements and depends upon the other software with which it is used and application programs running in it. This software is implemented as a library that is called by, and becomes folded into, the developmental other software.