[[Source Factoring]] is a general method for separating various orthogonal attributes of source code in order to simplify and clarify manipulation and transformation by handling each attribute independently.  In particular, it is one of a number of practical methods for preserving source code formatting attributes such as spacing and commenting across source transformations.

[[Source Factoring]] is the usual method for preserving input formatting and commenting characteristics when using [[http://www.program-transformation.org/Transform/TXL][TXL]].  Use of source factoring with TXL is described in the paper:

A.J. Malton, K.A. Schneider, J.R. Cordy, T.R. Dean, D. Cousineau and J. Reynolds, "Processing Software Source Text in Automated Design Recovery and Transformation", _Proc. IWPC 2001 - IEEE 9th International Workshop on Program Comprehension,_ Toronto, May 2001, pp. 127-134.

-- Main.JamesCordy - 10 Oct 2005