This disclosure provides software that identifies a variable in a computer program as a target variable. The software automatically processes a first source code statement in the computer program for the target variable. The software determines if the target variable is not found in the particular processed statement and progresses through preceding statements until the target variable is found. The software determines if the particular statement involves an indirect assignment to the target variable and can return that particular statement as the origination statement. Additionally, the software determines if the particular statement involves a direct assignment to the target variable from a second variable. If the particular statement involves a direct assignment to the target variable from a second variable, the software can change the target variable to the second variable and can progress through preceding statements until the new target variable is found in a particular of the statements.
