JP2000242536A - Item dictionary - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an item dictionary which has high productivity in a database design, is applicable to the project book preparation of such a system where a flat file and a database coexist in project book preparation of a highly reliable database and facilitates the sharing of database management information between different systems by a network. SOLUTION: This item dictionary is made to be automatically referred to at a place where attributes on the format of a table to be prepared are described when a database is designed. This automatic reference is made on the basis of an item name and returns the data of a designated column. Furthermore, one item can have a plurality of attributes by differently using a column position when the automatic reference is performed. Attributes when the database is used and even different attributes such as an attribute when a flat file is used can be managed unitarily by managing a plurality of attributes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to database design and construction, particularly to maintainability and consistency, and can be applied to the creation of a design document for a system in which a flat file and a database are mixed, and database management information between different systems. The present invention relates to an item dictionary that facilitates sharing of information through a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Standardization of products and quality as seen in the recent ISO9000 series requires data sharing and unification along with standardization on a company-wide or applicable industry basis. In the past, data was unified using a word processor or the like.However, since each table is created independently, only the same operation as paper-based operation is performed. Did not. Each time a database design document is revised or abolished, it is necessary to perform a series of operations such as identification of the affected area, modification and abolition, and confirmation. If humans perform all of these operations many times, leakage will easily occur in some operations. As a result, leakage of refurbishment is found in the downstream process, which is a major problem. On the other hand, there is a device that manages the information in a unified manner to prevent the omission of renovation, etc. for such a problem. However, since the target range is a single database, it is compatible with multiple types of databases (flat files). could not.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an example of a conventional unified management method of a database is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-2
No. 27369. The unified management method of a plurality of databases described in this publication is a method of managing a plurality of databases connected on a network, wherein business application information including information for specifying a database search program related to information is used. A database search program including information for specifying data item management information related to information, and data item management information including information for specifying one of a plurality of databases on a network. Accessing a database on a network by tracing business application information, a database search program and data item management information. This makes it possible to centrally manage the distributed databases by establishing a method of apparently treating the databases distributed on the network as one normalized database.

[0004]

However, according to the above, although the information is managed in a unified manner, the management cannot be realized in a plurality of types of databases. It cannot be applied to the creation of a design document for a system in which files and databases are mixed. Furthermore, although the information is centrally managed, it is not easy to share the database management information between different systems because the management is performed only on the specified database.

An object of the present invention is to provide an item dictionary which can be applied to the creation of a design document for a system in which a flat file and a database are mixed, and which facilitates sharing of database management information between different systems via a network. It is in.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An item dictionary of the present invention integrates and stores information on items of a plurality of types of databases and information for retrieving information on items held by a plurality of other servers. An item dictionary management server, a system-side item dictionary management server connected to the item dictionary management server via a WAN such as the Internet, and integrating and storing information on items of the plurality of types of databases and information on the items. , A table layout linked to the item dictionary management server and storing information on items of the database.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The concept of the item dictionary of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall image of the item dictionary of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram of automatic reference of the item dictionary of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the item dictionary of the present invention is configured to automatically refer to the item dictionary at a location where an attribute in a format of a table created when designing a database is described. This automatic reference refers to the item name as shown in FIG. 2 and returns the data of the specified column. In addition, one item can have a plurality of attributes by properly using the column position when performing automatic reference. By managing a plurality of attributes, it is possible to centrally manage different attributes such as attributes when using a database and attributes when using a flat file. Therefore, unified management is possible even between different systems, and reuse of previous assets is facilitated.

[0008] Link information is inserted in a location where a format attribute of a table created at the time of database design is described so as to automatically refer to the item dictionary. This link information refers to a file described as an item dictionary based on the item name, and returns data of a specified column. By properly using the column positions, it is possible to manage a plurality of attributes on an item dictionary for one item.

Further, since the link information to the item dictionary is embedded in the format of the database design document, "item name" is input as a trigger for referring. If the input item name hits the item dictionary, the data in the specified column is returned; otherwise, the information indicating "not present" is returned.

Next, the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the layout of the item dictionary of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the system for the item dictionary integrates and stores information on items of a plurality of types of databases and information for searching for information on items, which are held by a plurality of other servers. The server 10 is connected to the item dictionary management server 10 via a WAN such as the Internet, and is a system-side item dictionary management server 12-1, 12- that integrates and stores information on items of a plurality of types of databases and information on items.
, 12-n (n is a natural number) and a table layout 14 linked to the item dictionary management server 10 and storing information on items in the database.

As shown in FIG. 4, the item dictionary management server 10 and the system-side item dictionary management server 12 have an item name 1 which is a name used for an item in each database.
6, an item name 18 which is a key item connected to the item name 16 and used at the time of searching in the item dictionary, an attribute 20 representing the item name 16 and the type of attribute of the original database for the item name 18, and an attribute 20. Length 22, which is the size of the file; attribute 24, which indicates the type of the attribute of the flat file with respect to the item name 16, item name 18, and attribute 20, length 26, which is the size of the file represented by the attribute 24; , Item name 18 and content 28 that is a brief description of the content for attributes 20 and 24
And each is composed. If the item name 16 is defined, there is no limitation on the number of attributes and the like, and information other than the item description and the attributes can be centrally managed. It should be noted that the items shown here are merely examples, and are determined by providing a standardizing or unifying data to a unifying organization or the like. Therefore, necessary items are determined by the unifying organization or the like, and do not fix the items used in the above-described embodiment.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Each administrator of the database creates a file of the contents defined in the item dictionary management server 10 and the system-side item dictionary management server 12 for the items stored in the database, and holds the file as the table layout 14. The system-side item dictionary management server 12 links to the table layouts 14 linked to each other, acquires information necessary for the item dictionary, confirms whether the information necessary for retrieval is included, and integrates the files. The item dictionary management server 10 connects to each system-side item dictionary management server 12 via the Internet at fixed time intervals, and stores item names 16, item names 18, attributes 20, 24, and length 2
Information necessary for item dictionaries such as 2, 26 and contents 28 are acquired and integrated. Each administrator sets the item name 16 which is a key item of the item dictionary for the format including the link expression.
At a predetermined position. An item dictionary administrator registers item information in the item dictionary having the above layout. Next, a link formula that refers to the item dictionary is embedded in a file layout that is a database design document. If it is registered in the item dictionary, the information of the column specified from the item dictionary is returned. If not registered, a message is sent to the administrator to register items in the item dictionary.

Here, the medium to which the item information set in the item dictionary is input can be supported by commercially available spreadsheet software and database software.

[0014]

The item dictionary according to the present invention is effective for each point in reliability, productivity and maintainability.

Regarding the improvement of reliability, as a human movement, simply input a key item (for example, an item name) of an item dictionary and cite the attribute of the item by automatic reference. In this way, reliability is increased by minimizing human movement. In addition, since the number of items to be confirmed is greatly reduced, the reliability of the confirmation operation is greatly improved.

When creating a database design document for improving productivity, a file or table layout can be created only by inputting key items (eg, item names) of an item dictionary without checking the attributes of the items. Since this can be used as it is for a document, productivity is improved.

When the database design document is revised or abolished to improve maintainability, adding an item is only by adding an "item name", changing an item is only changing the item name, and changing an attribute of an item is managed by an item dictionary. It is possible to modify or abolish the database while maintaining consistency as a whole by simply changing the attribute managed by the target item. And this design is always up to date.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall image of an item dictionary of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of automatic reference of an item dictionary according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a layout of an item dictionary of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Item Dictionary Management Server 12 System Side Item Dictionary Management Server 14 Table Layout 16 Item Name 18 Item Name 20 Attribute 22 Length 24 Attribute 26 Length 28 Contents

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 16, 2000 (2006.1.
6)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Patent application title: Database construction / management method and construction / management system

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to database design and construction, particularly to maintainability and consistency, and can be applied to the creation of a design document for a system in which a flat file and a database are mixed, and database management information between different systems. Database that makes network sharing easier
A construction and management method and a construction and management system .

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0005] An object of the present invention is applicable to the creation of a design document for a system in which a flat file and a database are mixed, and a database structure that facilitates sharing of database management information between different systems via a network.
A construction and management method and a construction and management system are provided.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an item dictionary for integrating and storing information on items of a plurality of types of databases and information for retrieving information on items, which are held by a plurality of other servers. A management server, a system-side item dictionary management server connected to the item dictionary management server via a WAN such as the Internet, and integrating and storing information on items of the plurality of types of databases and information on the items; A table layout linked to a dictionary management server and storing information on items of the database.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An item dictionary for acquiring information on items held in a plurality of types of databases in real time, integrating information on the items, and centrally managing the items in the database. 2. The item dictionary according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of databases are database software, file layouts handled in a COBOL language, and spreadsheet software. 3. The information on the item is not limited to the number of attributes, which is information on the contents of the item, for one item. Even if different databases are mixed, the attribute corresponding to each database is stored. 3. The item dictionary according to claim 2, wherein the item dictionary is centrally managed. 4. When a new system is migrated, it is possible to migrate to a new database by changing or newly adding the attribute of the item managed by the item dictionary. Item dictionary of 3. 5. An item dictionary management server that integrates and stores information on items of a plurality of types of databases and information for searching for information on items held by a plurality of other servers; Server and WAN such as the Internet
And a system-side item dictionary management server that integrates and stores information about the items of the plurality of types of databases and information about the items; information about the items of the database linked to the item dictionary management server And a table layout for storing an item dictionary. 6. The item dictionary management server and the system-side item dictionary management server include: an item name, which is a name used for an item in each database; An item name that is an item, an attribute that indicates the type of the attribute of the original database for the item name and the item name, a length that is the size of the file represented by the attribute, and a simple description for the item name, the item name, and the attribute. 6. A content which is a description of the content.
Item dictionary of description.