JP2002207618A - Off-line database editing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism which can edit record data of a database at a plurality of places on an offline computer in parallel. SOLUTION: This system is equipped with an online editing device 2 mounted with an editing data extracting means which reads in record data of some part and generates an editing data file having recording units of recording numbers, data contents, and editing flags for discriminating the kind of editing operation, an offline editing device 31 mounted with an offline editing means which records different flag values in editing flag fields according to rewrite, delete, and new add instructions from an editor, and records data contents in the data record field with an indicated record number for rewriting and generates a tentative record number and records the data contents in the data recording field for new addition, and an online registering device 41 mounted with a data registering means which updates an original database file according to the updated editing data file contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database off-line editing system for rationally performing operation management of a database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When it is desired to edit record data managed in a unified manner by a plurality of operators at the same time, it is necessary to use a database editing system having exclusive control, comprising a database server and a plurality of client machines connected to a network. Is common. Generally, when reading database data, they are read in units of records or in units of specified data, but reading for mere reference and reading for rewriting (updating) the contents are treated separately. . The former is “reference reading”, and there is no need to operate the exclusive control function. The latter is "update reading", and in order to maintain the consistency of the database contents, "update reading" of another user for the record or the data reading unit is prohibited until the updated contents are returned. This is the exclusive control function.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a database update process in a normal database system. The left side of FIG. 5 shows the time of data extraction. When a client device (client 1 in the figure) reads (updates and reads) No. 3 and No. 4 records from a database file for updating, exclusive control is performed so that those records are not written by other users in the database file. Is locked (shaded to indicate that exclusive control has been locked). The right side of FIG.
The figure shows that the client device deletes one of the two read data and returns the data to the database. When the data edited by the client device is successfully returned to the original database file, the exclusive control lock is released.

In a machine in which the client device cannot be connected online (through a network) to a database server that manages database files, exclusive control cannot be performed correctly, so that a database to be centrally managed cannot be edited.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which a database file is edited off-line by a conventional technique. The left side is a place where the client device 1 (the client 1 in the figure) retrieves a part of the record from the database file for updating, and transfers the retrieved data to the offline device. At this time, the exclusive control flag is recorded because the client device 1 has updated and read the read record in the database file. However, the client device 1 (the user who has logged on through the client device 1) normally logs off. If this happens, the exclusive control flag is reset, so that the conventional technique cannot correctly return the offline editing result to the original database file.

The left side of FIG. 6 shows a case where one of the extracted data is deleted on the offline device.
At this time, since the client device 1 has not been logged off, even if the exclusive control flag remains without disappearing, inconvenience occurs when the data edited offline is returned to the original database file. That is, the server side
Because there is no information on which record was deleted, the record data that should have been deleted cannot be erased.

[0007]

For the above reasons,
Editing work for a centrally managed database had to be performed on an online machine, and there were limitations on the places and number of people who could edit. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that enables data centrally managed as a database to be edited on an offline computer.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems A first method for solving the above problems is described below.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, data of a part of a database file is read, and a record number,
Creates an edit data file with a record unit of an edit flag that identifies the data content and the type of edit work on the record data, and controls the original database file to enable exclusive control of the read record for the original database file On-line editing apparatus equipped with editing data extraction means for writing a flag, and for the editing data file,
Receiving data rewriting, deletion, and new addition instructions from the database file editor, and recording different flag values in the edit flag entry field according to the instructions, and in the case of rewriting, data contents of the designated record number data A database server that manages database files and has offline editing means for recording in a record column and, in the case of new addition, generating a temporary record number and recording data contents in a data record column corresponding to the temporary record number. And an offline editing device in an offline state, and an online registration device online-connected to the database server equipped with data registration means for updating an original database file in accordance with the updated edited data file contents. , Editing database files Offline is a database editing system that enables even on the device.

The database targeted in the present invention is a database constructed based on a relational data model, that is, a relational database. In a relational database, data is recorded by several two-dimensional tables. One record of the table constituting the database file is one row (one horizontal row) of the two-dimensional table, and the identification number of the record of the table and the actual number of the data item recorded by the table are recorded. Content is included. One record of the edit data file is obtained by adding the content of the edit flag entry field to the above contents.

In another aspect of the first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, the off-line editing means sets the edit flag in the edit flag entry field only when an instruction to delete or add a record is received from a database editor. The database editing system according to the first aspect, wherein a flag value corresponding to the above is written. By properly controlling the processing of the data registration unit without discriminating between a record instructed to be rewritten among records recorded in the edited data file and a record in which neither rewriting nor deletion is instructed. Database files can be updated correctly.

Another aspect of the first invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is that, in the edited data file, a record number and an edit flag item for distinguishing the type of editing work on the record data are stored in another file. The database editing system according to the first aspect.

Further, a second invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is that one of the tables constituting the database file is included.
A data extraction step for generating an edit data file corresponding to the original database file portion, with a record unit corresponding to a record, a record number, data content, and an edit flag for distinguishing the type of edit work on the record data; On a device that is offline with the database server that manages the original database file that has read the edited data file, accepts data rewrite, delete, and new add commands from the database file editor, and responds to the command. A different flag value is recorded in the edit flag entry field according to the above. In the case of rewriting, the data content is recorded in the data recording field of the designated record number, and in the case of new addition, a temporary record number is generated and the data content is generated. Offline editor that records the record in the data record column corresponding to the temporary record number And a data registration step of updating an original database file in accordance with the updated contents of the edited data file on a device online connected to the database server, and a database enabling offline editing of the database. Editing method.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration and operation flow of a database editing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The database editing system includes a database server 10 that manages a database file 11 and an online editing device 21 that is connected to the database server 10 via a network 9.
And an online registration device 41, and an offline editing device 31 for performing an offline editing process.

The database server 10 operates a database management process that receives requests for searching, updating data, deleting records, and adding new records to the database file and updating the database file accordingly. In the editing device 21 and the online registration device 41, a client process for issuing various requests for a database, exchanging database data with the database management program, and displaying the contents to a database editor is operating, These two processes form a logical communication path via a network and exchange information, whereby a server-client type database system operates. On the other hand, in the offline editing apparatus 31, the client process does not operate, and a logical communication path is not formed with the database management process to access the target database file.

According to the present invention, updating a database file through a logical communication path established with the database management process using the client process is referred to as "online editing", and otherwise, "offline editing". Is expressed.

The editing data extracting means mounted on the online editing device 21 has the ordinary database client function as described above, and searches and updates the database 11 as a normal database client. , The record data for offline editing is extracted, and an edited data file 22 and a control file 23 used for offline editing are created.

The offline editing means mounted on the offline editing device 31 reads the edited data file 22 and the control file 23, performs offline editing, and writes the result to the edited data file 32 and the control file 33. The formats of the edit data file 32 and the control file 33 are the same as the edit data file 22 and the control file 23, respectively.

The data registration means mounted on the online registration device 41 reads the edited data file 32 and the control file 33 and updates the database file 11.

In the offline database editing system of the present invention, the process of creating the edited data file 22 and the control file 23 on the online editing device 21 is a data fetching step (S20). File 32
The step of creating the control file 33 is called an offline editing step (S30), and the step of updating the database file 11 on the online registration device 41 according to the result of the offline editing is called a data registration step (S40).

Hereinafter, a data fetching step (S20), an offline editing step (S30), and a data registration step (S40)
The operation of each device will be described in detail in this order.

(Data fetching step) In the data fetching step (S20), the online editing device 21
, An edit data file 22 and a control file 23 are created. The control file is a management file required when deleting record data or adding a new record in offline editing. In the control file, an ID key (a unique key internally held by the database for data management) of the retrieved record data is set, and a flag entry field corresponding to the ID key is created. If the record data was deleted by offline editing, the ID of this file
The deletion flag is written in the flag entry field corresponding to the key.

At the same time as the data fetching process,
The exclusion control flag for the read record is automatically added to the retrieved record data in the database file 11 because the edited data extraction unit has requested the database management process on the database server 10 to perform “update read”. , And exclusive control is performed so that the record cannot be edited by all other online editing devices and cannot be taken out for offline editing (this is a function of a normal database management process). ). However, after the editing data is extracted, even after the client process of the online editing apparatus 21 that has performed the extraction processing is terminated (the editor has logged out), the editing process is performed in order to keep the exclusive control flag on the database side valid. The data extraction unit issues a request to the database server 10 to make the exclusive control flag of the record taken out immediately before the edit data extraction process ends (the editor logs out) as it is. Therefore, the retrieved record is locked until the offline editing result is returned to the database.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of the data extracting step. In FIG. 2, data of record IDs 100003 and 100004 are extracted from the database file 11, and the record data is created as an edited data file. In the control file, control tables corresponding to the record IDs 100003 and 100004 are created, and corresponding flag entry columns are prepared. In the database file 11, an editing flag is set in order to perform exclusive control on the retrieved records (ID100003 and ID100004).

(Offline Editing Process) As a result of the operation of the offline editing means provided in the offline editing device 31, an edited data file 32 and a control file 33 are created for database file registration. The offline editing means first creates an edited data file 32 and a control file 33 by copying the contents of the edited data file 22 and the control file 23, respectively. Next, a user interface similar to the client process for editing the database file online is provided to the input / output device of the offline editing device 31, and the instructions of the offline editor are received, and the instructions (record deletion, rewriting, new record addition) are received. ), Edit data file 32, control file 3
Update 3

When the record data is rewritten, the edited result is written only in the edited data file 32,
The control file 33 remains as it is.
However, in the case of record data deletion, a deletion flag is written to the record ID of the control file 33. (When registering the database later, the deletion flag for this record ID is referred to on the online registration device 41.) In the case of adding a new record, the temporary record I
D is generated, and an edit flag entry field corresponding to the temporary record ID is secured at the end of the control file 33. Also, a data storage area for a new record is secured in the edited data file 32, and data for the new record is recorded there.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of the offline editing step (S30). FIG. 3 shows a case where the record with the record ID 100003 is deleted. That is, when the data of a certain record is deleted in the offline editing apparatus 31, the deleted record data in the edited data file is deleted at the time of saving the edited result, and the control file edits the deleted record ID. A flag indicating "delete" is entered in the flag column.

(Data Registration Step) Online Registration Device 4
1, the edited data file 32 edited on the offline editing device 31 by the operation of the data registration means provided in the
Then, the contents of the original database file are updated based on the contents of the control file 33. The operation of the data registration means will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the data registration means sets the pointer of the control file 33 to the head (S41).
Then, the record ID indicated by the pointer and the value of the edit flag are read (s42). If the value is neither deleted nor new, a request is issued to the original database file to update the record having the read record ID with the contents of the corresponding record in the edited data file 32 (S44). As a result, the contents of the record are updated, and the exclusive control on the record is released.

Record ID of control file 33
If the value is "delete", the original database file is requested to delete the record having the record ID (S4).
5). As a result, the record is deleted. When the record ID of the control file 33 and its edit flag are read out and the value is a new addition, a request to record a new record in the original database file with the contents of the corresponding record in the edit data file 32 Is issued (S46). As a result, a new record is added to the original database file.

Thereafter, the pointer of the control file 33 is incremented (S47). If the control file 33 has not reached the end, the process returns to step S42 to repeat the processing. When the processing has been completed for all records, necessary post-processing such as issuing a request to release the lock of exclusive control is performed, and the data registration processing ends (S49).

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the data registration step (S40). In FIG. 4, in the edited data file, data in which one of two data has been deleted is recorded. In the control file, “deleted” is recorded in the flag column of the deleted record ID 100003. The database server 10 receives an instruction to delete the record ID 100003 from the online registration device 41, and stores the data of the record in the database file 11
Remove from. Further, the updated data of the record ID 100004 is returned to the database file 11, and the exclusive control lock is released.

The database editing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above. As an embodiment of the present invention, a mode partially different from the database editing system 1 is also possible. The database editing system 1 is a system that uses two types of files, an edit data file and a control file, but these may be integrated as one type of edit data file. That is, in the edited data file, as shown in FIG. 10, a record ID (record number), data contents, and an entry field (edit flag) of a flag for distinguishing the type of editing work on the record data are configured as one record. It may be a file. The record ID and the edit flag items are stored in the control file 2 in the database editing system 1.
3 and 33. FIG. 9 shows an overall configuration diagram of the database editing system 2 using such an integrated editing data file. In FIG. 9, reference numerals 24 and 34 denote the integrated edited data files shown in FIG.

Further, as an embodiment of the present invention, an off-line editing system in which the off-line editing apparatus 31 is provided with an "edit processing restriction function" may be used. The “editing processing restriction function” is a function of restricting the work content on the offline editing device 31 according to the editor. The database editing work can be classified into “update (rewrite)” of existing record data, “delete” of existing record data, and “addition” of new record. These functions are controlled by the editor.

For example, "delete" and "add" are given editing permission only to the database administrator, and editors other than the administrator are permitted only "update", and "delete" and "add" are not allowed. Can be performed.

For this function, for example, a database administrator prepares in advance a work permission file describing a user number and permitted work contents for each registered user as shown in FIG. It is recorded in the editing device 31. The off-line editing means of the off-line control device 31 operates so as to refer to the work permission file and perform only the editing work permitted to the logged-in worker when the worker logs in, and does not accept processing that is not permitted. Works as follows.

[0036]

According to the present invention, editing work of a centrally managed database can be performed not only on an online machine but also on an offline machine. And the operator can edit the database on a personal computer owned at home, and can work in parallel with many people. This has a remarkable effect.

The database administrator can restrict the range of editing work (update, deletion, addition of new record) to the offline editor by preparing the work permission file. Even if a user is used, a remarkable effect that it is possible to eliminate as much as possible an operation error such as erroneously erasing important data can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a database editing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a data extracting step.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an offline editing process.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a data registration step.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a problem of offline editing according to the related art.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a work permission file.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a data registration unit mounted on the online registration device 41.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a database editing system 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of an edit data file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Database Editing System 2 Database Editing System 9 Network 10 Database Server 11 Database File 21 Online Editing Device 22 Editing Data File 23 Control File 24 Editing Data File 31 Offline Editing Device 32 Editing Data File (After Offline Editing) 33 Control File (Offline Editing) After) 34 Edited data file (after offline editing) 41 Online registration device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor: Sai, Tamo 1-1-1, Ichigaya-Kaga-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B075 NR03 NR20 QT06 5B082 FA18 GA03 GA14 GA16 GA18 GB01

Claims (4)

[Claims] An editing flag for reading data of a part of a database file and for identifying a record number, data contents, and a type of editing work on the record data corresponding to one record of a table constituting the database file. An online editing apparatus equipped with an edit data extraction unit for generating an edit data file as a recording unit and writing a control flag to the original database file so as to enable exclusive control of the read record; and For the edited data file, data rewriting, deletion, and new addition instructions from the database file editor are accepted, and different flag values are recorded in the edit flag entry fields according to the instructions. Record in the data record column of the designated record number,
In the case of new addition, it is offline with the database server that manages the database file, equipped with offline editing means that generates a temporary record number and records the data content in the data record column corresponding to the temporary record number By providing an offline editing device and an online registration device connected online to the database server equipped with data registration means for updating an original database file in accordance with the updated edited data file contents, a database file editing operation Database editing system that can be used on offline devices. 2. The editing device according to claim 1, wherein the off-line editing unit writes the corresponding flag value in the editing flag entry column only when an instruction to delete or newly add a record is received from a database editor. Database editing system described in 1. 3. The database editing system according to claim 1, wherein, in the edited data file, a record number and an item of an edit flag for distinguishing a type of an edit operation on the record data are handled as separate files. 4. A part of data of a database file is read, and an edit flag for discriminating a record number, data contents, and a type of editing work on the record data corresponding to one record of a table constituting the database file is set. A data extraction step of generating an edit data file as a recording unit, writing a control flag to the original database file so as to enable exclusive control of the read record, and reading the edit data file On a device that is offline with the database server that manages the original database files,
Receiving data rewriting, deletion, and new addition instructions from the database file editor, recording different flag values in the edit flag entry field according to the instructions, and in the case of rewriting, the data contents of the designated record number data An off-line editing step of recording in a record section and, in the case of a new addition, generating a tentative record number and recording the data content in a data record section corresponding to the tentative record number; and an apparatus connected online with the database server. A data registration step of updating an original database file in accordance with the updated contents of the edited data file.