JPH07295993A - System for retrieving relational record - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the relational record retrieval system in which a relational record is easily added or deleted and the efficiency of the retrieval processing is improved without waste of a memory area. CONSTITUTION:The system relates to a retrieval system provided with a database 1 comprising plural database files 1a, 1b,..., 1n and a retrieval means 3 retrieving the database 1 according to a command form an entry device 2. Furthermore, the system is provided with a key conversion file 4 storing a relational key conversion table to directly access a relational record from a retrieved data record, a relational record retrieval means 5 retrieving the relational record by referencing the key conversion file 4 started from the retrieval means 3 and a conversion table registration means 6 generating a relational key conversion table to a specific retrieval condition by a command from the user and storing the table to the key conversion file 4. A relational record is retrieved in a short time by generating the relational key conversion table with respect to the relational record retrieval condition used frequently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a related record search method, and more particularly to a related record search method for re-searching another related data record from one data record obtained by searching.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a business process using a database system, depending on the content of a data record (hereinafter referred to as a start record) retrieved from a certain database file, another data record (hereinafter referred to as a related record) related thereto It is often the case that a related record search process of further searching again from the same or another database file is required.

A basic method for retrieving such a related record is to retrieve a data record from the same or another designated database file (hereinafter referred to as a related file) according to a given re-retrieval retrieval condition. Sequentially read and compare the contents (data value) of a specific data item of all read data records with the contents (data value) of a specific data item of the start record, and determine and extract the related record based on this comparison result Is.
This method has a disadvantage in that the search process takes time because all the data records of the related file are read and compared with the start record.

As a method of increasing the processing efficiency of the related record search described above, conventionally, as one of the data items of the start record, a key value (data value of the main search key item) or a storage position that can uniquely identify the related record. Methods are known for having data items that store information. According to this method, the required related record can be directly extracted by designating the data item, so that the search processing time is shortened and the processing efficiency is improved.

[0005]

However, the above method having related record identification information such as the key value and the storage position information as the data item of the start record, when the related record is added or deleted, is changed. , It is necessary to change the data value of the corresponding data item in the start record. Furthermore, if the number and types of related records increase beyond the original design range, it is also necessary to reorganize the entire database file that stores the startup records and modify the business processing program, which is necessary for maintenance management. There is a problem that requires a lot of man-hours. In order to avoid such reorganization, it is necessary to secure a sufficient file area from the beginning, assuming a large increase in the amount of data required for searching related records in the future. Will be done.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to change the startup record when adding or deleting the related record, to secure an extra file area for the database file, and to improve the search processing efficiency of the related record. It is to provide a related record search method that can be improved.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a related record search method for re-searching another related data record from one searched data record. The start record that can uniquely identify the starting point that is the source point is used as the index key, and the related record that can uniquely identify the related record that matches the search condition of the re-search is arranged as an index key. A key conversion file in which the related key conversion table stored according to the search condition of the re-search and the corresponding key conversion file corresponding to the re-search command of the related record according to the search condition of the re-search stored in the key conversion file The related record identification information is acquired from the related key conversion table using the start record identification information as a key. It is constituted by a related record retrieval means for extracting over de.

The related record search method according to claim 2 is activated in response to an instruction from the user in the related record search method according to claim 1, and is set as a re-search source point according to a specified search condition for re-search. A conversion table registration means for sequentially repeating the search for the database file including the related record for all the data records of the database file including the starting record to create the related key conversion table and store the related key conversion table in the key conversion file. It is characterized by that.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

The related record search method of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in, a plurality of database files 1a, 1b
... Database 1 composed of 1n and search means 3 for searching the database 1 according to an instruction from the input device 2.
And a key conversion file 4 that stores a related key conversion table used when re-searching another related record from one searched data record, and a search corresponding to a specific re-search condition. A related record search means 5 which is activated from the means 3 to extract a related record by referring to the key conversion file 4, and a related key conversion table for the re-search condition designated by the user and stored in the key conversion file 4. And a conversion table registering means 6 for performing the conversion.

The database 1 is composed of a plurality of database files 1a, 1b ... 1n each storing a data record group of the same type created on a fixed basis, and is stored on an external storage device. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a record format of the database files 1a, 1b ... 1n, and each data record shows a key portion 11 for storing a key value capable of uniquely identifying the data record and detailed information on the key value. Data part 12 consisting of multiple data items
It consists of and.

The search means 3 has a normal search function for searching the database 1 according to the search condition given from the input device 2, and the searched data record (startup record).
In case of related record search to search again other related data records from the related file, the basic search process is usually performed by sequentially reading the data records from the related file and comparing with the start record for specific data items. Is a re-search condition in which the related key conversion table is stored in the key conversion file 4, the key value of the searched start record is passed and the related record search means 5
To start.

In the key conversion file 4, the related key whose key value of the related record is directly obtained from the key value of the start record in order to efficiently perform the related record search of the re-search condition frequently used in the routine work. Stores the conversion table. FIG. 3 shows the record format of the key conversion file 4. The related key conversion table stored in the key conversion file 4 is, as shown in FIG.
1 and a data section 32, and the index key section 31 has a file identification key for identifying a database file in which the activation record is stored as activation record identification information for uniquely identifying the activation record. And a record identification key for identifying a start record in the database file. On the other hand, the data section 32 identifies, as the related record identification information for uniquely identifying the related record, a file identification key for identifying the database file in which the related record is stored and the related record in the database file. The record identification key and are stored. This related key conversion table is created for each re-retrieval condition for re-retrieval, and the index key unit 31 is used to facilitate the retrieval.
Are arranged in ascending or descending order of the respective identification key values of the boot record constituting the.

When the related record searching means 5 is started, the related record searching means 5 uses the key value of the starting record passed from the searching means 3,
The corresponding related key conversion table of the key conversion file 4 is searched, the database 1 is searched by the identification key (file identification key and record identification key) of the acquired related record, and the corresponding data record is extracted.

The conversion table registration means 6 is used to create a related key conversion table for a frequently used re-search condition and store it in the key conversion file 4. When an instruction from the user is received via the input device 2, the re-search condition is given to the search means 3 to sequentially execute the related record search for all the data records of the database file including the start record, and the obtained result is obtained. A related key conversion table is created from and is registered in the key conversion file 4.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the specific example shown in FIG.

The database file # 1 having the file identification name "DBF01" and the file identification name "DBF0"
There is a 2 "database file # 2, and it is assumed that the operation of searching for a related record from one data record searched from the database file # 1 under a specific re-search condition is performed regularly. The search condition is to simultaneously search for data records that satisfy the first condition belonging to the same database file # 1 and data records that satisfy the second condition belonging to the database file # 2.
The record identification key stored in the key part of
For the data record "01", the data record satisfying the first condition is the data record having the record identification key "11001", and the data record satisfying the second condition is the record identification key "20" of the database file # 2.
It is assumed that the data record is “001”. The record identification key “11001” of the database file # 1.
For the data record of, the record identification key "100
01 ”data records satisfy the first condition,
The data record satisfying the second condition is the data record of the record identification key “22001” of database file # 2.

When the related record is searched by the usual basic method using the data record of the record identification key "10001" searched from the database file # 1 as the starting record, first, the data record of the database file # 1 is searched. The data value of a specific data item of the read data record is sequentially read from the beginning and compared with the data value of a specific data item of the data record of the record identification key “10001”, and the record identification key “110
Even after extracting the data record of "01" as the related record satisfying the first condition, the search is continued until all the data records are read, and at this time, the relevant record is only the data record of the record identification key "11001". After that, the same search process is performed for all the data records of the database file # 2 under the second condition, and the record identification key "20" is added.
Since the data record of "001" is extracted as a related record, the search process takes time.

On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the related key conversion table as shown in FIG. 4 is created in advance in the key conversion file 4 by using the conversion table registration means 6. The related key conversion table is an index format, and the file identification key and the record identification key of the database file # 1 are used as index keys, and the file identification key and the record identification key for uniquely identifying the related record are fixed as data. The long index record is stored in the form of one index record for each related record. That is, for the record identification key "10001", the record identification key "11001" of the database file # 1
Index record of the reference number 41 indicating the data record of the record and the record identification key “2 of the database file # 2.
The index record of reference number 42 indicating the data record of “0001” is stored, and the record identification key “1100” is stored.
1 ”of the reference record 43 indicating the data record of the record identification key“ 10001 ”of the database file # 1 and the reference record 44 indicating the data record of the record identification key“ 22001 ”of the database file # 2. Stores index records and.

When searching for related records, first, the searching means 3 searches the data record of the record identification key "10001" from the database file # 1 (for example, the database file 1a) under the specified search condition, and then the related records. The related key conversion table of FIG. 4 is designated to the record search means 5, and the file identification key “DBF01” and the record identification key “10001” are passed. The related record search means 5 searches the specified related key conversion table of the key conversion file 4, extracts the index records with reference numbers 41 and 42, and retrieves the data record of the record identification key “10001” from the database file # 1. , The data record of the record identification key “20001” can be immediately obtained from the database file # 2 (for example, the database file 1b).

As described above, in the related record search method of this embodiment, the conversion table registration means 6 is used to create a related key conversion table in advance for the re-search condition that is constantly used, and the key conversion is performed. If the file is registered in the file 4, it is possible to immediately retrieve the related record by referring to it if the activation record is searched during operation, so that the search time is significantly shortened. Even if a related record is added or deleted, the contents of the data items of the activation record do not need to be modified at all, and only the related key conversion table needs to be modified.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the conversion table registration means 6 is provided in order to facilitate the creation of the related key conversion table, but the related key conversion table may be created by another method. The table registration means 6 can be omitted. Further, although each index record of the related key conversion table has been described as a fixed length record provided for each related record, it is a variable length record, and if there are a plurality of related records for one activation record, It is also possible to store a plurality of related record identification information in the data part of one index record. Further, the index key portion of the related key conversion table stores the file identification key and the record identification key of the activation record. However, as in the example described with reference to FIG. It is obvious that the file identification key of the index key part can be omitted in the above case.

Although one related key conversion table is created for each re-search condition, if there are many tables to be created, these are integrated into one table to identify the re-search condition. It is also possible to provide a sub index key for performing the operation and to specify the sub index key in addition to the activation record identification key. Further, the starting of the related record search means 5 and the specification of the related key conversion table (or the sub index key) to be used are performed by the search means 3, but may be performed by a specific business processing program, but a general-purpose search program is also available. It may be performed when a specific search condition is set in the.

[0025]

As described above, according to the related record search method of the present invention, the related key conversion table for directly accessing the related record from the activation record is created in response to the frequently used related record search condition. Since it is stored in the key conversion file, the related record can be searched in a short time. Furthermore, since there is no dedicated data item for searching related records on the data record, it is not necessary to change the database file when adding or deleting related records. The related key conversion table can be easily created by providing a conversion table registration means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a record format of the database file of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a record format stored in the key conversion file of FIG.

4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a file configuration for explaining the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 database 1a, 1b ... 1n database file 2 input device 3 search means 4 key conversion file 5 related record search means 6 conversion table registration means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A related record search method for further re-searching another related data record from one searched data record, in which a starting record serving as a source of the re-search can be uniquely identified. Information can be used as an index key to uniquely identify related records that match the search condition for re-search. Related-key conversion table in which index records corresponding to related record identification information are arranged in ascending or descending order is stored by search condition for re-search. In response to a key conversion file and a re-search command for a related record according to a search condition for re-search stored in the key conversion file, the start record identification information is related to the key from the corresponding related key conversion table of the key conversion file. A related record search means for acquiring record identification information and extracting a related record is provided. Related record search method characterized by. 2. A related record is included for all data records of a database file including an activation record which is activated in response to an instruction from a user and becomes a re-retrieval source point according to a designated re-retrieval retrieval condition. 2. The related record search method according to claim 1, further comprising conversion table registration means for sequentially repeating the search of the database file to create the related key conversion table and store the related key conversion table in the key conversion file.