WO1999033004A1 - Procede et equipement relatifs a une interface graphique utilisateur integree pour mappages objets/bases de donnees - Google Patents

Procede et equipement relatifs a une interface graphique utilisateur integree pour mappages objets/bases de donnees Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999033004A1
WO1999033004A1 PCT/US1998/027245 US9827245W WO9933004A1 WO 1999033004 A1 WO1999033004 A1 WO 1999033004A1 US 9827245 W US9827245 W US 9827245W WO 9933004 A1 WO9933004 A1 WO 9933004A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
database
name
oriented
displaying
elements
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/027245
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tony Chun Tung Ng
Rahul Sharma
Timothy R. Learmont
Original Assignee
Tony Chun Tung Ng
Rahul Sharma
Learmont Timothy R
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/106,046 external-priority patent/US6279008B1/en
Application filed by Tony Chun Tung Ng, Rahul Sharma, Learmont Timothy R filed Critical Tony Chun Tung Ng
Priority to AU19391/99A priority Critical patent/AU1939199A/en
Priority to EP98964212A priority patent/EP1000403A1/fr
Publication of WO1999033004A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999033004A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
    • G06F16/28—Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
    • G06F16/289—Object oriented databases

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to database systems for computers and more particularly, to an integrated graphical user interface method and apparatus for mapping between objects and databases.
  • Object-database mapping tools assist in integrating tables in a database with corresponding classes in an object-oriented application.
  • Conventional object-database mapping tools receive class definitions from an object-oriented application and automatically generate code, typically stored in a database schema, to create tables and other structures for the database.
  • the tables and structures in the database are used to hold data corresponding to objects generated by an object-oriented application.
  • the skeleton of an object is a class.
  • the class may have a number of fields used to store values or parameters typically used by object instances of the class.
  • the class may also include specific methods which define how objects instantiated from each class will interact with each other and hold certain information in each of the corresponding fields.
  • a hierarchical class structure provides an organized framework for creating objects and their relationships.
  • databases have features that object-oriented applications do not possess.
  • the database typically organizes data using one or more tables having multiple rows and columns.
  • a data relationship is defined by the manner in which data is stored in the various rows and columns of the tables.
  • a single table or multiple tables can be used to hold every row or record of data.
  • a primary key includes one or more columns in a table that uniquely identifies each row of data. If multiple tables are used to store a data, a foreign key associates rows of data in one table with another table.
  • object-database mapping tools do not provide sophisticated techniques for integrating object-oriented applications and databases.
  • the user must resort to multiple object-oriented development tools, database tools, and object-database mapping tools to integrate these two disparate systems.
  • the numerous tools required to integrate such systems can be expensive and often will not work together smoothly.
  • Existing object-database mapping tools also make it difficult for the user to test and refine the integration of object-oriented applications and databases.
  • conventional object-database mapping tools do not allow a user to make a round-trip between a database and an object oriented application. That is, the user can not generate a database from a object-oriented application, modify the database, and then regenerate a portion of the object-oriented application. This prevents a user from quickly testing such an integrated system using various design scenarios.
  • conventional user interfaces for performing such features are not properly designed to support these more sophisticated techniques for integrating object-oriented applications and databases.
  • a graphical user interface on a computer system that facilitates integrating objects from an object-oriented application and data stored in tables of a database.
  • the graphical user interface displays a class view corresponding to one or more classes in the object- oriented application that in turn corresponds to tables in the database and displays a table view having one or more tables in a database corresponding to classes in the object-oriented application.
  • the graphical user interface also displays a combination table-and- class view having database elements from the database adjacent to the object-oriented elements from the object-oriented application.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an enterprise system for integrating object-oriented applications and a database
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the subsystems associated with object-database server
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the subsystems associated with database server
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the subsystems associated with a client used to access objects stored on a database
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary object-oriented-database system with which systems and methods consistent with the present invention may be implemented;
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method consistent with the present invention used to translate a class in an object-oriented application to table entries in a database;
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing superclass-subclass table and object relationships
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a one-to-many table and one-to-many object relationship
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a many-to-many table and a many-to-many object relationship
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method consistent with the present invention used to convert tables in a database into classes in an object-oriented application
  • FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a graphical user interface consistent with the present invention for use with an object-database mapping tool
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the method used by a graphical user interface consistent with the present invention to display information associated with an object-mapping tool;
  • FIG. 13 is an exemplary screen display displaying class information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 is an exemplary screen display displaying field information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a . n exemplary screen display displaying relationship information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 16 is .an exemplary screen display displaying lock group information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 17 is an exemplary screen display displaying index group information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 18 is an exemplary screen display displaying table information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 19 is an exemplary screen display displaying column information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 20 is an exemplary screen display displaying index information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • FIG. 21 is an exemplary screen display displaying foreign key information in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • Systems and methods consistent with the present invention utilize a client-server environment where a client communicates with a server over a common networking protocol such as TCP/IP. These systems and methods utilize a relational database management system (RDBMS) with networking features to facilitate client-server distributed database processing techniques.
  • RDBMS relational database management system
  • Such a RDBMS receives requests from a remote computer and provides results over a network.
  • the RDBMS also includes standard software development interfaces such as Structured Query Language (SQL), stored procedures, and a variety of concurrency control mechanisms.
  • SQL Structured Query Language
  • Data is stored in the RDBMS in a series of tables having rows and columns. The tables can be linked together through relationships in one or more columns.
  • SQL Structured Query Language
  • the terms database or relational-database are used herein to refer to a RDBMS or another type of database management system consistent with the principle of the present invention.
  • SQL is a standardized database language for accessing relational databases.
  • ANSI X3H2 is the standards organization responsible for maintaining the SQL standards.
  • Database system vendors typically include extensions and additions to the SQL standard.
  • Stored procedures allow users to develop software routines that manipulate tables and data in a database.
  • stored procedures are compiled and stored in the database when the database is created.
  • a user may indirectly invoke these stored procedures in an object- oriented application by adding, deleting, and operating on objects.
  • the stored procedures are used to access and modify tables of data in the database corresponding to the operations performed on the objects.
  • Concurrency mechanisms in the database include locks and other mutual exclusion techniques to give each user a consistent view of the database. These locks and other concurrency mechanisms allow multiple users or programs to simultaneously share the same database and information.
  • An object-oriented application indirectly uses these locks when accessing data corresponding to objects stored in the database. The locks make sure the database is consistent with the operations and modifications made when multiple applications are accessing the same objects or related objects.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an enterprise system 100 integrating object-oriented applications and a database.
  • Enterprise system 100 includes databases 102,104, 106 and a network 110 connecting an object-database server 112, a database server 108, and a client 114.
  • Network 110 can be a combination of networks including the Internet, corporate intranets, and other networks compatible with a networking protocol such as TCP/IP.
  • client 114 a GUI object-oriented database mapping tool 116 is generated consistent with systems and methods of the present invention.
  • Databases 102,104 and 106 include database tables corresponding to classes used in an object-oriented application. Classes associated with a database are considered "persistence-capable" classes. The objects representing these persistence-classes can be either persistent objects or transient objects depending how they are instantiated. If an object is a persistent instance of a persistent-capable class, the object is stored in the database and is accessible to many different applications. Alternatively, if an object is a transient instance of a persistence-capable class, the object exists only while the application which instantiated the object is executing.
  • Object-database server 112 provides a conduit between a relational database connected to database server 108 and object-oriented applications, such as an object-oriented application 115 on client 114.
  • object-oriented applications that access persistent objects send requests written in an object-oriented language over network 110 to object- database server 112.
  • Object-server database 112 translates the object-oriented requests to the appropriate database instructions and sends the instructions over network 110 to database server 108 for further database processing.
  • Object-database server 112 may also provide a response back to the object-oriented application if results are generated during the database operation.
  • Database server 108 provides database services to object-database server 112 and client 114.
  • Database server 108 accesses data stored on databases 102, 104, and 106 in response to database instructions from object-database server 112.
  • object-database server 112 and database server 108 may be on the same computer system or in different parts of a network other than those areas discussed above.
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the subsystems associated with object-database server 112.
  • Object-database server 112 includes a processor 210, a network interface 212, an input output subsystem (I/O) 214, and a memory 215.
  • Processor 210 executes instructions associated with applications contained in memory 215 and transmits information over an interconnect to other subsystems in object-database server 112.
  • I/O 214 is an interface used to couple object-database server 112 with devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display device, and any other I/O device useful in operating and managing object-database server 112.
  • Memory 215 includes an application server 204, an object-oriented database runtime module 206, a runtime module 209, and a database connectivity (DBC) module 208.
  • Application server 204 stored in memory 215 receives requests to access objects stored on databases 102, 104, and 106.
  • Server 112 receives these database requests over network 116 from client 114 executing object-oriented application 115. These requests typically involve manipulating tables of information stored in one or more databases associated with database server 108.
  • Object-oriented database runtime module 206 converts the object-oriented requests into database commands.
  • Object-oriented database runtime module 206 receives object-oriented instructions, such as bytecodes compatible with the JavaTM programming language, to access data stored in a database.
  • Runtime module 209 process the object-oriented instructions for execution on processor 210. Some instructions are interpreted by VM 216 and executed on processor 210.
  • the JavaTM Virtual Machine (JVM) is one virtual machine that promotes platform independent computing using the JavaTM programming language.
  • Object-oriented database runtime module 206 receives object-oriented instructions, such as bytecodes compatible with the JavaTM programming language, to access data stored in a database.
  • Runtime environment 209 process the object-oriented instructions for execution on processor 210.
  • Runtime environment 209 may include a virtual machine (VM) and corresponding development kit (DK) having object oriented class libraries. Some instructions may be interpreted by aVM and executed on processor 210.
  • a VM simulates a processor and executes on many different hardware platforms.
  • runtime environment 209 is the Java Runtime Environment having a JavaTM virtual machine
  • JVM JavaTM Foundation Classes
  • JFC JavaTM Foundation Classes
  • DK development kit
  • JVM JavaTM Virtual Machine
  • database connectivity module DBC 208 may use database connectivity module DBC 208 to connect object-oriented database runtime module 206 with database information.
  • DBC 208 provides an application programming interface (API) for programmers to access a database.
  • API application programming interface
  • JDBCTM database connectivity module is one type of DBC 208 that
  • JDBCTM database connectivity module is a JavaTM application program interface (API) for executing structured query language (SQL) statements. It consists of a set of classes and interfaces written in the JavaTM programming language. It provides a standard API for tool/database developers and makes it possible to write database applications using a pure Java API. JDBC is described in lOgreater detail in Hamilton, Cattell, and Fisher, JDBC Database Access with JavaTM. Addison- Wesley (1997), which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, DBC 208 can be used to establish a logical connection with a database, send SQL statements to the database, and process the results provided from the database. (Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, JavaTM,JDBCTM, and JavaTM-based trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the subsystems associated with database server 108.
  • Database server 108 includes a processor 310, a network interface 312, I/O 314, and a memory 316.
  • Processor 310 executes instructions associated with applications contained in memory 316 and transmits results to other subsystems in database server 108 over a high 5speed interconnect or bus.
  • I/O 314 is an interface used to couple database server 108 with devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display device, and any other I/O device useful in operating and managing database server 108.
  • Memory 316 includes an application server 304 and a database runtime module 306.
  • Application server 304 stored in memory 316 fulfills requests for database access to databases 102, 104, and 106.
  • the database requests are received over network 110 from object- database server 112 in a database language such as SQL.
  • Database runtime module 306 processes the database requests and accesses data in databases 102, 104, and 106.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the subsystems associated with client 114 used to access objects stored in a database.
  • Client 114 includes a processor 402, a network interface 404 coupled to network 110, an I/O interface 406, a display device 408, and a memory 407 loaded with a number of different software subsystems. These elements operate in a manner similar to the like named elements mentioned above.
  • Display device 408 provides visual feedback to the user making requests to manipulate objects stored in databases 102, 104, and 106. Also, a user can use display device 408 to display and interact with a GUI object- database mapping tool consistent with the present invention.
  • Memory 407 includes an applet 412, object-oriented application 115, GUI object-oriented database mapping tool 116, one or more persistence-capable objects 416, and runtime environment 420.
  • Runtime environment 420 may include a virtual machine (VM) and a development kit (DK) having class libraries.
  • applet 412 includes object-oriented code that accesses tables in a database.
  • application 414 may also use object-oriented code to access tables in a database.
  • Either applet 412 or application 414 generates persistence-capable objects 416.
  • Applet 412 and application 414 may be developed using the JavaTM programming language and processed in a JavaTM runtime environment (JRE) having a JavaTM virtual machine (JVM) and classes from the JavaTM Foundation Classes (JFC).
  • JRE JavaTM runtime environment
  • JVM JavaTM virtual machine
  • JFC JavaTM Foundation Classes
  • Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary object-oriented database system 500 with which systems and methods consistent with the present invention may be implemented.
  • System 500 includes a database 502 having tables to store data associated with objects, an object-oriented application 504, one or more class libraries 506 used to instantiate an object, an object-database mapping tool 508, a database schema 512, stored procedures 514, indexes 515, and numerous new classes 510 generated using object-database mapping tool 508.
  • object-database mapping tool 508 maps tables contained in database 502 into classes.
  • a user provides tool 508 with data stored in tables of database 502.
  • Tool 508 converts the tables into a number of corresponding new classes 510.
  • these new classes 510 are integrated with existing class libraries 506.
  • Tool 508 can also map classes in class libraries 506 into the tables used in database 502.
  • a user provides tool 508 with persistence-capable-compatible classes in class library 506 for mapping to database 502.
  • Object-mapping tool 508 determines how each persistence- capable class in class library 506 is mapped to tables in database 502.
  • stored procedures 514, and database indexes 515 are generated and stored in database 502.
  • Database indexes 515 are used to improve access time associated with accessing data associated with objects and stored in database 502.
  • the class-to-database mapping process generates database schema 512 containing code and instructions for generating database tables.
  • Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method consistent with the present invention used to translate a class in an object-oriented application to table entries in a database.
  • the user begins by providing tool 508 one or more classes corresponding to the objects in an object- oriented application (state 602). These classes have fields, methods, and other operators associated with an object-oriented language. Fields in this context are used to store different types of data or variables and methods are used to manipulate the objects derived from the corresponding classes.
  • a class hierarchy is also provided in the various classes defined in the object-oriented application.
  • the class hierarchy indicates which classes are superclasses and which classes are subclasses of each other. Methods, fields and other object-oriented characteristics from a superclass are inherited by a subclass. These relationships are used to map classes into database tables and other database structures.
  • Tool 508 creates tables in the database having rows and columns corresponding to the one or more classes.
  • the tables are created based upon a predetermined class-to-database mapping between classes and tables.
  • the class-to-database mapping maps one class in the object-oriented application to one table in the database (state 604).
  • a class having multiple field entries is mapped to a single table wherein each column corresponds to each of the multiple fields.
  • An additional row is added to the table for each object instance of the class stored in the database.
  • more complex class-to- database mappings can be used to map classes to tables such as mapping a single class to multiple tables or mapping multiple classes to a single table.
  • Tool 508 generates a schema to create the tables in a database (state 606).
  • a schema includes a description of the tables in a database and their various attributes.
  • a user uses the schema to generate a database.
  • Multiple schemas can be organized as separate entries in a catalogue. The catalogue names each schema with a unique label to distinguish the schemas from each other.
  • tool 508 allows a user to specify which fields in an object should be indexed in the database for fast access.
  • the fields specified by the user are logically organized by tool 508 in an index group.
  • Tool 508 analyzes each field in the index group specified by the user and generates indexes on tables in the database corresponding to the selected fields (state 608).
  • the index is a data structure that allows rows of tables to be found quickly based on the values of one or more entries in a row.
  • the database selects the best index to improve a query when multiple indexes are defined on the table.
  • tool 508 allows a user to specify if the index group is to be unique or can be non-unique. If a unique index group is specified, tool 508 generates one or more unique indexes for the user. A unique index requires that each row in the table contains a unique value in the specified column. Unique indices are typically faster because only one row entry in the table matches a search.
  • a non-unique index group of fields selected by the user may correspond to one or more non-unique indexes in the database.
  • tool 508 can generate non-unique indexes in the database if necessary.
  • the non-unique indexes can contain duplicate value entries in the corresponding columns.
  • the non-unique indexes are slower when the database has to distinguish between two or more rows with common column entries.
  • Tool 508 also creates one or more stored procedures 514 corresponding to operations typically performed on objects in the object-oriented application (state 610). Tool 508 automatically creates stored procedure 514 to provide basic operations useful for retrieving data stored in the database. For example, stored procedures 108 can be generated to perform routine operations on objects such as Add, Delete, Modify and retrieve.
  • Stored procedures 514 are entered into the database in a predetermined dependency order. If a first stored procedure calls a second stored procedure, the second stored procedure must be defined first in the database.
  • the dependency order ensures that a stored procedure is defined in the database before it is called by an application or other stored procedure. In one implementation consistent with the present invention, the order the stored procedures are stored in the database depends on the class hierarchy and the relationships between stored procedures (state 612).
  • Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing how object relationships are mapped to table relationships in a database.
  • a superclass-subclass object relationship 704 is modeled in the database using foreign keys and primary keys as indicated in a corresponding superclass- subclass table relationship 702.
  • an object-oriented application has a set of classes including a part class, a memory class and a disk class.
  • the memory and disk classes are subclasses of the part class as shown in superclass-subclass object relationship 704. Because the memory and disk classes are subclasses they inherit methods, fields, and, interfaces of the part class.
  • the memory and disk classes also may extend the parts class to define certain unique aspects of the memory and disks classes.
  • a first table is a subclass of a second table by specifying that the primary key of the first table is also a foreign key that references the primary key of the second table.
  • the first table stores each instance of the disk class and contains a column having a primary key that is also a foreign key to the primary key in the part table.
  • the table used to store each instance of the memory class contains a column having a primary key that is also a foreign key to the primary key in the part table.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a one-to- many class relationship 808 and a one-to-many table relationship 806.
  • one-to- many class relationships 808 allows a customer object to have many order objects but each order object can only be associated with one customer object.
  • the customer class in one-to- many class relationship 808 has a field in the class that references multiple order objects. Each order object has a field that contains a single reference to a particular customer object.
  • the corresponding one-to-many table relationship 806 includes an orders table having a customer identification (CUSTID) primary key column entry and a separate CUSTID foreign key column.
  • the customer table includes a CUSTID primary key which is unique for each customer in the system. This mechanism ensures referential integrity in the object representation in the database. A deletion of a customer from the database also requires a deletion of that customer's corresponding orders in the order table based upon the CUSTID foreign key. However, deleting an order from the order table does not require a deletion of the corresponding customer from the customer table.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates how foreign keys and primary keys are used to represent a many-to- many class relationship 912 and many-to-many table relationship 910.
  • the many-to-many class relationship 912 is represented in the database using a join table as shown with many-to-many table relationship 910.
  • the join table is an intermediary table that is used to form the association between the entities in the two tables.
  • a join table generally has two sets of columns. One set of columns forms a foreign key reference to the primary key in one table. The other set of columns forms the foreign key reference to the primary key in the other table.
  • a customer order join table has a CUSTID foreign key mapped to a CUSTID primary key in a customer table and an ORDERID foreign key mapped to an ORDERID primary key in an orders table respectively.
  • Tool 508 also includes a table-to-class mapping method to transform tables in a database to one or more classes in an object-oriented language.
  • Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a method consistent with the present invention used to convert tables and other information in a database into classes in an object-oriented application.
  • the user provides the database, and any other useful information such as stored procedures, indexes, and SQL routines related to the database, to tool 508 (state 1002).
  • Tool 508 uses the mapping process to create persistence-capable classes from tables in the database (state 1004).
  • tables in the database correspond to persistence-capable classes capable of storing objects after applications referencing the objects have completed executing.
  • Tool 508 generates class definitions corresponding to each table in the database (state 1006).
  • Tool 508 analyzes relationships between tables to determine if there is a superclass- subclass relationship between tables, a one-to-many relationship between tables, or a many- to-many relationship between tables.
  • Fig. 7-9 outlines database table relationships and how they translate into corresponding class relationships in an object-oriented application.
  • a table-to-class mapping technique used to convert a table into a class is the inverse process of the class-to-table mapping technique discussed above.
  • Tool 508 arranges the classes into the appropriate superclass and subclasses based on how foreign keys and primary keys are used in a table (state 1008).
  • a subclass is generated from a table that contains a column that has both the primary key for the subclass table and also a foreign key to a superclass table.
  • a superclass-subclass table relationship 702 includes a disk table having a column entry which is a primary key in the disk table column as well as a foreign key to a part table.
  • the disk table is considered a subclass of the part class.
  • tool 508 uses the existing indexes in the original database and does not create more indexes unless the user specifically requests them in the table-to-class mapping.
  • Tool 508 also generates object query language (OQL) routines for use by objects generated from a particular classes (state 1010).
  • OQL routines allow a user to query objects using an object-oriented programming language interface.
  • the OQL routines understand the relationships between classes and can do referential navigation without requiring the user to make explicit databases operations. For example, a query on a particular class will return all objects in that class as a connection of objects which match the query criteria. Users can then iterate through the collection of objects and operate on the individual objects.
  • Alternative methods other than OQL may also be used to access objects in the database.
  • Tool 508 also generates default methods to operate on each field in a class (state 1012).
  • a "get” method is created to get a field value stored in a persistent object in the tables of a database.
  • a “set” method is used to set a value in each field of a persistent object also stored in the database.
  • Tool 508 may also generate object-oriented methods corresponding to other stored procedures located in the database (state 1014). These object-oriented methods enable an object-oriented application to access precompiled stored procedure routines stored in the database.
  • Fig. 11 is an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) 1100 for use with an object- database mapping tool.
  • GUI 1100 enables a user to view changes to either a database or an object-oriented application using an integrated user interface.
  • GUI 1100 enables a user to visualize the mapping of a database to objects and classes in an object-oriented application. The user can also use GUI 1100 to visualize the mapping of an object-oriented application to a corresponding database and respective tables.
  • GUI 1100 includes a class view 1102, a table view 1106, and a combination table- and-class view 1104.
  • Class view 1102 and table view 1106 display information in a hierarchical tree and selectable tabular interface.
  • a user selects an element in the hierarchical tree and selects a tab in the tabular interface to provide additional details corresponding to the element.
  • Class view 1102 shows packages with corresponding information for classes, fields, relationships, and lock groups in a hierarchical tree format in the left portion of the window.
  • the package is a logical grouping of classes and related information.
  • the tabular interface displays details of class view 1102 using a class info tab 1108, a field tab 1110, a relationship tab 1112, a lock group tab 1114, and an index group tab 1116.
  • table view 1106 displays database and tables in a hierarchical tree format in the left portion of the window.
  • the corresponding tabular interface displays details of table view 1106 using a table info tab 1118, a column tab 1120, an index tab 1122, and foreign key tab 1124.
  • Fig. 12 illustrates a method used by interface 1100 to display information associated with an object-mapping tool.
  • interface 1100 is displayed on the display device of a computer or other computer based device. Initially, interface 1100 displays a combination table- and-class view interface in a window on the display device (state 1202). This window includes database elements associated with the database including database names, table names, column names, and foreign key names. Interface 1100 also displays object-oriented elements associated with the object-oriented application and corresponding to the database elements. These object-oriented elements include packages, classes, field names, and relationships.
  • combination table-and- class view interface enables the user to display additional information associated with the object-oriented application and the database.
  • the user selects a show-table-view button 1105 to show a view of tables corresponding to the database (state 1204).
  • the table view permits access to tables and database information associated with the database application (state 1206).
  • the user selects a show-class- view button 1107 to show a view of classes corresponding to the object-oriented-application (state 1208).
  • the class view permits access to classes and objects associated with the object-oriented application (state 1210).
  • Fig. 13 is an exemplary screen display that displays class information when the user selects class info tab 1108 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Class information displayed includes the name of the class, a package the class is associated with, a superclass the class is associated with if any, and the object-oriented code corresponding to the class.
  • An update button commits any changes a user makes to the class information.
  • Fig. 14 is an exemplary screen that displays field information when the user selects field tab 1110 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Field information displayed includes the name of each field in the class, the type of each fields such as double, long, float, and string, and if the field is a primary key field.
  • An update button commits any changes a user makes to the field information.
  • Fig. 15 is an exemplary screen display that displays relationship information when the user selects a relationship tab 1 112 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Relationship information displayed includes a list of relationships 1502, a relationship detail 1504, and an inverse relationship detail 1506
  • Each relationship in the list of relationships 1502 includes the name of the relationship, a first field associated with a first class, and a second inverse field associated with a second class.
  • the user can specify that a relationship is two-way relationship in list of relationships 1502.
  • Two-way relationships allows two objects to access each other's information.
  • an object-oriented application uses the first class to access data in the second class using the first field and can also use the second class to access data in the first class using the second inverse field.
  • a one-way relationship only allows a first class to access data in a second class and but not vice-versa.
  • Relationship detail 1504 displays the class and field of the first class as well as the cardinality between classes such as many-to-many, one-to-many, or one-to-one.
  • inverse relationship detail 1506 displays the class and field of the second class as well as the cardinality between classes.
  • Fig. 16 is an exemplary screen display that displays lock group information when the user selects lock group tab 1114 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Lock group information displayed includes related fields in a class which are interdependent.
  • a user specifies lock groups to designate related fields within an object and optimize concurrent access to the underlying database.
  • Lock group tab 1114 allows a user to create a new lock group, change the name of an existing lock group, and change the fields that make up a lock group.
  • Fig. 17 is an exemplary screen display that displays index group information when a user selects index group tab 1116 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Index group information displayed includes index group name, type of index group (e.g. unique or non-unique), fields in index, and name of index.
  • Index group tab 1116 enables a user to view, create, and edit an index group. The user creates index groups by selecting fields in a class for indexing. Index groups are used to index columns in tables corresponding to the fields. The indexed columns increase the underlying database search efficiency.
  • Index group tab 1116 allows a user to select whether an index group is unique or non- unique.
  • the unique index group requires that each object is unique in at least the fields specified in the index group.
  • a non-unique index group can contain objects with identical data in the fields specified in the index group. The former unique index groups tend to increase searching performance more than the latter non-unique index groups.
  • Fig. 18 is an exemplary screen display that displays table information when the user selects table info tab 1118 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Table information includes the name of a table and a button for showing a view definition.
  • the view definition allows a user to see the database instruction used to preview information in the table.
  • Table info tab 1118 display enables a user to edit and change the name of a table and change the database instructions to extract data.
  • Fig. 19 is an exemplary screen display that displays column information when the user selects column tab 1120 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Column information includes the name of a column, the type of database data the column can hold such as long, int, float, or string, the length of the column data if the column holds character data, and the precision and scale of column data if the column holds numeric data.
  • Column tab 1120 enables a user to edit and change the name of a table, the length of characters in the table, and the precision of a numeric data in the column.
  • Fig. 20 is an exemplary screen display that displays index information when the user selects index tab 1122 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • the index information displays indexes generated on columns of tables in a database.
  • index tab 1122 displays the index name, whether the index is a primary key, whether the index is unique or non-unique, and the column associated with the index.
  • Fig. 21 is an exemplary screen display with the foreign key information displayed when the user selects a foreign key tab 1124 in a manner consistent with the present invention.
  • Foreign key information describes foreign keys corresponding to a selected table.
  • foreign key tab 1124 displays a foreign key name and the table that the foreign key references in the top portion of the window. The lower portion of the window displays the foreign key column and the name of the column in the referenced table.
  • combination table-and-class view 1104 enables the user to visualize the correspondence between tables in a database and classes in the object-oriented application.
  • Information in table-and-class view 1 104 includes show-table-view button 1105, show-class- view button 1107, a table-class mapping 1126, a column-field mapping 1128, and a foreign key-relationship 1130.
  • a user selects a table in table-class mapping 1126 to show which class has been mapped to a particular table in the database.
  • the status corresponding to the table-class mapping 1126 can be either mapped or unmapped. Mapped indicates that all tables in a database are translated into a corresponding class or classes. If a table is unmapped, the table is not translated to a class in the object-oriented application. A user may exclude a table from being mapped into a class by indicating the table should be unmapped. The user can unmap certain tables from being translated into classes when certain data types in a database do not translate into a corresponding field in an object.
  • Selecting a table also causes column-field mapping 1128 to display the columns associated with a table and corresponding fields associated with the class.
  • the user can modify the status fields in these areas as mapped or unmapped for similar reasons discussed above as it applies to columns in tables and fields in classes.
  • foreign key-relationship mapping 1130 identifies the foreign key and the relationship the foreign key creates between two or more classes.
  • a foreign key between the disk table and the part table discussed above in Fig. 7-9 indicates a disk class is a subclass of a part class and inherits fields, method, and other object-oriented characteristics of the part class.
  • the user can modify the status fields in these areas as mapped or unmapped for similar reasons discussed above as it applies to columns in tables and fields in classes. For example, users may unmap a foreign key in a table to ignore class hierarchy or class relationships when the tables are used to generate classes.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
  • Stored Programmes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur l'interface graphique utilisateur d'un système informatique servant à présenter des objets dans une application orientée objet et des données stockées dans les tables d'une base de données. L'interface graphique utilisateur affiche un synopsis de classes correspondant à une ou plusieurs classes de l'application orientée objet qui à son tour correspond à des tables de la base de données et présente le synopsis d'une ou plusieurs tables d'une base de données correspondant à des classes de l'application orientée objet. De plus, l'interface graphique utilisateur présente une combinaison de tables et de synopsis de classes comportant des éléments de la base de données voisine des éléments orientés objet de l'application orientée objet.
PCT/US1998/027245 1997-12-22 1998-12-21 Procede et equipement relatifs a une interface graphique utilisateur integree pour mappages objets/bases de donnees WO1999033004A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU19391/99A AU1939199A (en) 1997-12-22 1998-12-21 An integrated graphical user interface method and apparatus for mapping between objects and databases
EP98964212A EP1000403A1 (fr) 1997-12-22 1998-12-21 Procede et equipement relatifs a une interface graphique utilisateur integree pour mappages objets/bases de donnees

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6841597P 1997-12-22 1997-12-22
US60/068,415 1997-12-22
US09/106,046 US6279008B1 (en) 1998-06-29 1998-06-29 Integrated graphical user interface method and apparatus for mapping between objects and databases
US09/106,046 1998-06-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999033004A1 true WO1999033004A1 (fr) 1999-07-01

Family

ID=26748951

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/027245 WO1999033004A1 (fr) 1997-12-22 1998-12-21 Procede et equipement relatifs a une interface graphique utilisateur integree pour mappages objets/bases de donnees

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1000403A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1939199A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999033004A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1143348A2 (fr) * 2000-04-07 2001-10-10 Vitria Technology, Inc. Procédé de définition d'un spécification de transformation de données
SG90138A1 (en) * 1999-06-03 2002-07-23 Ibm Displaying a complex tree structure among multiple windows
AT3847U3 (de) * 2000-05-12 2006-10-15 Fabasoft R & D Software Gmbh & Schaltungsanordnung zum erzeugen einer benützeroberfläche aus einem objektorientierten datenmodell
US7130863B2 (en) * 2003-09-24 2006-10-31 Tablecode Software Corporation Method for enhancing object-oriented programming through extending metadata associated with class-body class-head by adding additional metadata to the database
US7660810B2 (en) 1999-10-01 2010-02-09 Gautestad Arild O Method and system for publication and revision or hierarchically organized sets of static intranet and internet web pages
CN105224597A (zh) * 2015-08-28 2016-01-06 上海斐讯数据通信技术有限公司 一种可将数据库中的外键关系生成图像的系统及方法
EP3062244A1 (fr) * 2015-02-25 2016-08-31 Palantir Technologies, Inc. Systèmes et procédés permettant d'organiser des données structurées au moyen d'objets de repérage
US10698938B2 (en) 2016-03-18 2020-06-30 Palantir Technologies Inc. Systems and methods for organizing and identifying documents via hierarchies and dimensions of tags

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"A White Paper: TOPLink for Java", 1997, THE OBJECT PEOPLE, CANADA, XP002098153 *
"THE ENTERPRISE OBJECTS FRAMEWORK", ENTERPRISE OBJECTS FRAMEWORK: BUILDING REUSABLE BUSINESS OBJECTS, July 1994 (1994-07-01), pages 1 - 13, XP002047858 *

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SG90138A1 (en) * 1999-06-03 2002-07-23 Ibm Displaying a complex tree structure among multiple windows
US7660810B2 (en) 1999-10-01 2010-02-09 Gautestad Arild O Method and system for publication and revision or hierarchically organized sets of static intranet and internet web pages
EP1143348A2 (fr) * 2000-04-07 2001-10-10 Vitria Technology, Inc. Procédé de définition d'un spécification de transformation de données
EP1143348A3 (fr) * 2000-04-07 2003-04-09 Vitria Technology, Inc. Procédé de définition d'un spécification de transformation de données
AT3847U3 (de) * 2000-05-12 2006-10-15 Fabasoft R & D Software Gmbh & Schaltungsanordnung zum erzeugen einer benützeroberfläche aus einem objektorientierten datenmodell
US7318216B2 (en) 2003-09-24 2008-01-08 Tablecode Software Corporation Software application development environment facilitating development of a software application
US7266565B2 (en) 2003-09-24 2007-09-04 Tablecode Software Corporation Table-oriented application development environment
US7130863B2 (en) * 2003-09-24 2006-10-31 Tablecode Software Corporation Method for enhancing object-oriented programming through extending metadata associated with class-body class-head by adding additional metadata to the database
EP3062244A1 (fr) * 2015-02-25 2016-08-31 Palantir Technologies, Inc. Systèmes et procédés permettant d'organiser des données structurées au moyen d'objets de repérage
US9727560B2 (en) 2015-02-25 2017-08-08 Palantir Technologies Inc. Systems and methods for organizing and identifying documents via hierarchies and dimensions of tags
EP3540582A1 (fr) * 2015-02-25 2019-09-18 Palantir Technologies Inc. Systèmes et procédés permettant d'organiser des données structurées au moyen d'objets de repérage
US10474326B2 (en) 2015-02-25 2019-11-12 Palantir Technologies Inc. Systems and methods for organizing and identifying documents via hierarchies and dimensions of tags
CN105224597A (zh) * 2015-08-28 2016-01-06 上海斐讯数据通信技术有限公司 一种可将数据库中的外键关系生成图像的系统及方法
US10698938B2 (en) 2016-03-18 2020-06-30 Palantir Technologies Inc. Systems and methods for organizing and identifying documents via hierarchies and dimensions of tags

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1000403A1 (fr) 2000-05-17
AU1939199A (en) 1999-07-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6279008B1 (en) Integrated graphical user interface method and apparatus for mapping between objects and databases
US6374256B1 (en) Method and apparatus for creating indexes in a relational database corresponding to classes in an object-oriented application
US6243709B1 (en) Method and apparatus for loading stored procedures in a database corresponding to object-oriented data dependencies
EP1042721B1 (fr) Integration de modifications sur un modele objet et sur une base de donnees dans un code source par un outil de mise en correspondance de modele objet/modele relationnel
US5937409A (en) Integrating relational databases in an object oriented environment
US6061515A (en) System and method for providing a high level language for mapping and accessing objects in data stores
US5627979A (en) System and method for providing a graphical user interface for mapping and accessing objects in data stores
CA2318299C (fr) Autocommutateur de metadonnees
US6101502A (en) Object model mapping and runtime engine for employing relational database with object oriented software
US6338056B1 (en) Relational database extender that supports user-defined index types and user-defined search
US6070165A (en) Method for managing and accessing relational data in a relational cache
US6356913B1 (en) Generic (database-independent) and dynamically-modifiable schema
US7979456B2 (en) Method of managing and providing parameterized queries
US5809509A (en) Method for using a non-object-oriented datastore as a generic persistent datastore for persistent objects
CA2355418A1 (fr) Schema pour instructions en sql
US20080184109A1 (en) Generating a relational view for a base model schema
WO1999033004A1 (fr) Procede et equipement relatifs a une interface graphique utilisateur integree pour mappages objets/bases de donnees
US6658425B1 (en) Generic data centric object structure and implementation
US6202069B1 (en) Execution paradigm for accessing hierarchical data using an object framework
EP1040432B1 (fr) Procede et appareil de chargement de procedures stockees dans une base de donnees correspondant a des dependances de donnees orientees objet
Bychkov et al. Methods and tools for automation of development of information systems using specifications of database applications
Lin Object-oriented database systems: A survey
Horowitz An introduction to object-oriented databases and database systems
Acharya Post Office Management System Project Report
Marcos et al. Object-oriented database design

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1998964212

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1998964212

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1998964212

Country of ref document: EP