A Logical-Level Approach to Data Base Conversion.

@inproceedings{DBLP:conf/sigmod/Shoshani75,
  author    = {Arie Shoshani},
  editor    = {W. Frank King},
  title     = {A Logical-Level Approach to Data Base Conversion},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 1975 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on
               Management of Data, San Jose, California, May 14-16, 1975},
  publisher = {ACM},
  year      = {1975},
  pages     = {112-122},
  ee        = {http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/500080.500097, db/conf/sigmod/Shoshani75.html},
  crossref  = {DBLP:conf/sigmod/75},
  bibsource = {DBLP, http://dblp.uni-trier.de}
}

Abstract

In this paper we describe an ongoing project which is addressing the problem of converting and transferring data bases among disparate data management systems (DMSs). The difficulties in converting a data base from one DMS to another stem from the fact that data base structures are system and application dependent. As a result, data base structures embed constraints of three types : (1) logical-level constraints, such as hierarchies, networks, size and type of fields; (2) storage-level constraints, such as inversion capabilities, access paths, and indexing organization; and (3) physical-level constraints, such as physical devices and block/record structures.

The approach taken by this project is based on the concept that the data conversion process can depend basically on conversion at the logical level only. Conversion at this level can be achieved by using existing query and generate capabilities of DMSs to move data from their physical representation to the logical level and vice versa. Detailed descriptions of the system components and the languages supporting them are given.

An important aspect of the work is in the area of semantics of logical data conversion. We choose to restrict the basic conversion types to field-to-field mappings. Then, semantic analysis determines which combinations of conversion types are permissible. This approach allows for conversion tools that are powerful yet simple to specify.

Finally, some observations on the implications of data conversion needs for the design of data management systems are suggested.

Copyright © 1975 by the ACM, Inc., used by permission. Permission to make digital or hard copies is granted provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or direct commercial advantage, and that copies show this notice on the first page or initial screen of a display along with the full citation.

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References

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Alan G. Merten, James P. Fry: A Data Description Language Approach to File Translation. SIGMOD Workshop, Vol. 1 1974: 191-205 BibTeX

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C. J. Date, E. F. Codd: The Relational and Network Approaches: Comparison of the Application Programming Interfaces. SIGMOD Workshop, Vol. 2 1974: 83-113 BibTeX

Referenced by

1. Stanley Y. W. Su, Herman Lam, Der Her Lo: Transformation of Data Traversals and Operations in Application Programs to Account for Semantic Changes of Databases. ACM Trans. Database Syst. 6(2): 255-294(1981)
2. Shamkant B. Navathe: Schema Analysis for Database Restructuring. ACM Trans. Database Syst. 5(2): 157-184(1980)
3. Gary H. Sockut, Robert P. Goldberg: Database Reorganization - Principles and Practice. ACM Comput. Surv. 11(4): 371-395(1979)
4. Maurice J. Bach, Nancy H. Coguen, Michael M. Kaplan: The ADAPT System: A Generalized Approach Towards Data Conversion. VLDB 1979: 183-193
5. Michel E. Adiba, Jean-Claude Chupin, Robert Demolombe, Georges Gardarin, Jean Le Bihan: Issues in Distributed Data Base Management Systems: A Technical Overview. VLDB 1978: 89-110
6. Nan C. Shu, Barron C. Housel, Robert W. Taylor, Sakti P. Ghosh, Vincent Y. Lum: EXPRESS: A Data EXtraction, Processing, amd REStructuring System. ACM Trans. Database Syst. 2(2): 134-174(1977)
7. James B. Rothnie Jr., Nathan Goodman: A Survey of Research and Development in Distributed Database Management. VLDB 1977: 48-62
8. Donald E. Swartwout: An Access Path Specification Language for Restructuring Network Databases. SIGMOD Conference 1977: 88-101
9. Shamkant B. Navathe, James P. Fry: Restructuring for Large Data Bases: Three Levels of Abstraction. ACM Trans. Database Syst. 1(2): 138-158(1976)
10. E. Nahouraii, L. O. Brooks, Alfonso F. Cardenas: An Approach to Data Communication between Different Generalized Data Base Management Systems. VLDB 1976: 117-142
11. Arie Shoshani, K. Brandon: On the Implementation of a Logical Data Base Converter. VLDB 1975: 529-531