JPH1153234A - Database utilization system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a database system which does not have to repeatedly perform database definition and application definition and has high development efficiency. SOLUTION: This system uses a database generation application 17 and generates database definition information 35 which defines a data structure of a database 9, application definition information 37 which defines operations of a job application 13 and user definition information 39 which defines the utilization qualification, access authorization, etc., of a user. These information 35, 37 and 39 are stored in the application 13 and an external management control file 15 of a database management system 7. The information 35 in the file 15 is sent to the system 7 for the construction and reconstruction of the database 9. The application 13 is operated based on the information 35, 37 and 39 in the file 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database utilization system for utilizing a database system according to business.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A database system includes a database and a database management system (hereinafter abbreviated as DBMS). A database is a collection of data used in one or more tasks. DBMS is a business application program (hereinafter referred to as business application)
It is a program that bridges and creates and maintains databases.

Conventionally, when constructing a database, a user defines a statement defining a data structure of the database by using a DBMS.
To enter. The DBMS interprets the definition sentence and generates and stores the definition information of the database structure. Each business application that uses a database also needs similar database definition information. The database definition information for the business program is created by programming each business application. In addition, the definition of the operation of the business application (for example, the definition of the layout and screen transition of the input / output screen and the form, hereinafter, referred to as the application definition) is also created by programming each business program. Further, the processing content for the business application to access the database via the DBMS can be created by programming the individual business programs according to the specific type of the DBMS to be used.

[0004]

As described above, conventionally, the database definition at the time of constructing the database and the database definition for the business application are performed by completely different operations despite the many overlapping portions. . The application definition and the contents of the database access processing are individually programmed for each business program. For this reason, in the system development, similar definitions are often performed in duplicate, which leads to poor development efficiency and high costs. In addition, the program is enlarged by having duplicate definition information. Further, when the definition information is modified, the modification work is complicated and inefficient.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to duplicate database definitions and application definitions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a database utilization system which has a high development efficiency, can quickly respond to corrections, and requires a compact business program.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a database utilization system for utilizing a database system having a database and a database management system for business, and defining a data structure of the database. Database definition means for creating customized database definition information, a management control file in which database definition information is stored, business means for performing business operations based on the management control file, and a database for constructing the database. Database construction means for supplying the definition information to the database management system.

According to this database utilization system,
The database definition information created by the database definition means is stored in the management control file and used for business processing by the business means, and is also supplied to the database management means and used for database construction. Therefore, there is no need to duplicate the database definition between the programming of the business application and the construction of the database, and the efficiency of system development is improved. Further, even when the database definition is modified, it is only necessary to modify the database definition information.

[0008] A database utilization system according to a preferred embodiment creates application definition information defining operation of business means and stores it in a management control file, and creates user definition information defining a user of the system. And a user definition means for storing the information in the management control file. This eliminates the need to perform the various definitions in the programming of the business application, thereby improving the development efficiency of the business application and reducing the size of the business application.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, the database definition means, the application definition means and the user definition means respectively display predetermined definition screens, and respond to a user's input operation on these definition screens, to display database definition information, Create application definition information and user definition information. Therefore, the definition work is easy, and the development efficiency is further improved.

Further, the preferred embodiment includes a text conversion unit for outputting the created management control file in a text data format. Therefore, it is easy to port the management control file to computers having different platforms (hardware and OS), and therefore, it is possible to easily construct a multi-platform system combining various computers having different platforms.

A data recording medium according to a second aspect of the present invention carries database definition information defining a data structure of a database and application definition information defining an operation of a business application using the database. When such a data recording medium is prepared,
From there, the necessary definition information can be provided to the database management system and the business application in a unified manner, eliminating the need for duplicate definitions, improving the development efficiency and responding to corrections quickly.

Preferably, the definition information can be stored in a text data format on the recording medium. Then, porting to a computer with a different platform is easy, so that a multi-platform system can be easily constructed.

A client according to a third aspect of the present invention is communicably connected to a server having a database system, and downloads a management control file storing database definition information managed on the server to the client. Means for performing business processing based on the downloaded management control file. This client automatically downloads the database definition information centrally managed by the server and uses it for its own business processing. Therefore, even in a system with multiple clients, there is no need to duplicate database definitions, Therefore, the development efficiency is improved and the response to the correction is quick.

[0014] The client according to the preferred embodiment comprises:
There is further provided a database definition means for creating database definition information and writing it into the management control file on the server. Therefore, even in a system with multiple clients,
If the database definition information is created by one client, it is automatically reflected on all clients, so that the response to the correction is quick.

[0015] The client according to the preferred embodiment further includes a database construction means for supplying database definition information in a management control file on the server to the database system for construction of the database. Therefore, the construction and restructuring of the database system can be easily performed by creating and updating a centralized management control file.

The database utilization system and the client of the present invention can be typically implemented using a computer, and the computer program for that purpose is fixedly loaded with a program such as a disk-type storage or a semiconductor memory. The program can be installed in the computer from any of a recording medium that performs the program and a recording medium that carries the program in a fluid manner such as a communication network.

The data recording medium of the present invention is either a recording medium that fixedly holds data, such as a disk-type storage or a semiconductor memory, or a recording medium that carries data in a fluid manner, such as a communication network. You may.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a computer system equipped with a database utilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A server 3 and one or more clients 5A, 5B, 5C,... Are connected via a communication network 1 so that they can communicate with each other. Server 3 and client 5
A, 5B, 5C... Are, for example, workstations and personal computers, and their platforms (hardware and OS) may be different from each other.

The server 3 includes a relational database management system (hereinafter abbreviated as RDBMS) 7, a database created and managed by the RDBMS 7 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as DB) 9, records in the database or Still images linked to files,
And a media file 11 that stores moving images, audio, and the like.

Each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C,... Stores a business application 13 for performing a predetermined business using data in the database 9 and database definition information and application definition information for the business application 13. And a stored management control file 15. Clients 5A, 5B, 5C
At least one of the clients (for example, client 5A)
Has a DB creation application 17 for creating the management control file 15 and the database 9. Each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C,... Has a DB access processing unit 19 which is a program for accessing the database 9 by communicating with the RDBMS 7 of the server 3. The DB access processing access processing unit 19 is provided as a program independent of the business application 13 and the database creation business application 17.

FIG. 2 shows clients 5A, 5B, 5C,.
2 shows the internal configuration of a typical one 5A. The other clients 5B, 5C, etc. are the same as in FIG.
Has an internal configuration excluding the DB creation application 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the DB creation application 17 includes a DB definition unit 21 and an application definition unit 2
3, a user definition unit 25, a text conversion unit 27, and a DB construction unit 29.

The DB definition unit 21 performs a database definition, that is, a process for defining a data structure of the database 9 (for example, a table definition for adding / changing / deleting a table to / from a database, and adding / changing a data item to / from a database).
Item definitions to be deleted, index definitions to add / change / delete for searching, etc. in database, inter-table link definitions to add / change / delete links between tables)
Is a module that performs The DB definition unit 21 displays on the display device 31 of the client 5A a definition screen for inputting the above-described various definition items related to the database definition, and responds to a user's operation of the input device 33 such as a keyboard and a mouse. To create database definition information 35 that defines tables, items, indexes, links between tables, and the like.
Register to 5.

The application definition unit 23 performs an application definition, that is, a process for defining the operation of the business application 13 (for example, a screen layout definition for adding / changing / deleting a layout of an input / output screen, a search item or a field, a form layout, This is a module for defining a form layout that adds, changes, and deletes fields, and a screen transition definition that adds, changes, and deletes the transition relationship from one screen to another. The application definition unit 23 displays on the display device 31 a definition screen for inputting the above-described various definition items related to the application definition, and responds to the operation of the input device 33 by the user, and performs screen layout, form layout, The application definition information 37 defining the screen transition and the like is created and registered in the management control information file 15.
In this process, the application definition unit 23
The database definition information 35 in the management control file 15 is referred to for defining screens, forms, and the like in conformity with the data structure of the database 9.

The user definition unit 25 defines a user, that is, a definition relating to a user who can use the present system (for example,
Users are grouped by access level such as administrator / special member / general member to register passwords, etc., user qualifications to set work available for each access level, and database 9 for each access level This is a module for defining access rights for setting access rights to data. The user definition unit 25 displays a definition screen for inputting the above-mentioned various definition items related to the user definition on the display device 31, and responds to the operation of the input device 33 by the user, and receives the user's access level and password. And user definition information 39 defining operation qualifications, access rights, and the like, and registering this in the management control information file 15. In this process, the user definition unit 25 refers to the database definition information 35 in the management control file 15 to perform the definition such as the access right in conformity with the data structure of the database 9.

In FIG. 2, the definition information 35, 3
7 and 39 are illustrated as if they were directly registered in the management control file 15 on the client 5A from the respective definition units 21, 23 and 25, but they are not.
Actually, as shown in FIG. 3, it is registered in the management control file 15 of each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C,. That is, since the management control file 15 needs to be unique within the system, it is basically centrally managed on the server 3. That is, the server 3 has a management control file 15 'that is currently released to the execution environment, and the management control file 15 used by each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C,.
The business application 13 starts when the server 3
Downloaded from. When performing the above-described definition work, the database creation application 17 of the client 5A first temporarily saves (copies) the management control file 15 'on the server 3 to a work area and defines the management control file 15' in the work management control file 15 ". Information 35, 3
7 and 39 are registered (that is, the work management control file 15 ″ is changed). During this time, the released management control file 15 ′ is not changed, so that there is no effect on the current operation of the system. Is completed, the database creation application 17 releases the changed work management control file 15 ″ to the execution environment (that is, overwrites the management control file 15 ′). After that, when the business application 13 of each client 5A, 5B, 5C,... Is restarted, a new management control file 15 ′ is downloaded to each client 5A, 5B, 5C,. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the management control file 15 of each client 5A, 5B, 5C.
The contents are as defined by the database creation application 17.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the text conversion unit 27 of the database creation application 17 includes the definition information 35, 3 created by the definition units 21, 23, 25 described above.
7 and 39 are the work management control files 15 "of the server 3.
Is a module that converts the definition information 35, 37, 39 into a data format independent of the platform, for example, a text format. Therefore, the management control file 15 'on the server 3 is in a text format,
Each client 5A, 5B, 5 who downloaded this
In C ..., the text data is converted into binary data suitable for each platform to obtain the respective management control files 15. Therefore, client 5
There is no problem even if the platforms of A, 5B, 5C ... are different.

The database construction unit 29 is a module for performing a process of newly constructing / reconstructing the database 9, and can be called only by a specific administrator whose user name and password are registered in advance. The database construction unit 29 uses the RDB to construct or reconstruct the database 9 on the server 3 from the database definition information 35 created by the database definition unit 21 described above.
The definition information required by the MS 7 is read, and is read via the database access processing unit 19 into the RDB of the server 3.
Send to MS7. Then, the RDBMS 7 constructs or reconstructs the database 9 in response to the definition information.

In this database construction / reconstruction, FIG. 2 shows the database construction information 29 for convenience as if the database definition information 35 is read from the management control file 15 on the client 5A. Not really. Actually, as shown in FIG. 3, the database creation application 17 (database construction unit 29) of the server 5A executes the work management control file 1 on the server 3 by the above-described definition processing.
After 5 ″ is changed, the database definition information is read from the work management control file 15 ″ and the server 3
To the RDBMS 7 to construct and reconstruct the database 9 according to the definition. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the database 9 on the server 3 is constructed and reconstructed according to the database definition information 35 on each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C. In order to ensure that the database definition information on each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C,...
Unless the database definition unit 21 calls the database construction unit 29 after changing the work management control file 15 ″ on the server 3, and executes the database construction / reconstruction process, the database definition unit 21 executes the modified management control file 15 ″ in the execution environment. It is programmed so that it cannot be released to

Referring again to FIG. 2, the business application 13 has a GUI (graphic user interface) control unit 41, a central control unit 43, a query control unit 45, and a media management unit 47.

The central control unit 43 manages the management control file 15
Using the definition information 35, 37, and 39 in the database, search data in the database 9, display and output search results, and display and output image and sound data linked to the search data. This module executes the core part of business processing.

The GUI control unit 41 displays the specified input / output screen on the display 31 based on the instruction from the central control unit 43, causes the specified form to be printed by a printer (not shown), and the input by the user. This module performs processing related to the user interface, such as passing input information to the central control unit 43 in response to an operation of the device 33.

The query (inquiry) control unit 45 automatically creates a message (for example, an SQL statement) for performing the specified inquiry (for example, search) to the RDBMS 7 based on the instruction from the central control unit 43. This module performs processing such as transmitting data to the RDBMS 7 via the database access processing unit 19, receiving search results from the RDBMS 7 via the database access processing unit 19, and passing it to the central control unit 43.

The media management unit 47 performs a process of acquiring the specified still image, moving image or audio data from the media file 11 of the server 3 and passing the data to the central control unit 43 based on the instruction from the central control unit 43. Module to do.

The database access processing section 19 provides an interface for the database creation application 17 and the business application 13 to communicate with the RDBMS 7. This database access processing unit 19, depending on the specific type of RDBMS7,
The content must match the external interface of the RDBMS 7. Therefore, the RDBM used
When the type of S7 changes, the database access processing unit 19 also needs to be changed. However, since the database access processing unit 19 is a program independent of the database creation application 17 and the business application 13, the database creation application 1
It is possible to easily cope with different RDBMSs 7 only by changing the database access processing unit 19 without changing the RDBMS 7 and the business application 13.

The operation under the above configuration is as follows.

When constructing or reconstructing the database 9, the user first starts the database creation application 17 of the client 5A, and starts the database definition unit 2.
1. Application definition unit 23 and user definition unit 25
Performs database definition, application definition and user definition on the definition screen provided by each. Thereby, the work management control file 15 ″ on the server 3 is
Database definition information 35, application definition information 37, and user definition information 39 having new contents are created. Subsequently, the user calls the database construction unit 29 of the database creation application 17. As a result, the server 3 manages the work management control file 15 ″.
Is passed to the RDBMS 7, and the database 9 having a data structure according to the new database definition information 35 is constructed or reconstructed. Subsequently, the user instructs the database creation application 17 to release the work management control file 15 ″ on the server 3 to the execution environment, and then terminates the database creation application 17.
When the business application 13 of each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C... Is started or restarted, the business application 13 downloads the newly released management control file 15 'from the server 3 and downloads each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C. .. Are updated. As described above, the entire system is ready to use the newly constructed or reconstructed database 9.

When a business is performed by each of the clients 5A, 5B, 5C,..., Each user starts each business application 13. Each business application 13 reads the definition information 35, 37, 39 from each management control file 15, and
For example, a necessary input screen is created and displayed based on the application definition information. The user can request various operations on the input screen, such as specifying a table to be referred to or requesting a search. At this time,
Based on the user definition information 39, each business application 13 restricts the operation permitted to the user within the range of the user's access level. Each business application 13
In response to the operation request from the user, a message for performing the requested operation is automatically created based on the database definition information 35, transmitted to the RDBMS 7 of the server 3, and received as the operation result data from the RDBMS 7. To display on the screen. Each business application 13 has an RDB
If a still image, a moving image, or a sound is linked to the data received from the MS 7, the still image, the moving image, or the sound is read from the media file 11 and displayed on a screen together with the received data or output from a speaker (not shown). Or

The embodiment described above has the following advantages.

The database definition information is created on a unified external file separated from the business application and the DBMS, and is provided to the business application and the DBMS from the unified external file. Since the database definition can be removed from the programming of each business application without the need to perform the duplication, the development efficiency is improved, and the response to the definition modification is quickened.

The application definition and the user definition are also created on a unitary external file separated from the business application, and are provided to each business application from this unitary external file. These definitions can be removed, which also improves development efficiency and speeds up response to definition revisions.

Since the unified definition information is supplied to each client in a platform-independent text format, it is easy to operate the business application on a plurality of different client environments based on the same definition information.

Since the database creation application provides the user with GUIs for database definition, application definition, and user definition, and automatically creates definition information in response to operations on the GUI, it is necessary to program the definition information. Absent.

Since each client automatically downloads the unified definition information at the time of startup or the like, it is easy and quick to respond to the definition modification.

When the definition is changed, the definition information released to the execution environment is temporarily saved in the work area and a correction operation is performed, so that the current system is not affected.

When the database definition is changed, the restructuring of the database based on the changed definition and the release of the changed definition to the execution environment are always performed synchronously. Operation can be guaranteed.

Since various database operations performed by the business application can be performed by the GUI operation, the user does not need to create operation messages such as SQL statements each time.

Since the database access processing unit depending on the DBMS is provided as an external program separated from the application, it is easy to cope with the change of the DBMS.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but this is not intended to limit the present invention to only this embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented in other various aspects. is there. In the above embodiment, the client and the server are physically different computer hardware, but this is not always necessary, and the client and the server may coexist on the same computer hardware. For example, in a small system for personal use, a configuration in which an RDBMS 7, a database 9, and a media file 11 as a server, a business application 13, a management control file 15, and a database creation application 17 as clients are all mounted on one computer. Is probably normal. In this configuration, the client does not need to download the server management control file 15 ′ as shown in FIG. 3, and the server management control file 15 ′ can be used as it is as the client management control file 15.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a client.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing handling of a management control file.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication network 3 Server 5 Client 7 RDBMS (Relational database management system) 9 Database 11 Media file 13 Business application 15 Management control file of each client 15 'Management control file released to execution environment 15 "Work management control file 17 Database Creation application 19 Database access processing unit 21 Database definition unit 23 Application definition unit 25 User definition unit 27 Text conversion unit 29 Database construction unit 31 Display device 33 Input device 35 Database definition information 37 Application definition information 39 User definition information 41 GUI control unit 43 Central control unit 45 Query control unit 47 Media control unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoe Kadoguchi 3-3-3 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo NTT Data Communications Corporation

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A database utilization system for utilizing a database system having a database and a database management system for business, wherein: a database definition means for creating database definition information defining a data structure of the database; A management control file in which is stored; a business unit for performing the processing for the business based on the management control file; and a database that supplies the database definition information to the database management system for building the database. A database utilization system comprising a construction means. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising application definition means for creating application definition information defining the operation of said business means and storing it in said management control file.
The described database utilization system. 3. The database use system according to claim 1, further comprising a user definition means for creating user definition information defining a user of the database use system and storing the user definition information in the management control file. 4. The database definition means, the application definition means, or the user definition means displays a predetermined definition screen, and responds to a user input operation on the definition screen, wherein the database definition, the application definition, or the user 4. The database utilization system according to claim 1, wherein the definition information is created. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a text conversion unit for outputting the management control file in a text data format.
4. The database utilization system according to any one of Items 3 to 3. 6. A machine readable program recording medium carrying a computer program for operating a computer as a database utilization system for utilizing a database system having a database and a database management system for business, comprising: A database definition unit that creates database definition information that defines a data structure of the database; a management control file in which the database definition information is stored; and a process for the task based on the management control file. A program recording medium comprising: a business unit to perform; and a database construction unit for supplying the database definition information to the database management system for constructing the database. 7. A machine readable data recording medium carrying database definition information defining a data structure of a database and application definition information defining an operation of a business application using the database. 8. The data recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the database definition information and the application definition information are stored in a text data format. 9. A client communicably connected to a server having a database system, wherein a management control file managed on the server stores database definition information defining a data structure of the database. Download means for downloading the management control file to the client, based on the downloaded management control file,
A business unit for performing business processing using the data of the database. 10. The client according to claim 9, further comprising a database definition unit that creates the database definition information and writes the database definition information in a management control file on the server. 11. The client according to claim 10, further comprising database construction means for supplying database definition information in a management control file on said server to said database system for construction of said database. 12. The client according to claim 10, further comprising application definition means for creating application definition information defining the operation of said business means and writing it in a management control file on said server. 13. A machine-readable program recording medium carrying a computer program for operating a computer as a client communicably connected to a server having a database system, wherein the client is managed on the server. A management control file that stores database definition information defining a data structure of a database, a download unit that downloads the management control file to the client, based on the downloaded management control file,
A program recording medium comprising: a business unit for performing a business process using the data of the database.