Object-relational mapping toll that processes views

• US 6,175,837 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baan Development BV
• Original Assignee: Baan Development BV, Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sharma, Rahul, DeMichiel, Linda G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US09/106,186
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An object-relational mapping tool that can process views is provided. In processing views, the object-relational mapping tool identifies the dependency relationship between the various views and tables and allows the programmer to customize the mapping that will occur by selectively determining which tables and views get mapped. This customization allows the mapping tool to map an individual table or view or to map (1) all tables and views, (2) all tables only, and (3) tables and views for which there are no dependencies. Also, the mapping tool allows the programmer to view and set the updatability of a particular view or table.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, wherein the tables and views form a hierarchy, the method comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

displaying the hierarchy to a user;

receiving an indication of a view, based on user input; and

generating source code that reflects at least one portion of the logical structure of the database including at least the indicated view.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating includes:

generating source code reflecting the tables and the views.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating includes:

generating source code reflecting the views.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating includes:

receiving user input indicating an additional portion of the logical structure; and

generating source code that reflects the at least one portion and the additional portion.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating includes:

receiving user input indicating that the at least one portion should not be reflected in the source code; and

generating source code that does not reflect the at least one portion.

6. A method in a data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, wherein a plurality of the tables and views do not have dependencies, the method comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

automatically generating source code reflecting only the plurality of the tables and the views that do not have dependencies.

7. A data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, comprising:

means for importing the logical structure of the database;

means for displaying a hierarchy of the logical structure to a user;

means for selecting a table or view, responsive to user input;

means for displaying a definition of a view, responsive to user input; and

means for editing an updatability status of a view, responsive to user input.

8. A method in a data processing system with a database having a logical structure with views and tables, comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

creating a data structure representing the logical structure of the database;

creating from the data structure an object model containing information reflecting at least one portion of the logical structure including information reflecting at least one view;

creating from the object model source code reflecting the at least one portion of the logical structure;

displaying the imported logical structure to a user;

receiving modifications to the at least one portion from the user;

updating the object model to reflect the modifications; and

generating from the updated object model new source code to reflect the modifications.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one portion has a customizable updatability, and wherein the receiving modifications includes:

receiving a request to change the updatability status of the at least one portion of the logical structure, and wherein the updating the object model includes;

checking the relational model for consistency of changed updatability; and

updating the object model to reflect the change in the updatability status.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving modifications includes:

receiving an indication of an additional portion of the logical structure, wherein the updating the object model includes;

creating a portion of the object model to reflect the additional portion, and wherein the generating includes;

generating the new source code to reflect the additional portion.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving modifications includes:

receiving an indication to not generate source code for the at least one portion, wherein the updating the object model includes;

creating the object model such that it does not reflect the at least one portion, and wherein the generating includes;

generating the new source code to such that it does not reflect the at least one portion.

12. A data processing system comprising:

a secondary storage device containing a database with a logical structure of tables and views, wherein the tables and views have an associated updatability status;

a memory containing an object-relational mapping tool configured to import at least one portion of the logical structure including at least one view and configured to generate source code reflecting the at least one portion of the logical structure; and

a processor configured to run the object-relational mapping tool, wherein the object-relational mapping tool further includes;

a display component for displaying the updatability status to a user; and

an updatability modification component configured to modify the updatability status of the at least one portion of the logical structure, responsive to user input.

13. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein the object-relational mapping tool contains a manual mapping component configured to operate after the source code has been generated and configured to update the source code to reflect an additional portion of the logical structure responsive to user input.

14. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein the object-relational mapping tool contains a manual mapping component configured to operate after the source code has been generated and configured to update the source code so that it does not reflect the at least one portion of the logical structure responsive to user input.

15. A data processing system with a database having a logical structure with views and tables, comprising:

means for importing the logical structure of the database;

means for creating a data structure representing the logical structure of the database;

means for creating from the data structure an object model containing information reflecting at least one portion of the logical structure including information reflecting at least one view;

means for creating from the object model source code reflecting the at least one portion of the logical structure;

means for displaying the imported logical structure to a user;

means for receiving modifications to the at least one portion from the user;

means for updating the object model to reflect the modifications; and

means for generating from the updated object model new source code to reflect the modifications.

16. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, wherein a plurality of the tables and views do not have dependencies, the method comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

automatically generating source code only reflecting the plurality of the tables and the views that do not have dependencies.

17. A method in a data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

displaying a hierarchy of the logical structure to a user;

selecting a table or view, responsive to user input;

displaying a definition of a view, responsive to user input; and

editing an updatability status of a view, responsive to user input.

18. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, wherein the tables and views form a hierarchy, the method comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

displaying the hierarchy to a user;

receiving an indication of a view, based on user input; and

generating source code that reflects at least one portion of the logical structure of the database including at least the indicated view.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the generating includes:

generating source code reflecting the tables and the views.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the generating includes:

generating source code reflecting the views.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the generating includes:

receiving user input indicating an additional portion of the logical structure; and

generating source code that reflects the at least one portion and the additional portion.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the generating includes:

receiving user input indicating that the at least one portion should not be reflected in the source code; and

generating source code that does not reflect the at least one portion.

23. A method in a data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, the method comprising:

importing the logical structure of the database;

displaying the logical structure to a user;

selecting a table or view, responsive to user input;

displaying mapping fields for each table and view to a user, wherein the mapping fields indicate a mapping status of each corresponding table and view of the logical structure;

editing the mapping field for the selected table or view, responsive to user input; and

displaying the edited mapping field to the user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of displaying mapping fields further includes:

displaying the hierarchy of the selected table or view.

25. A data processing system containing a database with a logical structure comprising tables and views, comprising:

means for importing the logical structure of the database;

means for displaying the logical structure to a user;

means for selecting a table or view, responsive to user input;

means for displaying mapping fields for each table and view to a user;

wherein the mapping fields indicate a mapping status of each corresponding table and view of the logical structure;

means for editing the mapping field for the selected table or view, responsive to user input; and

means for displaying the edited mapping field to the user.

26. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein the means for displaying mapping fields further includes means for displaying the hierarchy of the selected table or view.