User-defined relationships for diagramming user-defined database relations
First Claim
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1. A method for adding user-defined database relationships to a schema diagram, comprising the steps of:
- defining formal database relationships between objects in a database schema, said formal database relationships having an operational effect upon a database engine;
storing said formal database relationships in database files accessible by said database engine for said database engine to operate upon;
forming a graphical schema diagram map having graphical indicia representing said objects and graphical indicia representing said formal database relationships;
graphically displaying said retrieved schema diagram map for a user;
said user defining user-defined database relationships between said objects, said user-defined database relationships having no operational effect upon said database engine;
storing said user-defined database relationships separately from said database files, said user-defined database relationships inaccessible to said database engine;
modifying said retrieved schema diagram map to further include graphical indicia representing said user-defined database relationships; and
graphically displaying said modified schema diagram map for a user.
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Abstract
A schema diagrammer aids a database administrator or other user in maintaining and managing a database in a computer system. The schema diagrammer allows the user to define “user-defined relationships” between objects in the database. The schema diagrammer generates a graphical schema diagram or map that indicates the objects and their relationships to one another. The relationships that are displayed include both the formal relationships defined programmatically by the database itself and the user-defined relationships.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for adding user-defined database relationships to a schema diagram, comprising the steps of:
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defining formal database relationships between objects in a database schema, said formal database relationships having an operational effect upon a database engine;
storing said formal database relationships in database files accessible by said database engine for said database engine to operate upon;
forming a graphical schema diagram map having graphical indicia representing said objects and graphical indicia representing said formal database relationships;
graphically displaying said retrieved schema diagram map for a user;
said user defining user-defined database relationships between said objects, said user-defined database relationships having no operational effect upon said database engine;
storing said user-defined database relationships separately from said database files, said user-defined database relationships inaccessible to said database engine;
modifying said retrieved schema diagram map to further include graphical indicia representing said user-defined database relationships; and
graphically displaying said modified schema diagram map for a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 15, 16)
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5. A computer system having a database schema diagrammer, comprising:
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a non-volatile storage medium having database files representing a database;
a main memory;
a programmed processor;
a database engine executable in said main memory under control of said programmed processor;
a schema diagrammer for forming a graphical schema diagram map having graphical indicia representing objects in said database and formal database relationships between said objects and for displaying said schema diagram map for a user, said formal database relationships having an operational effect upon said database engine, said schema diagrammer further for modifying said graphical schema diagram map to further include user-defined database relationships between said objects, said user-defined database relationships having no operational effect upon said database engine and stored in said database files separately from said formal database relationships and not accessible to said database engine. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product for a computer system having a database, comprising at least one signal-bearing medium usable by said computer system, the signal-bearing medium carrying thereon:
a schema diagrammer for forming a graphical schema diagram map having graphical indicia representing objects in said database and formal database relationships between said objects and for displaying said schema diagram map for a user, said formal database relationships having an operational effect upon a database engine, said schema diagrammer further for modifying said graphical schema diagram map to further include user-defined database relationships between said objects, said user-defined database relationships having no operational effect upon said database engine and stored in said database separately from said formal database relationships and not accessible to said database engine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification