Computer Science Workbench is a monograph series which will provide you with an in-depth working knowledge of current developments in computer technology. Every volume in this series will deal with a topic of importance in computer science and elaborate on how you yourself can build systems related to the main theme. You will be able to develop a variety of systems, including computer software tools, computer graphics, computer animation, database management systems, and computer-aided design and manufacturing systems. Computer Science Workbench represents an important new contribution in the field of practical computer technology. TOSIYASU L. KUNII Preface The evolution of database systems research is itself a story. Long after the emergence of systems derived from practical applications, Codd's relational data model has gradually occupied the theoretical domain of database systems and is moving into the realms of practical use. Certainly, the theoretical foundation makes database design, validation, and testing easier. However, Cod d's model allows only fiat tables to be handled, while most business and engineering data in practice are in nested table forms. Thus, a recent major obstacle in database systems development is the large gap between the theory and the practice.

Inhalt

1 Introduction.- 2 Historical Background.- 2.1 Form Data Model.- 2.2 Form System.- 2.3 Form-Based Application Specification.- 3 Nested Table Data Model.- 3.1 Overview.- 3.2 Nested Table.- 3.3 Nested Table Handle.- 3.3.1 Addressing Scheme.- 3.3.2 Primitive NT Handle.- 3.3.3 Composite NT Handle.- 3.4 Nested Table Operation.- 3.4.1 Primitive NT Operation.- 3.4.1.1 NF Operation.- 3.4.1.2 XR Operation.- 3.4.2 Composite NT Operation.- 3.5 Dependencies and Normalization.- 3.5.1 Dependencies.- 3.5.2 Normalization.- 3.6 Operational Properties of NT Operations.- 3.6.1 Basic Properties.- 3.6.2 Data Manipulation Capability.- 3.7 Summary.- 4 Form Document Workbench.- 4.1 Overview.- 4.2 Requirements and Features.- 4.2.1 Requirements for Form Document Workbench.- 4.2.2 Features of FORMDOQ.- 4.3 Three Level System Hierarchy.- 4.3.1 External Level.- 4.3.2 Logical Level.- 4.3.3 Internal Level.- 4.4 Form Document Manipulation Model.- 4.5 System Architecture.- 4.5.1 Graphics Driver.- 4.5.2 System Manager.- 4.5.3 Form Schema Editor.- 4.5.4 Form Document Editor.- 4.5.5 Form Schema Base Manager.- 4.5.6 Graphics Type Handler.- 4.5.7 Form Document Base Manager.- 4.5.8 File Manager.- 4.5.9 Heap Procedure Handler.- 4.5.10 Application Program Handler/Interface.- 4.6 Interactive Document Handling.- 4.6.1 Basic Man-Machine Interface.- 4.6.2 Session Examples.- 4.7 Prototype Implementation.- 4.7.1 Process Structure.- 4.7.2 File Management.- 4.7.3 Form Document Heap Handling.- 4.7.4 Graphics Manipulation.- 4.8 Experimental Evaluation.- 4.9 Summary.- 5 Form-Based Application Generation.- 5.1 Overview.- 5.2 Application System Model.- 5.2.1 Activity Tree and Activity Diagram.- 5.2.2 Step.- 5.2.2.1 Form Procedure.- 5.2.2.2 NT Procedure.- 5.2.2.3 Application Program.- 5.3 Application Procedure Specification.- 5.3.1 NTPL Specification.- 5.3.2 Example.- 5.4 Application Generation Environments.- 5.4.1 Activity Tree.- 5.4.2 Activity Diagram.- 5.4.3 Step.- 5.4.3.1 Form Procedure.- 5.4.3.2 NT Procedure.- 5.4.3.3 Application Program.- 5.5 Summary.- 6 Conclusion.- References.- Appendix B: BNF Specification of NTPL.- List of Acronyms and Abbreviations.