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Generating relational database transactions from eb 3 attribute definitions

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Abstract

eb 3 is a trace-based formal language created for the specification of information systems. In eb 3, each entity and association attribute is independently defined by a recursive function on the valid traces of external events. This paper describes an algorithm that generates, for each external event, a transaction that updates the value of affected attributes in their relational database representation. The benefits are twofold: eb 3 attribute specifications are automatically translated into executable programs, eliminating system design and implementation steps; the construction of information systems is streamlined, because eb 3 specifications are simpler and shorter to write than corresponding traditional specifications, design and implementations. In particular, the paper shows that simple eb 3 constructs can replace complex SQL queries which are typically difficult to write.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LACL, Université Paris-Est, Creteil, France

    Frédéric Gervais & Régine Laleau

  2. GRIL, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Marc Frappier

  3. Département Informatique, IUT Sénart-Fontainebleau, Route Forestière Hurtault, 77300, Fontainebleau, France

    Frédéric Gervais

Authors
  1. Frédéric Gervais
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  2. Marc Frappier
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  3. Régine Laleau
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Correspondence to Frédéric Gervais.

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Communicated by Prof. Heinrich Hussmann.

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Gervais, F., Frappier, M. & Laleau, R. Generating relational database transactions from eb 3 attribute definitions. Softw Syst Model 8, 423–445 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-008-0104-1

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