Database Program Conversion: A Framework For Research

As requirements change, database administrators come under pressure to change the schema which is a description of the database structure. Although writing a new schema is a relatively easy job and transforming the database to match the schema can be accomplished with a modest effort, transforming the numerous programs which operate on the database often requires enormous effort. This interim report describes previous research, defines the problem and proposes a framework for research on the automatic conversion of database programs to match the schema transformations. The approach is based on a precise description of the data structures, integrity constraints, and permissible operations. This work will help designers of manual and computer aided conversion facilities, database administrators who are considering conversions and developers of future database management systems, which will have ease of conversion as a design goal.