skip to main content
article
Free Access

A query language for a network data base with graphical entities

Published:20 July 1977Publication History
Skip Abstract Section

Abstract

A generalized high level query language has been developed for use with a network data base, as defined by the CODASYL DBTG report. Of particular interest is the capability of manipulating graphical entities with this language. The system was developed to supportan offshore oil lease information project where one must formulate queries pertaining to proximity of graphical entities. To facilitate such requests new relational operators were defined and implemented. Thus compound Boolean expressions can be formed which involve graphical as well as non-graphical criteria. Since one goal of the information system is to produce selectively colored maps via an FR80 microfilm recorder, the query language syntax provides the user with a comprehensive thematic cartography capability. The query language is designed to isolate the user from the underlying network structure of the data base. In order to accomplish this generalized pathfinding and accessing algorithms had to be developed. Pathfinding is facilitated through an adjacency matrix involving all record types in the data base, while accession is controlled by examining the local owner-member relation for current record types. Besides querying, the system provides the usual complement of data base management system functions, i.e. deletion, updating, reporting, etc.

References

  1. Joyce, J. D. and Oliver, N. A. "REGIS --- A Relational Database Manager with Graphics and Statistics," Research Publication GMR-2009, Research Laboratories, General Motors Corp., Warren, Mich. (Jan. 1976).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  2. Senko, M. E. "DIAM TI with FORAL LP: Making Pointed Queries with a Light Pen," IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. (1976).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  3. Phillips, R. L. and Cederquist, G. N. "A Specialized Programming Language for Analysis and Display of Water Quality Data," Fifth International CODATA Conference, Boulder, Colo. (June 1976).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  4. Mantey, P. E. et al. "Information for Problem Solving: The Development of an Interactive Geographic Information System," Proc. IEEE Int. Communications Conf., Seattle, Wash. (June 1973).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  5. Williams, R. and Giddings, G. M. "A Picture Building System," IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Vol. SE-2, No. 1 (March 1976) 62-66.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  6. Go, A., Stonebraker, M., and Williams, G. "An Approach to Implementing a Geo-Data System," Proc. Workshop on Data Bases for Interactive Design, Waterloo, Canada, ACM, Inc. (Sept. 1975).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  7. Phillips, R. L. "Computer Graphics in Urban and Environmental Systems," Proc. IEEE, Vol. 62, No. 4 (April 1974).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  8. Eastman, C. M. Proc. 1975 ACM SIGGRAPH - SIGMOD Workshop on Data Bases in Interactive Design, Waterloo, Ontario (Sept. 1975).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  9. CODASYL Data Base Task Group, April 1971 Report, ACM, New York.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  10. Hershey, E. A. and Messink, P. W. "A Data Base Management System for PSA Based on DBTG 71," ISDOS Working Paper No. 88, University of Michigan (July 1975).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  11. Bandurski, A. E. and Jefferson, D. K. "Enhancements to the DBTG Model for Computer-Aided Ship Design," Proc. Workshop on Data Bases for Interactive Design, Waterloo, Canada, ACM, Inc. (Sept. 1975).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  12. Bonczek, W. D., Haseman, W. D., and Whinston, A. B. "Structure of a Query Language for a Network Data Base," Tech. Rept., Krannert School, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, Ind. (July 1975).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  13. Deheneffe, C. and Hennebert, H. "NUL: A Navigational User's Language for a Network Structured Data Base," Proc. Int'l Conf. on Management of Data, Washington, D.C. ACM, Inc. (June 1976). Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  14. Heindel, L. E. and Roberto, J. T. LANG-PAK-An Interactive Language Design System, American Elsevier, New York (1975).Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

Recommendations

Comments

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Sign in

Full Access

  • Published in

    cover image ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics
    ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics  Volume 11, Issue 2
    Summer 1977
    254 pages
    ISSN:0097-8930
    DOI:10.1145/965141
    Issue’s Table of Contents
    • cover image ACM Conferences
      SIGGRAPH '77: Proceedings of the 4th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques
      July 1977
      254 pages
      ISBN:9781450373555
      DOI:10.1145/563858

    Copyright © 1977 ACM

    Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

    Publisher

    Association for Computing Machinery

    New York, NY, United States

    Publication History

    • Published: 20 July 1977

    Check for updates

    Qualifiers

    • article

PDF Format

View or Download as a PDF file.

PDF

eReader

View online with eReader.

eReader