Schema Transformation Techniques for Database Reverse Engineering
Jean-Luc Hainaut, C. Tonneau, M. Joris, M. Chandelon · 1993
The paper presents a DBMS-independent database reverse engineering (DBRE) methodology based on a generic process model and on transformation techniques. DBRE is proposed as a two-phase process consisting in recovering the DBMSdependent data structures (data structure extraction) then in recovering their semantics (data structure conceptualization). The second phase, that is strongly linked with the logical design phase of current database design methodologies, can be performed by application of a selected set of standard schema restructuring techniques, or schema transformations. The paper illustrates the methodology by applying it to various DBRE processes : removing optimization structures, untranslating Relational, COBOL, CODASYL, TOTAL/IMAGE and IMS database as well as file structures, and finally conceptual normalization. A shorter version appears in the final proceedings of the conference (LNCS 823 - SpringerVerlag) . KEYWORDS database design, dabase reverse engineering, schem...