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Translational semantics for a conceptual level query language

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Abstract

A conceptual level database language for the entity relationship (ER) model implicitly contains integrities basic to ER concepts and special retrieval semantics for inheritances of attributes and relationships. Prolog, which belongs to the logical and physical level, cannot be used as a foundation to directly define the database language. It is shown how Prolog can be enhanced to understand the concepts of entities, relationships, attributes and is-a relationships. The enhanced Prolog is then used as a foundation to define the semantics of a database query language for the ER model. The three basic functions of model specification, updates and retrievals are defined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems and Computer Science, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, 0511, Singapore

    Hock C. Chan

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  1. Hock C. Chan
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Correspondence to Hock C. Chan.

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H. C. Chan is with the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at the National University of Singapore. He obtained his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Cambridge, UK, and his Ph.D. degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada. His research interests include database models, query languages, human-computer interaction and information systems. He has taught courses in programming, data structures, database and information systems.

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Chan, H.C. Translational semantics for a conceptual level query language. J. of Comput. Sci. & Technol. 10, 175–187 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02948426

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02948426

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