Database-file link system and method therefor

Abstract

A database management system has a data structure intending to manage external files and an external file linking function extension called during an update process of a record including the data structure, whereby update of the record is carried out in synchronism with update of the content of an external file to maintain matching between the record and the external file. By reflecting the update on only a link destination file of an updated database record in accordance with the number of references from the database record to the file, the edition management of files using the database can be realized.

1 . A database managing method for managing table information containing a record and data not stored in the table information, 
 wherein when a request for process of said data is inputted, a data structure indicating the processing procedure for the management is created on the basis of position management information storing position information of said data contained in said record and said inputted process request, and when a commit process is carried out in a transaction for processing said process request, a process of maintaining consistency concerning said data is executed on the basis of said data structure.    
     
     
         2 . A database managing system for managing table information containing a record and data not stored in the table information, comprising: 
 create means for creating, when a request for process of said data is inputted, a data structure indicating the processing procedure for the management on the basis of position management information storing position information of said data contained in said record and said inputted process request; and    execution means for executing a process of maintaining consistency concerning said data on the basis of said data structure when a commit process is carried out in a transaction for processing said process request.    
     
     
         3 . A database-file link method for linking table information managed by a database management system to external files, comprising the steps of: 
 defining, in said table information, a field of a data structure for storing location information concerning contents of external files to be managed and a field of file abstract data type for providing an extension process function that is an extended function for processing said information; and    controlling an external file management system adapted to execute a process step of managing said external files by using an access right that cannot be referenced/updated by general users, on the basis of said extension process function called during an update process of said fields of the file abstract data type in said table information.    
     
     
         4 . A database-file link method according to    claim 3   , wherein during a search process of a record in said table information, an access handle creating process, which is one of extension functions concerning external files managed by the fields of the file abstract data type in said record, is called and an external file managed by a field in said record is referenced using the created access handle and said external file management system.  
     
     
         5 . A database-file link method according to    claim 4   , wherein a plurality of files or a plurality of files having a directory structure are managed as a link destination in the field of a record, and the file structure and the content of the files of said link destination are updated in accordance with update of the field value in said database.  
     
     
         6 . A database managing method according to    claim 1   , wherein a plurality of files or a plurality of files having a directory structure are managed as a link destination in the field of a record, and the file structure and the content of the files of said link destination are updated in accordance with update of the field value in said database.  
     
     
         7 . A database-file link method according to    claim 3   , wherein the number of links to the same external file is managed; 
 a copy of the file is prepared and the copy is updated during update of the content of the file in a link destination file update process; and    for only a field in a record subjected to the update process, a file after copying is set as the link destination.    
     
     
         8 . A database managing method according to    claim 2   , wherein the number of links to the same external file is managed; 
 a copy of the file is prepared and the copy is updated during update of the content of the file in a link destination file update process; and    for only a field in a record subjected to the update process, a file after copying is set as the link destination.    
     
     
         9 . A database-file link apparatus for linking table information managed by a database management system to external files, comprising: 
 means for defining, in said table information, a field of a data structure for storing location information concerning contents of external files to be managed and a field of file abstract data type for providing an extension process function that is an extended function for processing said information; and means for controlling an external file management system adapted to execute a process step of managing said external files by using an access right that cannot be referenced/updated by general users, on the basis of said extension process function called during an update process of said fields of the file abstract data type in said table information.    
     
     
         10 . A database-file link apparatus according to    claim 9   , further comprising means for calling, during a search process of a record in said table information, an access handle creating process that is one of extension functions concerning external files managed by the fields of the file abstract data type in said record and referencing an external file managed by a field in said record by using the created access handle and said external file management system.  
     
     
         11 . A storage medium for storing a program related to a database-file link method for linking table information managed by a database management system to external files, 
 wherein said table information is defined in advance with a field of a data structure for storing location information concerning contents of external files to be managed and a field of file abstract data type for providing an extension process function that is an extended function for processing said information; and    said program is one that is called from said extension process function called during an update process of a field of the file abstract data type in said table information to execute a process step of managing said external files by using an access right that cannot be referenced/updated by general users.    
     
     
         12 . A database managing method according to    claim 1   , wherein the process for maintaining consistency is implemented such that, in respect of data not stored in the table information, position management information of said data is newly registered in the record.  
     
     
         13 . A database managing method according to    claim 1   , wherein the process for maintaining consistency is implemented such that, in respect of data not stored in the table information, the position management information of said data is deleted from the record.  
     
     
         14 . A database managing method according to    claim 1   , wherein the process for maintaining consistency is implemented such that, in respect of data not stored in the table information, the content of data indicative of position information stored in the position management information of said data within the record is updated.  
     
     
         15 . A database managing system according to    claim 2   , wherein the process for maintaining consistency is implemented such that, in respect of data not stored in the table information, position management information of said data is newly registered in the record.  
     
     
         16 . A database managing system according to    claim 2   , wherein the process for maintaining consistency is implemented such that, in respect of data not stored in the table information, the position management information of said data is deleted from the record.  
     
     
         17 . A database managing system according to    claim 2   , wherein the process for maintaining consistency is implemented such that, in respect of data not stored in the table information, the content of data indicative of position information stored in the position management information of said data within the record is updated.