Method(s) For Updating Database Object Metadata

Abstract

Two computers are respectively programmed to generate descriptions of database objects (such as tables) in a first database, and compare the generated descriptions to corresponding schema objects in a second database. Objects in the second database are changed to conform to the first database if differences are found during comparison. The just-described differences in objects may arise due to changes being made to a software program that uses data contained in the objects.

1 . A computer-readable storage medium encoded with a file comprising a description of properties of a first object in a first database, the description being expressed in a text based markup language, the storage medium being further encoded with a patch to an application that uses said first object, the storage medium being further encoded with instructions to compare the description in said file with metadata of a second object in a second database, and to change the second database based on said file to generate a changed second database, depending at least partially on an outcome of said comparing, and to execute the application software as changed by said patch, to use the changed second database. 
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein:
 said file comprises at least a first plurality of hash codes related to said first object, said plurality of hash codes comprising a base hash code and a group of additional hash codes, the base hash code being based on at least a portion of said description other than an identifier of the first object, and the group of additional hash codes being based on a plurality of properties of said first object; and 
 said instructions comprise instructions to prepare a second plurality of hash codes related to said second object, and to compare said base hash code in said first plurality of hash codes to a base hash code in said second plurality of hash codes and only in case of no match therebetween to further compare at least one additional hash code in the first plurality to a corresponding additional hash code in the second plurality and to perform said change to the second database depending on results of comparing hash codes. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method for supporting an upgrade of application software, wherein the application software has an interface for accessing a first database in a first computer, the method comprising:
 preparing a plurality of descriptions of a corresponding plurality of data structures of the first database in the first computer;   wherein each description in said plurality of descriptions is expressed, by said preparing, in a predetermined markup language;   comparing the plurality of descriptions to a second database in a second computer by use of hash codes; and   changing the second database in the second computer based on at least one description in said plurality of descriptions, if at least one difference is found by said comparing.   
     
     
         5 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions to propagate a plurality of changes made to application software that uses a first relational database, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive an identification of a first table in the first relational-database;   wherein first data in the first table in the first relational database is used in the application software;   instructions to check if the first table is a primary object, by using a first data structure comprising a first plurality of predetermined types indicative of primary objects;   instructions to extract first metadata describing the first table from a first data dictionary;
 wherein the first data dictionary is comprised in the first relational database; 
   instructions to use the first metadata to prepare a first description of properties of the first table;   instructions to check the first relational database, to see if said first table has associated thereto a first secondary object of any type identified by a second data structure comprising a second plurality of predetermined types indicative of secondary objects;   instructions, responsive to finding said first secondary object associated with said first table on execution of said instructions to check the first relational database, to extract from the first data dictionary second metadata describing the first secondary object in the first relational database, and to prepare a second description of properties of the first secondary object.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable storage media of  claim 5  further comprising:
 Instructions to receive at least: said first description of said first metadata, said second description of said second metadata, and the plurality of changes to the application software;
 wherein at least one change in the plurality of changes is related to use of first data in said first table. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable storage media of  claim 6  further comprising:
 instructions to identify a structural difference between said first table in said first relational database and a second table in a second relational database, by comparing at least said first metadata of said first table to corresponding second metadata of said second table in a second data dictionary of the second relational-database; 
 wherein the second data in the second table is used in executing a copy of the application software; 
 instructions to structurally change the second table depending at least partially on an outcome of said comparing, to generate a changed second table; and 
 instructions to execute a changed version of the application software, obtained by changing said copy by applying said plurality of changes, to use the changed second table.