Generating SQL to Implement Enhanced Association Semantics

UML class diagrams provide notations to model the semantics of the structural relationships, i.e., associations, that occur between objects. These diagrams can be extended with Object Relationship Notation (ORN) to provide for the modeling of enhanced association semantics. While previous work has shown that the association semantics defined by ORN can be directly defined to and supported by an enhanced object DBMS, we have not addressed how such semantics can be implemented in a relational DBMS. Here, we provide a brief overview of ORN and show the degree to which standard SQL can be automatically generated to implement associations modeled in ORN-extended class diagrams. The tool we use to perform the generation is a Web-accessible, prototype modeling tool called the ORN Simulator. The benefits of such generation can be improved productivity in developing database systems and increased system reliability.