Conceptual modelling-based design of object-oriented databases

The focus of this paper is the transformation of conceptual data models (such as ER, NIAM, PSM) to object-oriented databases. This transformation is captured within the framework of a two level architecture. Conceptual models are rst mapped to abstract intermediate specii-cations, which are then transformed to database schemas in a given object-oriented database environment. This enables us to treat diierent target systems in a uniform way. As nal implementation environments we consider object-oriented as well as object-relational DBMSs, including the SQL3 and ODMG-93 standards. We hide the speciic details of these standards. Rather, we use intermediate representations expressed in F-logic, a logic-based abstract speci-cation language for object-oriented systems. Several transformation alternatives are discussed in a formal context, resulting in a collection of design options.