MSQL: A multidatabase language (Q750141)

The multidatabase extension of the language SQL, termed MSQL, is presented. Any function of SQL is by definition a function of MSQL. New functions are designed for nonprocedural manipulations of data in different and basically mutual nonintegrated SQL databases. The overall design of MSQL is based on the language MDSL known from the relational DBMS MRDSM, which is a part of the Multics system. Section 2 presents MSQL data definition statements that make it possible to create tables, databases and multidatabases. A multidatabase retrieval and update is described in Section 3. MSQL statements include new possibilities, e.g., so-called broadcast queries. So-called semantic variables introduce a simple form of polymorphism into MSQL queries. An interesting feature of MSQL is the possibility to use incomplete queries which simplify queries with many equijoins. An integrating role is given in the concept of the dynamic attribute. On the base of a retrieval mapping one may, e.g., see different object types as one object type. Particularly, such attributes are appropriate for the unit conversion. Section 4 deals with views and named sets of views - so-called virtual databases. Data transferring between databases, called interdatabase queries, is described in Section 5. The well-known concept of trigger is discussed in Section 6. Finally, Section 7 concludes the MSQL description. It also contains the challenge to solve open problems at the implementation level. The design features of MSQL give a valuable contribution to SQL-like languages. The MSQL is inspirative not only for designers of multidatabase languages but relational languages as well.