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An overview of a system for automatic generation of file conversion programs
Author(s) -
Rin N. Adam,
Brown Maxine
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380050208
Subject(s) - computer science , programming language , file system , operating system , data conversion , database , computer file , unix file types , data file , stub file
This paper describes a processor which automatically produces file conversion programs based on non‐procedural user specification. The processor accepts, as input, descriptions of a source file and a desired target file with some auxiliary descriptions of associations between the two. This is specified by a user in a Data Description Language (DDL). To specify validation criteria, complex conversions not built in to the system, security criteria or summary processes, the system also accepts specifications in a Data Manipulation Language (DML). It produces, as an output, a conversion program in PL/1 capable of converting the described source file into the desired target file. The paper describes the structure, system design, capabilities and applications of the DDL/DML language and processor, including an illustrative example.