Converting a Legacy Database to Object-Oriented Database

Abstract

We present an approach to transfer content of an existing conventional relational database to a corresponding existing object-oriented database. The major motivation is having organizations with two generations of information systems; the first is based on the relational model, and the second is based on the object-oriented model. This has several drawbacks. First, it is impossible to get unified global reports that involve information from the two databases without providing a wrapper that facilitates accessing one of the databases within the realm of the other. Second, organizations should keep professional staff familiar with the system. Finally, most of the people familiar with the conventional relational technology are willing to learn and move to the emerging object-oriented technology. Therefore, one appropriate solution is to transfer content of conventional relational databases into object-oriented databases; the latter are extensible by nature, hence, are more flexible to maintain. However, it is very difficult to extend and maintain a conventional relational database.