[topicmapmail] Topic Maps in a DBMS

[Anthony B. Coates]

** Reply to message from Dan Corwin <dan@lexikos.com> on Thu, 07 Aug 2003
16:48:26 -0400

> How does one set up a relational data base schema that comfortably
> handles the topic map paradigm?  Is there a standard approach?

I'm not aware of any standard relational schemas, or related approaches.  I
have done a draft relational schema for the Reference Model for Topic Maps, as
it is quite low level and seems potentially well suited to database usage. 
Unfortunately, what I've never understood is how to convert a general XTM topic
map into RM form, so I was never able to validate the schema design.  You could
also implement the SAM directly in a database schema, and I don't think that
would be too difficult.

To my mind, the most interesting/difficult question is how to handle merging. 
Without merging, modelling topic maps in a relational database would be a
straightforward and static activity.  So the interesting question, for me at
least, is whether there is an efficient way to merge using SQL in a relational
database.  You could then extend that question to whether the RM or SAM
produces the best relational model for merging.  Although I would expect it to
be the RM, I've never been in a position to validate this, so my expectation
could be quite wrong.  When I have some time, I might try and come back to this
problem.

	Cheers,
		Tony.
====
Anthony B. Coates, Director
Information Design, Messaging and Management
mailto:abcoates@idmm.co.uk
Mobile/Cell: +44 (79) 0543 9026
====
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