Fw: [ubl-dev] Tools for database support for UBL?

["David RR Webber" <david@drrw.info>]

Some nice links on concepts below.

Actually I'm seeing that CAM provides a more open way of
expressing these mechanisms than using raw SL - but the ideas
are sound.

Something like VisualScript models output CAM templates
in these areas are distinct possiblities - that then act on
XML transactions...with BPSS flow models.

DW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adrian Walker" <adrianw@snet.net>
To: "Stephen Green" <stephen_green@bristol-city.gov.uk>
Cc: <ubl-dev@lists.oasis-open.org>; <groups@essentialstrategies.com>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: [ubl-dev] Tools for database support for UBL?


> David, Stephen --
>
> It's somewhat tangential to your discussion, but as background, you may
> like to look at an approach where you would translate your UBL model into
> business rules in executable English, and into tables of metadata.
>
> Once the translation is done, the SQL Create statements can be generated
> automatically, and one can reason automatically about the metadata, and
> also about sample real data, to debug specs of the applications.
>
> A possible accounting model is at the first link below.  Does anyone have
a
> model like that in UBL please?
>
> The business rules idea is explored in depth at the further links below.
>
> How does is sound?             Cheers,  -- Adrian
>
> http://www.tdan.com/i030ht01.htm
>
>
http://www.reengineeringllc.com/A_Browser_Environment_for_Business_Rules_Over_SQL_2_Rev1.pdf
>
> http://www.reengineeringllc.com/Internet_Business_Logic_Presentation.pdf
>
> http://www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/DataDictionary1.agent
>
> http://www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/DataAssurance1.agent
>
> http://www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/NetworkedSQL1.agent
>
> Dr. Adrian Walker
> Reengineering LLC
> PO Box 1412
> Bristol
> CT 06011-1412 USA
>
> Phone: USA 860 583 9677
> Cell:    USA  860 830 2085
> Fax:    USA  860 314 1029
>
> At 01:41 PM 12/20/2004 +0000, you wrote:
> >David
> >
> >I'd actually been thinking slightly differently to this:
> >
> >I had it in mind that before any integration, mapping or processing to a
> >backoffice
> >system one might wish to store the incoming UBL or UBL-like document(s)
in a
> >special database whose tables were designed specifically for the
Schema(s)
> >used
> >and then to use the data from this database for the processing into the
target
> >application(s). The document instance would probably be stored as a whole
too
> >in order to provide the audit log/trail and integration with any document
> >management
> >and/or archiving systems. Having a tool to easily create database schemas
> >from UBL
> >based XSD Schemas and likewise to create corresponding update SQL
> >statements from
> >the incoming document instances might greatly simplify the downstream
> >processing
> >(either using J2EE/EJBs based on the tables or the equivalent in C++,
.NET
> >or scripts).
> >
> >It sounds like the HyperJAXB API is just the sort of thing, especially as
> >it uses
> >Hibernate to cater for various databases.
> >
> >However, it would interest me if there were tools other than those based
> >around
> >the Java/J2EE technology, e.g. ones which would work with .NET or
scripting
> >languages or particularly any using standards such as XSLT. If none were
> >available
> >then I'd be keen to see something developed, say as opensource :-)
> >
> >Of course it has been very interesting to find out more about what is out
> >there now
> >to provide alternatives to this architecture. I'd imagine manipulating
> >data once it is
> >persisted in a database might be less challenging for implementers than
> >manipulating
> >it just as XML, e.g. through classes and/or stylesheets alone.
> >
> >I wouldn't see a sufficient business case for spending vast amounts of
> >money on this
> >though.
> >
> >I could imagine the case for basing such tools on CAM mapping to achieve
> >the above.
> >Thanks.
> >
> >Just feeling my way here :-)
> >
> >All the best
> >
> >Steve
> >
> > >>> "David RR Webber" <david@drrw.info> 16/12/04 17:03:24 >>>
> >Stephen,
> >
> >I just re-read your note and realized another item here:
> >
> > >>>>>>>>
> >  1. What sort of tables could UBL map to? What would be the relational
> >mapping, say?
> >
> >2. Need to map Schemas to 'CREATE' SQL and develop a generator for that
> >
> >3. Need to map instances to 'UPDATE' SQL (etc ...?) and develop a
generator
> >for that
> ><<<<<<<<
> >
> >CAM templates include the optional <ExternalMapping> section explicitly
to
> >support this round-tripping to / from SQL tables between partner
> >applications.
> >
> >You'd have to target some popular accounting applications with this
> >technique
> >and denote their tables and columns.
> >
> >The jCAM when used with Hermes then becomes an instant integration
> >plug-in to popular accounting suites.
> >
> >Enjoy, DW
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Stephen Green" <stephen_green@bristol-city.gov.uk>
> >To: ">" <"'ubl-dev@lists.oasis-open.org'"<ubl-dev@lists.oasis-open.org>
> >Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 5:30 AM
> >Subject: [ubl-dev] Tools for database support for UBL?
> >
> >
> >Dear UBL-DEV, Hi
> >
> >If anyone has interest in the possibility of developing tools to help
store
> >UBL
> >and UBL-based instances in a relational database I've been thinking along
> >the
> >following lines:
> >
> >1. What sort of tables could UBL map to? What would be the relational
> >mapping, say?
> >
> >2. Need to map Schemas to 'CREATE' SQL and develop a generator for that
> >
> >3. Need to map instances to 'UPDATE' SQL (etc ...?) and develop a
generator
> >for that
> >
> >I wonder if any have thoughts of devloping something like the above,
perhaps
> >as opensource
> >or priced attractively to foster wider UBL / UBL-like Schema adoption
(the
> >key to successful
> >use of UBL perhaps).
> >
> >What worries me is the complexity of UBL but there's the challenge and
the
> >drive I suppose.
> >It would seem obvious to just treat every ABIE as a table and every
document
> >as an
> >ABIE/table too. The relationships are where I get a bit lost.
> >
> >Another key factor would be to make the tools generic - to handle any
> >Schemas built
> >by the UBL NDR rules and from the UBL spreadsheets (e.g. see UBLish from
> >softml.com
> >which uses a scripting language similar to perl).
> >
> >All the best
> >
> >Steve
>
>
>