Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium is provided for grouping database objects into logical groupings in order to simplify administrative and other operations that need to be performed by the database server. Such operations can be performed once at the logical group level for a group of related objects, as opposed to at the individual database object level. For increased flexibility, the logical groupings need not dictate the format, schema or location of their members. A hierarchy may be established between the logical groupings, where child groupings inherit some or all of the properties of the parent groupings. A correspondence may be established between some groupings and operating system directories, allowing identifiers associated with the groupings to be used as aliases for the full operating system paths to the corresponding directories.

Abstract: A system and method backs up computer files to backup drives connected to multiple computer systems. Each file in a backup set is allocated to one or more backup subsets for each of the multiple computer systems. The files can be allocated in an even number across each subset, allocated to evenly spread the number of bytes to each subset, or, using the capacity of each of the multiple computer systems, allocated so that each computer system can complete backing up the files allocated to it in approximately the same amount of time. The system can restrict the number of bytes continuously required from a single disk by one of the backup machines from exceeding a threshold limit. Each of the multiple computer systems is then directed to, and the computer systems do, back up files in one or more subsets, which may be allocated to that computer system.

Abstract: A method and system for performing operations on large objects (LOBs) in a database system are provided. A server receives from a client a command that identifies a row of a table. The table includes a LOB column that contains LOBs. The server responds to the command by sending the client a first set of data from the row. The first set of data includes a locator for a LOB that belongs in the LOB column of the row. The locator includes a LOB identifier that uniquely identifies the LOB and snapshot information that identifies a particular version of the LOB. The server receives from the client a request to perform an operation on the LOB. The request passes the locator for the LOB to a routine provided by the server. The server performs the operation on the particular version of the LOB that is identified in the snapshot information contained in the locator passed to the server by the client.

Abstract: Mechanisms and methods for storing, dynamically reconstructing, and navigating a three-dimensional virtual world using a database are disclosed. A virtual world is described in a source text according to the grammar of a modeling language. The source text is read, parsed, and decomposed into a database schema in which characteristics of the world are represented in database tables. In an embodiment, nodes and fields of the world are associated with database queries. When the world is to be displayed, values in the database schema are recomposed into a source text. The database queries are executed against a database, yielding values, in real time based on the current state of the data in the database, for the nodes associated with the queries. Thus, a large virtual world are efficiently displayed and easily modified, and the size, shape, or other aspects of elements of the virtual world can change as data in the database changes.

Abstract: A method for performing a checkpointing operation in a client/server computer system for safeguarding data in case of a failure. The records of a database are stored in a mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive array. A separate disk drive is dedicated for use only in conjunction with checkpointing. Periodically, when a checkpoint process is initiated, the server writes a number of its modified records to checkpoint files which are stored by the dedicated checkpoint disk drive. The write operation is performed through one or more sequential I/O operations. Thus, the modified records are stored in consecutive sectors of the hard disk drive. If the server becomes disabled, the data can be recovered by reading the contents of the most recent checkpoint files and loading the contents sequentially back to the server's main memory.

Abstract: A method and system allows a part of a database to be restored using a subset of the backup files stored for a database. A working copy of the data dictionary of the database, which stores data definitions, is restored using the latest backup file stored not later than the point in time specified and the names of tablespaces related to the table names specified are identified using the data dictionary. The files storing the database tablespaces specified and those identified as related are identified for restoration along with the point in time specified, so that the backup files may be used to restore the files to the latest time prior to the point in time specified. The database data files are [restored, they] are rolled forward from the point in time of the backup files to the point in time specified, using transaction logs restored with the database data files and the restored working data dictionary is updated as described by the transaction logs.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for processing queries, where the queries do not reference a particular materialized view. Specifically, techniques are provided for handling a query that specifies a first set of one or more aggregate functions, where the particular materialized view reflects a second set of one or more aggregate functions. Whether the query can be rewritten is determined based on the aggregate functions in the first and second sets, and the corresponding arguments. Techniques are also provided for processing a query that (1) does not reference a particular materialized view, (2) specifies a first set of one or more aggregate functions, where the particular materialized view reflects a second set of one or more aggregate functions. A technique is also provided for rewriting queries that specify an outer join that has a dimension table on the child-side of the outer join and a fact table on the parent-side of the outer join.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an administrative function on an object, replicated at a plurality of sites, suspends or "quiesces" replication activities at the granularity of an object group. Each object resides in an object group, and each object group has a status flag that indicates whether replication activities are quiesced. In response to detecting a request to perform an administrative function on an object, replication activities are suspended for the object group. Previous transactions are propagated to other sites. When each site has propagated all the previous transactions, the administrative function is performed and replication activities for the object group are resumed.

Abstract: A method for executing a workflow that requires input from a role is disclosed. A workflow is executed in a first process until an operation requiring input from a role is detected. Continuation information is stored indicating the workflow operation requiring input from the role. The request for input from the role is then communicated to a computer-user identified with the role. Later, after receiving input from the computer user, execution of the workflow is resumed in a second process based on the continuation information, starting at the operation that required input from the role. The operation that required input from the role is executed based on the response received from the computer-user identified with the role.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accessing foreign processes in a heterogeneous database environment includes a local database server having a heterogeneous services module to selectively send requests to the foreign processes based on their respective capabilities. A client application sending a statement to the local database server is checked by the local server process to determine if the statement includes a reference for a registered external routine executable by an agent process in an address space separate from the local server process. The heterogeneous services module selectively initiates a network connection with an external agent process, and the external agent process executes the external routine by accessing a dynamically linked library. If necessary, the local database server and the agent process exchange callback queries and callback results via the heterogeneous services module to complete intermediate queries within the same user instance.

Abstract: Execution memory for use in processing a program unit for a database is allocated by inspecting an execution memory area pool for a previously allocated execution memory area. If a previously allocated execution memory area is found, then the previously allocated execution memory area is established as the execution memory area for executing the program unit. On the other hand, if a previously allocated execution memory area is not found, then a new execution memory area is allocated and configured for executing the program unit.

Abstract: A display button for a web page integrating both a graphic pictorial image with character based textual information (with link) into a single iconic button. By providing a graphic image within a display button, the present invention provides the advantages of a graphic icon, e.g., speed of location and user recognition as well as increased meaning. By providing a character based dynamic textual link, the present invention provides an iconic button whose information can be readily translated between various languages (e.g., Italian, English, French, German, etc.) without requiring the image to be redrawn using complex and time consuming means; e.g., using an artist and a drawing tool. Instead, translation can be accomplished using automatic word and/or phrase conversion. Preferably, the display button of the present invention is represented in a table structure within HTML.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading a software counter in a computer system that contains a plurality of processes each having access to the software counter is provided. The software counter includes a wrap portion and a base portion that cannot both be accessed in an atomic operation. The method includes the steps of reading a first value. The first value being one of the wrap or base portions. Reading a second value. The second value being the other of the wrap or base portion. Determining whether the first value might be changed during a time period that elapsed between reading the first value and reading the second value. If the first value might be changed during the time period, then obtaining a latch that covers at least the wrap portion. After obtaining the latch, reading the wrap and base portion and releasing the latch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing reports is disclosed. After receiving a current report request, a duplicate job detection (DJD) key is generated based upon the current report request. The DJD key is then compared to DJD keys associated with previous report requests to determine whether the currently requested report has been previously requested. If the currently requested report has been previously requested, then a saved report generated in response to the previous report request is retrieved. Otherwise, a new report is generated based upon the current report request and then stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a hypertext-based outline for a report are described. A report definition specifying the contents and form of the report is received and evaluated to determine if any report definition statements contained in the report definition specify that a hypertext-based outline entry is to be generated. If so, then for each report definition statement specifying that a hypertext-based outline entry is to be generated, a hypertext-based outline entry is generated having a link to a location specified by the report definition statement.

Abstract: Sort plus operations such as "group by" and "distinct" generally require sorting of the retrieved data before performing the sort plus operation. A method and apparatus is disclosed for executing a query specifying a sort plus operation without performing the sorting operation. To perform the sort plus operation, it is determined whether a sorted source exists that can be used to obtain the data specified in the query. If the sorted source does exist, it is then used to perform the sort plus operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reapplying changes to a database uses a recovery log for recording all changes applied to the database so that the changes may be reapplied to the database during database recovery. Whenever a change is written to a storage device, the recovery log is updated to indicate that the particular change has been written to the storage device. During recovery, the data in the recovery log is sorted by file ID, data block ID, record type and version ID.

Abstract: A record management system is provided for generating a multi-dimensional view for different measures. A set of records is retrieved in response to a set of queries. The records include dimension values and measure values, which are associated with the measures. The set of records is maintained in a master table. The record management system generates a record structure foundation, including a query map and a master table index. The record management system then employs the record structure foundation to generate a multi-dimensional layout mapping for the measures that are to be represented in the view. The record structure foundation and measure values in the master table are used to convert the layout mapping into the desired multi-dimensional view. The record management system includes data storage units for implementing the master table, query map, master table index, and layout mapping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employs primary key values stored in a master table to drive a fast refresh mechanism for a snapshot defined on the master table. A primary key is a set of columns in the master table having a combined value that uniquely identifies each row in the master table. When rows of the master table are modified, the primary key values of the modified rows are recorded in a master log. In response to a fresh command, differences between the master table and snapshot are reconciled based on primary key values stored in the master table, the master log, and the snapshot.

Abstract: In processing a query, a database server parses a string describing a query into a query representation. The query string is parsed again to generate a replica of the query representation. Various transformations can be applied to the replica in order to reduce the amount of processing for the query. In addition, transformations are applied to the query string before parsing again to produce a transformed query representation. A transformed query representation is selected for processing a query according to an estimated cost of using the query representation.