Abstract: Information on a referenced class or a referenced property is extracted from at least one referenced dictionary having a referencing relation with a referencing dictionary having the hierarchical structure, in which lower classes inherit the properties of upper classes; the extracted information is added to the referencing dictionary and organized; the extracted detailed information is outputted organized referencing dictionary. Thus, the detailed information on an imported property may be acquired simply at the side of the referencing dictionary. In addition, since only the information on the referenced class or property in the referenced dictionary is separately extracted, traffic of the dictionary data may be reduced, and the efficient inter-dictionary data exchange can be realized.

Abstract: Information on a referenced class or a referenced property is extracted from at least one referenced dictionary having a referencing relation with a referencing dictionary having the hierarchical structure, in which lower classes inherit the properties of upper classes; the extracted information is added to the referencing dictionary and organized; the extracted detailed information is outputted organized referencing dictionary. Thus, the detailed information on an imported property may be acquired simply at the side of the referencing dictionary. In addition, since only the information on the referenced class or property in the referenced dictionary is separately extracted, traffic of the dictionary data may be reduced, and the efficient inter-dictionary data exchange can be realized.

Abstract: In the case where specifics of an error have been detected out of an instance data that has been received by a receiving unit and that does not satisfy restrictions being applied to an instance data description and being defined in a dictionary that is meta data, a change proposal that has been created based on the specifics of the error and suggests a change that can be made on the dictionary is presented onto a dictionary editor terminal, based on dictionary change rules each of which defines, in the manner of a rule, a change that can be made on the dictionary in correspondence with an error pattern that is found during the instance data description. It is therefore possible to eliminate disparity between instance data editors and dictionary editors and to improve the quality of instance data.

Abstract: A hierarchical dictionary creating apparatus includes an operation file editing unit that edits a logic operation file by adding a new class using an inter-class logic operation, the logic operation file in which the inter-class logic operation is described, the inter-class logic operation being employed in a hierarchical dictionary having inheritance of a property from an upper class to a lower class; an operation file storing unit that stores the logic operation file edited by the operation file editing unit; an operation file determining unit that determines a property to be introduced from an existing class to the new class in the logic operation file stored in the operation file storing unit; a dictionary file outputting unit that outputs the property to be introduced from the existing class to the new class into a hierarchical dictionary file, the property being determined by the operation file determining unit; and a dictionary file storing unit that stores the hierarchical dictionary file.

Abstract: A hierarchical database, in which a lower class inherits to a property of an super class, having a class code for each class to identify the class, includes a first classification system having a regular class, and a second classification system having the regular class and a synonymous class referring to and using the regular class of the first classification system, wherein the synonymous class has an identification information to identify it is the synonymous class, a class code of the synonymous class, and a class code of the regular class of the first classification system to which the synonymous class refers.

Abstract: A database hierarchically stores a plurality of classes and a plurality of contents data corresponding to each class. Each contents data has a value of each property. The plurality of contents data of selected class are divided into a plurality of groups. A display presents a first table of contents data of a selected group. A memory stores a second table of a plurality of record data. An indication unit selects a first property from the plurality of properties of the selected class, and selects a first item from a plurality of items. The contents data of the first table and record data of the second table are joined on condition that a value of the first property is equal to a value of the first item. A third table of a plurality of joined data each having a value of each property of the selected class and a value of each item is generated.

Abstract: An information management system includes a input unit configured to input a hierarchical dictionary in which a property is inherited from an upper class to a lower class and in which symbols representing the classes are defined; an creating unit that creates a list of symbols representing lower classes of a predetermined class by obtaining the symbols from the hierarchical dictionary, when the predetermined class is selected; and a display unit that displays a list of the symbols.

Abstract: A hierarchical database, in which a lower class inherits to a property of an super class, having a class code for each class to identify the class, includes a first classification system having a regular class, and a second classification system having the regular class and a synonymous class referring to and using the regular class of the first classification system, wherein the synonymous class has an identification information to identify it is the synonymous class, a class code of the synonymous class, and a class code of the regular class of the first classification system to which the synonymous class refers.

Abstract: A database apparatus stores a first contents table which includes first components including first contents data rows, and a second contents table which includes second components including second contents data rows. The first and second contents data rows each have a selection reference relationship between the first and second contents tables, and a selection reference condition is described using a selection reference type property. A selection reference processor is configured to query the second contents table under the selection reference condition to find candidates of second contents data rows. The candidates are referenced from a selected first contents data row according to the selection reference relationship. At least one second contents data row designated in the candidates displayed on the screen is selected. A combination device is configured to generate a combined contents table corresponding to a combined-type product, by combining the first and second contents data rows.

Abstract: A database hierarchically stores a plurality of classes and a plurality of contents data corresponding to each class. Each contents data has a value of each property. The plurality of contents data of selected class are divided into a plurality of groups. A display presents a first table of contents data of a selected group. A memory stores a second table of a plurality of record data. An indication unit selects a first property from the plurality of properties of the selected class, and selects a first item from a plurality of items. The contents data of the first table and record data of the second table are joined on condition that a value of the first property is equal to a value of the first item. A third table of a plurality of joined data each having a value of each property of the selected class and a value of each item is generated.

Abstract: A database management apparatus which manages a database having a hierarchical classification structure is described. In the hierarchical classification structure, a lower classification inherits a property of an upper classification that defines a plurality of properties. The apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a typical property set. The typical property set includes at least one of selective properties each selected from the properties defined in the upper classification. All of the selective properties are inherited by the lower classification. The apparatus also includes a storage which stores the typical property set in association with the hierarchical classification structure.

Abstract: A memory stores a database for a plurality of classes having a hierarchical structure. A display outputs at least part of a first area of one class and at least part of a second area of at least one child class belonging to the one class. The one class and the at least one child class are defined in the plurality of classes of the database. The first area includes the second area on the display.