Database design tools: an expert system approach

Abstract

In this paper, we report on the implementation of SECSI, an expert system for database design written in Prolog. Starting from an application description given with either a subset of the natural language, or a formal language, or a graphical interface, the system generates a specific semantic network portraying the application. Then, using a set of design rules, it completes and simplifies the semantic network up to reach flat normalized relations. All the design is interactively done with the end-user. The system is evolutive in the sense that it also offers an interactive interface which allows the database design expert to modify or add design rules.