Generalized software for translating data

Many data processing installations are confronted with the problem of data conversion. Some of the conversion problems are conversion of files foreign to the installation, conversion of files into a data base management system format, and conversion of all data to upgrade hardware or software. Simple file organizations pose few conversion problems, while logically and physically complex data bases emphasize many conversion problems. The current approach of writing specific translation programs is time consuming and frequently inaccurate; a new approach is desirable. To address these conversion problems, The University of Michigan Data Translation Project has developed a generalized translation methodology. This methodology has been applied in the development of several prototype data translators. These translators have progressively advanced the physical transformation capabilities (reformatting) and the logical transformation capabilities (restructuring). The reformatting capabilities of the translators include the ability to access and modify the physical storage structures which support sequential, indexed sequential, and network organizations. The restructuring capabilities allow complex restructuring of lists, trees, and networks. Future extensions to the translation methodology include the decomposition of the translation process into small, but specific steps. Languages would be developed to address each of these small translations, and could lead to a generalized accessing mechanism and a data interchange form.

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