APAD: An Application-Adaptable Database System - Its Architecture and Design

An application-adaptable database system APAD is proposed. APAD can be used as a powerful office automation tool through its capability of directly handling various kinds of application dependent office forms. APAD has three architectural levels corresponding to those proposed in the ANSI/X3/SPARC framework. The external level objects are application dependent office forms, and the conceptual level objects are application independent flat office forms, that is relations. The internal level objects are the storage forms of flat files and their access facilities. To attain good system performance adapted to varied database applications, the internal level of APAD is automatically tuned to current user views at the external level. APAD also provides users with an example-oriented, user friendly language to easily manipulate office forms at the external level.