An Intelligent Information Dictionary for Semantic Manipulation of Relational Databases

This Note describes an intelligent information dictionary (IID) that serves as a knowledge-based interface between a database user and the query language of a relational database management system. IID extends the traditional roles of a data dictionary by enabling a user to view, manipulate, and verify semantic aspects of relational data. The use of IID focuses on the interactive creation of simulation-specific databases from large "public" databases in the domain of military simulation and modeling. The author identifies classes of database-related activities performed by a simulation developer when preparing databases as input to simulation models. Three categories of IID capabilities supporting these activities are explanation and browsing, customized data manipulation, and interactive consistency checking. The Note details specific features of these categories and presents examples of their use.