Linkage versus integration for binding database and interactive graphics systems

摘要

This paper provides a novel technique for binding database and interactive graphics systems in small computing systems. Such a technique is investigated and compared with other binding methods in order to indicate the essential differences and the corresponding trade-offs.Actually, the binding method that has been implemented in various works is the integration of two systems through a specially-designed interface. Firstly, this approach has been explored and its essential features are explained. Hence our proposed method is presented. It depends on establishing a linkage between the two underlying systems using the file management module of the host operating system. Accordingly, the entire control flow is included in a batch file.This paper emphasizes the details of the linkage technique including the linkage mechanism, the manipulation of both graphical and nongraphical data and the role of the operating system file manager. In addition, a case study concerning a stock-control example has been carried out to confirm the applicability of the linkage approach. The case study represents an implementation of the linkage method for binding a relational database system and a computer-aided-design graphics package. Accordingly, various operational conditions have been examined including multilevel graphical structures.