THE CATALOG: A FLEXIBLE DATA STRUCTURE FOR MAGNETIC TAPE,
Abstract
An outline of a generalized storage scheme for large files of highly structured data (or catalogs) and a description of their realization on magnetic tape. Each datum, large or small, is assigned to one of a number of data classes of which a user may define any number. The overall organization of a catalog is given by a map that imposes a tree structure on the set of data classes. Catalogs may participate as individual data in other catalogs so that the structure of a file may be recursive. A flexible addressing scheme not only facilitates the retrieval of data and sets of data in response to easily formulated requests but also provides a basis for updating catalogs. General procedures called transformations can be used to derive catalogs with new structures from existing catalogs. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0623938
Entities
People
- Martin Kay
- Theodore Ziehe
Organizations
- RAND Corporation