System and method for providing access to databases via directories and other hierarchical structures and interfaces

A method for building standard-based hierarchical view definitions, comprising steps of:

• capturing relationships and objects from a plurality of data sources;
• mapping the relationships and objects captured into a set of hierarchical paths;
• maintaining a virtual directory of the hierarchical paths;
• and
• forming a combined presentation of the view definitions based on the hierarchical paths.

A method for mapping views from a first system to a second system, the method comprising steps of:

• accessing an intermediate system;
• sending an instruction from the second system for the intermediate system to extract the views from the first system, the views being compatible with the first system;
• accessing a virtual directory of hierarchical paths on the intermediate system, the hierarchical paths being derived from the views and compatible with the second system;
• and
• navigating the hierarchical paths from the second system.

A system for building view definitions, comprising:

• a server for accessing relational data in response to an instruction received from a client device communicatively coupled to the server;
• coupled to the server, a database for providing the relational data;
• a module for capturing the relational data from the database;
• a module for converting the relational data into a set of hierarchical paths;
• a module for maintaining a virtual directory of the hierarchical paths;
• and
• a module for navigating the hierarchical paths from the client device.

A computer program product for mapping views from a first system to a second system, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to perform the operations of:

• accessing an intermediate system;
• sending an instruction from the second system for the intermediate system to extract the views from the first system, the views being compatible with the first system;
• accessing a virtual directory of hierarchical paths on the intermediate system, the hierarchical paths being derived from the views and compatible with the second system;
• and
• navigating the hierarchical paths from the second system.

A computer program product for building standard-based hierarchical view definitions, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to perform the operations of:

• capturing relationships and objects from a plurality of data sources;
• mapping the relationships and objects captured into a set of hierarchical paths;
• maintaining a virtual directory of the hierarchical paths;
• and
• forming a combined presentation of the view definitions based on the hierarchical paths.

A computer-implemented method of searching hierarchical views, comprising steps of:

• accessing one or more data sources;
• capturing schema associated with the data sources;
• creating the hierarchical views from the schema captured;
• creating a virtual directory server (VDS) based on the hierarchical views;
• querying the VDS for selected ones of the hierarchical views;
• and
• assembling a combined presentation of the selected ones of the hierarchical views for display.