Method and system for modifying schema definitions

A computing system as in claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

• receiving a database access request containing the primary identifier of the first and second schema objects;
• translating the primary identifier to the internal identifier of the second schema object;
• accessing the second schema object based on its internal identifier;
• and
• retrieving instances of the second schema object from the database.

A computing system comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, implement a method for modifying a schema for a database, wherein the method comprises:

• accessing a first schema object that includes a deactivation flag attribute, a primary identifier, an internal identifier, and a first attribute;
• creating a second schema object to supersede the first schema object, the second schema object including a deactivation flag attribute, the primary identifier, an internal identifier different from the internal identifier of the first schema object, and a second attribute corresponding to the first attribute but defined differently from the first attribute;
• changing the deactivation flag attribute of the first schema object from activated to deactivated, such that when a client requests an instance of a schema object corresponding to the primary identifier, an instance of the first schema object will not be created;
• and
• setting the deactivation flag attribute of the second schema object to activated, such that when the client requests the instance of the schema object corresponding to the primary identifier, an instance of the second schema object will be crated.

A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for modifying a schema for a database, wherein the method comprises:

• accessing a first schema object that includes a deactivation flag attribute, a primary identifier, an internal identifier, and a first attribute;
• creating a second schema object to supersede the first schema object, the second schema object including a deactivation flag attribute, the primary identifier, an internal identifier different from the internal identifier of the first schema object, and a second attribute corresponding to the first attribute but defined differently from the first attribute;
• changing the deactivation flag attribute of the first schema object from activated to deactivated, such that when a client requests an instance of a schema object corresponding to the primary identifier, an instance of the first schema object will not be created;
• and
• setting the deactivation flag attribute of the second schema object to activated, such that when the client requests the instance of the schema object corresponding to the primary identifier, an instance of the second schema object will be crated.