Integrating relational databases in an object oriented environment

A method for integrating at least one table of a relational database into in an object oriented system, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing metadata to describe at least one class type and interface registered with said object oriented system;
• analyzing metadata for a schema of objects;
• mapping a table from said relational database to a class type and interface based on said metadata;
• and
• generating class type and interface definitions for said table in accordance with said mapping, such that said class type and interface definitions permit instantiation of full fledged objects in said object oriented system from tables in said relational database.

A computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

• selecting at least one class type from an object oriented software system for storage in a table of a relational database, wherein said class type is defined in accordance with a type system of said object oriented software system that includes at least one type system member;
• generating class type mapping information, as metadata, to map said class type to a logical relational database table comprising at least one column;
• and
• generating member mapping information, as metadata, to map said at least one type system member of said class type to said at least one column of said logical relational database table corresponding to said class type, wherein said mapping information is independent of an implementation of said class type and independent of an implementation of a relational database.

A computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

• storing metadata to describe all class types registered with said object oriented system;
• analyzing metadata for a schema of objects;
• mapping a table from said relational database to a class type and interface based on said metadata;
• and
• generating class type and interface definitions for said table in accordance with said mapping, such that said class type and interface definitions permit instantiation of full fledged objects in said object oriented system from tables in said relational database.