Object morphing in an object oriented computing environment using relational database query procedure

In a database system having a database program for executing query operations on a plurality of database tables, and an user interface for receiving command input, a method for morphing an object from one class to another in an object oriented computing environment implemented in said database system, comprising the steps of:

• a) defining object classes, class attributes, class relationships, objects, object attributes and object relationships as tables of data in said relational database;
• b) receiving a query command for changing one of said objects from one of said object classes to another of said object classes;
• c) changing a class identifier corresponding to said object in said database to reflect the new class, whereby said object becomes a morphed object;
• d) checking said database to determine if the parent and child relationships between said morphed object and other of said objects are still valid after changing said morphed object to said new class, and generating an error message if they are not;
• e) updating one or more object attribute property values corresponding to said morphed object in said database tables based on object attribute property values assigned to said new class and to any associated superclasses of said new class;
• f) deleting object attributes corresponding to said morphed object in said database that have object attribute property values that are defined as NOCREATE;
• g) deleting object attributes corresponding to said morphed object in said database that are not defined relative to said new class or in any associated superclasses of said new class;
• and
• h) adding object attributes corresponding to said morphed object in said database that are not currently defined relative to said morphed object but which are defined in said database relative to said new class and any associated superclasses of said new class.

A computer-implemented system for morphing an object from one class to another in an object oriented computing environment implemented by a relational database, comprising:

• means for defining object classes, class attributes, class relationships, objects, object attributes and object relationships as tables of data in said relational database;
• means for receiving user input representing a request to reassign one of said objects from one of said classes to another;
• means for changing the class identification of said object in said tables;
• means for checking the object relationships of said object for continued validity by checking parent/child object relationships of said object for continued validity based on parent/child class relationships of the class to which said object has been morphed and generating an error message if said object relationships are no longer valid;
• and
• means for modifying the object attributes of said object to reflect the new class assignment.

A computer program product useable with a relational database computer system for morphing a object from one class to another in an object oriented computing environment implemented by the relational database, comprising:

• a recording medium;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for defining object classes, class attributes, class relationships, objects, object attributes and object relationships as tables of data in said relational database;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving user input representing a request to reassign one of said objects from one of said classes to another;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for changing the class identification of said object in said tables;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for checking parent/child object relationships of said object for continued validity based on parent/child class relationships of the class to which said object has been morphed and generating an error message if said object relationships are no longer valid;
• and
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for modifying the object attributes of said object to reflect the new class assignment.