1. Database tools An SQL layer around CDF

2. Overview Current SPENVIS database Limitations SQL wrapped CDF Advantages Demonstration

3. Current SPENVIS database Data is stored in Common Data Format file (CDF) Programming language (IDL) supports CDF natively All SPENVIS tools are “file-aware” open, read, close combine multiple files

4. Limitations of custom database Few advanced features/interfaces New features/interfaces require large programming overhead Difficult to extend SPENVIS functionality New functions may require database modification Few languages support CDF natively Awkward intermediate objects

5. SQL wrapped CDF Off-the-shelf DBMS (PostgreSQL) DBMS backend extension (C) Open, read, close CDF file Metadata tables File, variable, dimension Triggers & functions Automatic population of metadata tables Epoch arithmetic

6. Advantages Backward compatible Old tools can still use CDF file access New tools can use DBMS interface New tools are no longer “file-aware” open, close, multiple files: handled by DBMS New data not (necessarily) in files Improves performance Many languages support SQL natively Choice of best fit technology

7. Demonstration HTTP+PHP DBMS CDF Now HTTP + PHP Possible DBMS CDF DBMS HTTP + PHP Future

8. Screenshots