Documenting a Database System with a Database

Abstract

The South African Data Centre for Oceanography (SADCO) has implemented a multi d1sc1plinary oceanographic database using OMS 170, a relational database management system Using a high level query language sc1ent1sts from all over the country are able to access the database and browse the data freely In add1t1on SADCO has other more specialized databases and also datasets as independent files, and in various other non computerized forms A vast number of programs and procedures to load and modify the database and produce plots or tables from the database have been developed For this reason a 'data d1ct1onary system (the Data Catalogue) has been developed as a 'micro' database, using the Query Update language for the purpose of documenting the contents of the database, the resources of the data centre and the events that take place daily to modify resources The user can access this Data Catalogue using the same query language that 1s used to access the main database