Path: dp-news.maxwell.syr.edu!spool.maxwell.syr.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!postnews.google.com!j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com!not-for-mail From: "Neo" Newsgroups: comp.databases.theory,comp.lang.prolog,comp.lang.lisp Subject: Re: Modelling Complex Sentences Date: 5 May 2006 12:05:24 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Lines: 112 Message-ID: <1146855924.345627.198550@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> References: <1146778738.808972.303130@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 70.254.105.134 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Trace: posting.google.com 1146855929 24309 127.0.0.1 (5 May 2006 19:05:29 GMT) X-Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 5 May 2006 19:05:29 +0000 (UTC) User-Agent: G2/0.2 X-HTTP-UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0; yie6_SBC),gzip(gfe),gzip(gfe) Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com Injection-Info: j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com; posting-host=70.254.105.134; posting-account=0cgMYwwAAAB-QanOAkBSIgPTzjTIpbMh Xref: dp-news.maxwell.syr.edu comp.databases.theory:39243 comp.lang.prolog:22390 comp.lang.lisp:168287 > I'm not replying to the post; I'm simply trying to grok this. :) Ok, now pretend you are not reading my responses. >> (; Create a flower named flower1) >> (new 'flower1' 'flower') > > So "new " creates something? In dbd, each expression/statement/sentence starts with "(" and ends with ")". An expression can contain 1 to many elements. The first element is the function/command which in this case is "new". This causes dbd to create a new "node" (similar to an atom in Prolog, similar to a con in LISP, similar to a table/tuple in RM). I call it a "node" mainly because it becomes part of a network (yeah I know, I am re-inventing the network data model). The remaining elements are called parameters. The new function can have 0 to many parameters. The first parameter (if present) is a string that symbolizes a word that names the thing being represented. The remaining parameters (if present) relate the new thing to specified classes. If those classes don't exist, they are created. >> (; Create flower1 attribute brightest color is fluorescent red) >> (; Long method) >> (create bright modify color) > > and "create [attribute|modify]" creates something? Yes, it creates a "node" to represent the specified relationship. In RM, it might be similar to INSERT INTO T_Relationship (bright, modify, color). >> (create (select flower1 attribute (select bright modify color)) >> is >> (select fluorescent modify red)) > > and "create is " > creates something? Similar to above except, the subject and object are determined by select queries. And each subexpression within select is similar to a join in RM. > and "is" and "was" and "on" are... what? how 'bout "willBe?" Good observation. When a new db is created, dbms enters basic things which includes "is", "was" and "willBe" which are classified as tense currently. >> (; Create john says >> "flower1 attribute brightest color willBe fluorescent blue >> on friday") > > so the expression in double quotes is _______. An expression with the function named ";" is a comment. This is similar to LISP however they do not include the surrounding parentheses. > and the magic words "flower," "person," etc. are... what? declared? defined? They were created by the new function as described above. > but the magic "attribute" and "verb" aren't? Good observation. When a new db is created, dbms enters basic things which includes "attribute" and "verb". >> (create john >> say >> (select flower1 >> attribute >> (select bright modify color) >> willBe >> (select fluorescent modify blue) >> on friday)) > > "select" denotes Select selects a "node" that represents that specified by parameters which in this case is a relationship. This is similar to SELECT * FROM T_Relationships WHERE subject=bright, verb=modify, object=color; > I'm not throwing rocks. Then what does the comment "For some reason the phrase 'box of rocks' keeps popping into my thoughts." mean? > I tried the links to db-whatever.com and got nowhere. I haven't been stating the website as many c.d.t. members accuse me of being an snake oil salesman. > Have you got any guide to the grammar? Yes. > Semantic decoder? Not sure exactly what you mean but most likely the answer is no; however, this doesn't prevent dbd from answering complex queries when formed correctly by app/user. > I mean, comment after comment says "create," but I can't figure out what's being created. Are you familiar with the CREATE and INSERT commands in RM? The concept is similar. > Are "new," "create," and "select" all there is? No, there are a few more, but new, select, create, update and delete are the core functions currently.