| 摘要 |
A database deletion tool that is configurable, extensible and adaptable to t he changing structure of a database to provide a desired deletion. Embodiments of the invention are configurable in the tasks performed, extensible to new tables and changes to the database as the database develops, and adaptable in changes to the database structure (or schema) without requiring customization (i.e., through custom programming). Embodiments of the invention are programmed to identify the data delete rules associated with data to be deleted. Based on the rules identified, some embodiments will perform a t op- down or bottom up deletion of data in the database. Top down deletion uses cascade operations (e.g., cascade delete) in the database. During a bottom up deletion, the tables affected by the cleanup may be recursively determined using metadata stored by the database system. An algorithm also determines the referential integrity constraints that affe ct the data requiring deletion. From this information, embodiments of the invention identify all the child tables affected, identify the data in the child tables that require deletion and then, from the bottom child tables up to the parent tables affected, delete the data required. In some embodiments, the database delete tool acts as a database cleanup tool which removes unwanted data from a database.
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