Message-ID: <32D10FC0.6ECB@mail.amsinc.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 1997 09:44:16 -0500
From: John Heidelberger <john_heidelberger@mail.amsinc.com>
Reply-To: john_heidelberger@mail.amsinc.com
Organization: American Management Systems
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Subject: Re: New Kid on the block / SmalltalkExpress
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Your last question:

> And can it be done in a relational manner or will it need to be a flatfile DB?
> 

is a loaded one.  The ability to connect, at the lowest level, to
different RDMS systems is available.  There are classes and DLL's that
permit you to make calls to database programs.  However, at a much
higher level, there are a lot of issues surrounding the mapping
necessary from an object world to a relational world.   

Several companies have spent significant resources producing frameworks
to make this mapping easier and more generic.  Some are even
commercially available (i.e., TopLink by The Object People).  

In line with the last recommendation, I would say that your best bet is
to chose a slightly less ambitious endeavour to "cut your teeth on."  In
the meantime see if you can find some reading on object persistence and
mapping to an RDMS from a Smalltalk image.

Good luck!
-- 
John Heidelberger
American Management Systems, Inc.
Object Technology Practice
