Data Structure and Format Conversion Using Syntactive Inference

摘要

The provision of useful services and software tools for the users of on-line databases requires the restructuring and reformatting of downloaded information into a standard form. Developing database specific software to do this conversion is time-consuming and requires the services of a programmer/information specialist knowledgeable in the specific formats of the databases involved. In this paper a structure and format conversion tool for bibliographic citation databases that requires no knowledge beyond that of the citation organization in the system to be accessed is described. A user or an information specialist edits a carefully constructed sample provided by our service in the structure of the information to be downloaded. The restructuring and reformatting tool infers the citation structure and creates a grammar to be used by a parser for the translation process. (ERA citation 12:047007)