Patent ID: 7447686

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for handling a database statement from a first database system, comprising the steps of: receiving a first fourth-generation language database statement from the first database system, wherein the first database statement is formatted according to the first database system's query language format; accessing database functional language difference data, wherein the database functional language difference data indicates a format that contains at least one database functional statement difference from the first database system's query language format; generating a second fourth-generation language database statement that is used within a second database system, wherein the second database statement is generated based upon the first database statement and upon the accessed database functional language difference data, wherein the second database statement is compatible with the second database system's query language format; wherein a tree representative of the syntax of the database language used within the first database system and of metadata associated with the first database system is used in generating the second database statement wherein the tree contains logical pieces parsed from the first fourth-generation language database statement; using a plurality of component software objects to textualize the logical pieces contained in the tree, wherein textualizing a logical piece includes generating fourth-generation database language text; wherein a first component software object is associated with a first logical piece contained in the tree; wherein the first component software object is associated with a first method to textualize, into fourth-generation database language text, the first component software object's associated logical piece that is contained in the tree; using a plurality of software drivers to textualize logical pieces into fourth-generation database language text; wherein a first software driver textualizes through a second method a logical piece into fourth-generation database language text that is compatible with the second database system's query language format; wherein a second software driver textualizes through a third method a logical piece into fourth-generation database language text that is compatible with a third database system's query language format; switching association of the first component software object from the first method to the second method for fourth-generation database language textualization: wherein because of the switching of the association of the first component software object, the first component software object textualizes fourth-generation database language text that is compatible with the second database system's query language format and that is not compatible with the first database system's query language format.