A methodology and tool for automated derivation of functional dependencies

Business forms are used as the main input to the process of derivation of a set of functional dependencies. A form model is developed which abstracts the set of forms in a desired format. By analyzing the form schemas, a system deduces the functional dependencies which exist between the form fields. A rule-based inferential approach is used. System knowledge is divided into form selection, single-attribute-determinant identification, single-attribute-determinant functional dependencies, and multiattribute-determinant functional dependencies. The rules in the first category use knowledge about the form flow to determine the order in which the forms are analyzed. The rules in the next three categories determine functional dependencies.<>