operation path

An operation path is a sequence of property references and operations (functions or expressions). An operation within the path is defined by the operation name and a parameter list. The preceding path in front of the operation acts as first operand or as calling object. Further arguments can be passed to the operation within a parameter list.

An operation in an operation path is defined as method, which can be a class method, but also a set method. A number of generic methods are provided by the OODBMS, which can be used in the operation path as well as user-defined and application dependent methods.

Methods have to be succeeded always by a parameter list, even though the list is empty. The result returned from a method can be passed as input to the next path element. Thus, any number of methods can be called in an operation path.

An operation path may consist of operations, view paths, property paths and path properties. The operation path may also contain inline expressions as operation.