Data Engineering

Abstract

The Bulletin of the Technical Committee on Data Engineering is published quarterly and is distributed to all TC members. Its scope includes the design, implementation, modelling, theory and application of database systems and their technology. Letters, conference information, and news should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief. Papers for each issue are solicited by and should be sent to the Associate Editor responsible for the issue. Opinions expressed in contributions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the TC on Data Engineering, the IEEE Computer Society, or the authors' organizations. Membership in the TC on Data Engineering is open to all current members of the IEEE Computer Society who are interested in database systems. My letter in this issue has to serve multiple purposes. I want to briefly introduce and comment on the issue, as I usually do. But much has happened with respect to the editorial staff of the Bulletin, at least one aspect of which impacts Technical Committee members. I will begin with that. An inspection of the back inside cover will reveal that I have a new employer. As of January 1, 1995, I am employed by Microsoft and work in Redmond, Washington. That means that all communication about editorial matters for the Bulletin and all problem reporting should be sent to me at my new email address-Mark Brown, Digital's Cambridge Research Lab director has very generously agreed to permit CRL to be the continuing source for electronic distribution of the Bulletin until a more permanent arrangement can be made. So, please note that requests for copies of the Bulletin should continue to be sent to Digital, and CRL in particular, have played a very significant role in the successful launching of electronic distribution for the Bulletin. CRL lab members have helped with setting up the latex formattting, establishing the Bulletin email server, and providing internet connnectivity and ongoing systems support. I want to thank them for this very generous contribution to the success of the Bulletin. Mine was not the only change of employer among our editors. Mei Hsu has left Digital to join EDS, and Goetz Graefe has gone from Portland State to join Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. I have enjoyed interacting with Mei while she was at Digital, and look forward to working with Goetz at Microsoft. I wish both Mei and Goetz well in their new jobs. Our …