Towards a design theory for Database triggers

Advances in the area of active database management systems require the development of a trigger design theory, which guides the user in the deenition oo well-behaving trigger based applications. The development of such a theory requires a formal deenition of trigger semantics. This paper describes a framework for such a formalisation of triggers. That is, the parameters of trigger execution and the options for setting them are identiied and discussed. Furthermore, the development of a trigger design theory is initiated with the formulation of a suucient condition for trigger independence.