Abstract
This paper describes a metadata interchange approach for semi-automated integration of heterogeneous distributed databases. Our system prototype uses distributed metadata to generate a GUI tool for a meta-user (who does the metadata integration) to describe mappings between master and source databases by assigning index number and specifying conversion function names; the system uses Quilt as its XML query language. The queries for the local databases being transparent for users are generated, which is based on the metadata built semi-automatically. An experiment testing feasibility is reportedin which 3 different publishers’ databases are integrated.