SQL Export of Questions

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P. W.

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Nov 15, 2019, 7:51:37 AM11/15/19
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Hello,

we are currently working on a project to im- and export data from OpenOLAT to an SQL database, based on exported QTI files. Do parsers for that use case already exist or what would be the easiest way to solve the conversion from QTI into a SQL database bidirectonal? We know that OO is based on a SQL database, but with direct access to the database, the access management of OO wouldn't work to only export the data that is linked to the exporting user.

Also: Is there any documentation on the SQL database schemes of OO available?

Best regards,

P. W.

P. W.

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Nov 15, 2019, 8:30:13 AM11/15/19
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Our general goal is to manage questions, tests, courses... in an external application and we are searching for a solution for the easiest way to manage the data and to 

ex-/import it

Florian Gnägi

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Nov 15, 2019, 11:13:55 AM11/15/19
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Hi P.W. 

Use the REST API and do not directly access the database! In any case, never directly write into the OpenOlat database schema or filesystem! 

The API encapsulate the data storage that is partially on the filesystem and partially in the database. Knowing the database schema does not give you a complete understanding of OpenOlat. There are crucial parts, such as the course data model, which are held as XML files on the filesystem and are not stored in the database. OpenOlat is not a frontend for a relational database model.

OpenOlat can cache some objects in RAM to minimize database access. When modifying the database while OpenOlat is running you can cause data inconsistencies or in worst case corrupt the data model. 

To summarise: do not access the database directly unless you know exactly what you are doing. Use the REST API instead. 

Cheers
Florian

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P. W.

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Nov 15, 2019, 12:29:49 PM11/15/19
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Hello,

thank you for those insights. But I was wondering whether the REST API would allow it to im-/export questions and tests; it only mentions users and groups on its configuration page in the Administration section.

Or alternatively, if there are any existing solutions for parsing QTI files to a database (at least there were some directories in the OpenOlat repository hinting at parsers like that)

Best regards,

P. W.


On Friday, November 15, 2019 at 5:13:55 PM UTC+1, Florian Gnägi wrote:
Hi P.W. 

Use the REST API and do not directly access the database! In any case, never directly write into the OpenOlat database schema or filesystem! 

The API encapsulate the data storage that is partially on the filesystem and partially in the database. Knowing the database schema does not give you a complete understanding of OpenOlat. There are crucial parts, such as the course data model, which are held as XML files on the filesystem and are not stored in the database. OpenOlat is not a frontend for a relational database model.

OpenOlat can cache some objects in RAM to minimize database access. When modifying the database while OpenOlat is running you can cause data inconsistencies or in worst case corrupt the data model. 

To summarise: do not access the database directly unless you know exactly what you are doing. Use the REST API instead. 

Cheers
Florian
Am 15.11.2019 um 14:30 schrieb P. W. <in...@pwiesendanger.de>:

Our general goal is to manage questions, tests, courses... in an external application and we are searching for a solution for the easiest way to manage the data and to 

ex-/import it

On Friday, November 15, 2019 at 1:51:37 PM UTC+1, P. W. wrote:
Hello,

we are currently working on a project to im- and export data from OpenOLAT to an SQL database, based on exported QTI files. Do parsers for that use case already exist or what would be the easiest way to solve the conversion from QTI into a SQL database bidirectonal? We know that OO is based on a SQL database, but with direct access to the database, the access management of OO wouldn't work to only export the data that is linked to the exporting user.

Also: Is there any documentation on the SQL database schemes of OO available?

Best regards,

P. W.

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Florian Gnägi

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Nov 15, 2019, 1:01:28 PM11/15/19
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I think best is to read the REST API documentation:


Then read the API specs: 

In the admin site, go to Core Configuration -> REST API, enable the REST API and then click the API documentation link. 

Something like 



We improved the documentation in OpenOlat 14 and more updates are there in the upcoming 14.2. For development I recommend using the default development so you have the updated doc from 14.2. 


Cheers
Florian



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