Resolving in-memory foreign keys in transmitted data packets from single-parent hierarchies

1. A method of creating multi-parent relationships from single-parent data, the method comprising:

receiving a data set that includes a plurality of objects organized in a hierarchy, the plurality of objects comprising:

a first object;

a second object that is associated with an identifier and is a child of the first object according to the hierarchy;

a third object; and

a fourth object that is associated with the identifier and is a child of the third object according to the hierarchy;

ascertaining, based on the identifier, that the second object and the fourth object represent the same information;

creating a second data record from the second object;

creating a first data record from the first object, wherein the first data record references the second data record as a child record; and

creating a third data record from the third object, wherein the third data record references the second data record as a child record.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

discarding the fourth object without requiring a corresponding fourth data record to be created.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein information represented by the second object is different than information represented by the fourth object.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the information represented by the fourth object is empty.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the hierarchy comprises a single-parent hierarchy.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first data record, the second data record, and the third data record are part of a plurality of data records created from the plurality of objects; and

the plurality of data records is arranged in a multi-parent hierarchy.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the data set comprises an XML format.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the identifier comprises a value associated with an XML element.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the first data record, the second data record, and the third data record are part of a plurality of data records created from the plurality of objects; and

each of the plurality of data records comprises an entry in one or more relational databases.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the data set is received by an application that is a part of a suite of Enterprise Software Suite (ESS) applications;

the data set is sent from a client system that is part of the ESS; and

the ESS comprises a financial application, a human resource application, and an access manager.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the second data record is referenced by a foreign key in the first data record and the second data record.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the data set comprises:

information related to an organization,

contact information,

account information, and

an address.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a data set that includes a plurality of objects organized in a hierarchy, the plurality of objects comprising:

a first object;

a second object that is associated with an identifier and is a child of the first object according to the hierarchy;

a third object; and

a fourth object that is associated with the identifier and is a child of the third object according to the hierarchy;

ascertaining, based on the identifier, that the second object and the fourth object represent the same information;

creating a second data record from the second object;

creating a first data record from the first object, wherein the first data record references the second data record as a child record; and

creating a third data record from the third object, wherein the third data record references the second data record as a child record.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 13 , wherein the hierarchy comprises a single-parent hierarchy.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 13 , wherein:

the first data record, the second data record, and the third data record are part of a plurality of data records created from the plurality of objects; and

the plurality of data records is arranged in a multi-parent hierarchy.

16. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a data set that includes a plurality of objects organized in a hierarchy, the plurality of objects comprising:

a first object;

a second object that is associated with an identifier and is a child of the first object according to the hierarchy;

a third object; and

a fourth object that is associated with the identifier and is a child of the third object according to the hierarchy;

ascertaining, based on the identifier, that the second object and the fourth object represent the same information;

creating a second data record from the second object;

creating a first data record from the first object, wherein the first data record references the second data record as a child record; and

creating a third data record from the third object, wherein the third data record references the second data record as a child record.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the hierarchy comprises a single-parent hierarchy.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 13 further comprising additional instruction that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

discarding the fourth object without requiring a corresponding fourth data record to be created.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 13 wherein:

the first data record, the second data record, and the third data record are part of a plurality of data records created from the plurality of objects; and

each of the plurality of data records comprises an entry in one or more relational databases.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 13 wherein the second data record is referenced by a foreign key in the first data record and the second data record.