Search code examples
sparqlrdfjenablank-nodes

SPARQL update with optional parts


Consider the following SPARQL update:

INSERT {
    ?performance
        mo:performer ?performer ; # optional
        mo:singer    ?singer ;    # optional
        mo:performance_of [
            dc:title ?title ; # mandatory
            mo:composed_in [ a mo:Composition ;
                mo:composer ?composer # optional
            ]
        ]
}
WHERE {}

If I do not provide values (e.g. in Jena's ParameterizedSparqlString.setIri() for ?performer, ?singer, or ?composer, this update won't insert statements with the corresponding objects, which is as intended.

But how can I suppress [] a mo:Composition as well if ?composer is missing. Creating it in a second INSERT whose WHERE filters on ISIRI(?composer) doesn't seem to be an option because that INSERT won't know the blank node that has already been created by the first one.

So how can I support this kind of optional parameters in a single SPARQL update? E.g., is there any means for "storing" the blank node between two INSERTs?


Solution

  • The following seems to work, when the caller sets composition to a blank node if and only if it sets ?composer to an IRI.

    if (composer != null) {
        parameterizedSparqlString.setIri  ("composer"   , composer);
        parameterizedSparqlString.setParam("composition", NodeFactory.createAnon());
    }
    

    INSERT {
        ?performance
            mo:performer ?performer ; # optional
            mo:singer    ?singer ;    # optional
            mo:performance_of [
                dc:title ?title ;               # mandatory
                mo:composed_in ?composition ] . # optional
        ?composition a mo:Composition ;
            mo:composer ?composer .
    }
    WHERE {}
    

    Hats off to @Joshua Taylor for the lead.

    I'd still prefer a self-contained version that does not require the additional parameter ?composition (i.e. works without making additional demands on the caller), if that's possible at all.