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II. The Design Process
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II. The Design Process
by Michael J. Hernandez
Database Design for Mere Mortals
Copyright
Dedication
Preface
About the Author
Foreword
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who Should Read This Book
The Purpose of This Book
How to Read This Book
How This Book Is Organized
Part One: Relational Database Design
Part Two: The Design Process
Part Three: Other Database Design Issues
IMPORTANT: READ THIS SECTION!
A Word About the Examples and Techniques in This Book
A New Approach to Learning
I. Relational Database Design
1. What Is a Relational Database?
Types of Databases
Early Database Models
The Hierarchical Database Model
The Network Database Model
The Relational Database Model: A Brief History
Relational Database Management Systems
Summary
2. Design Objectives
Why Should You Be Concerned with Database Design?
The Importance of Theory
The Advantage of Learning Good Design Methodology
The Importance of Understanding Database Design
Objectives of Good Design
Advantages of Good Design
Database Design Methods
Traditional Design Methods
The Design Method Presented in This Book
Summary
3. Terminology
Why This Terminology Is Important
Value-related Terms
Data
Information
Null
Structure-related Terms
Table
Field
Record
View
Keys
Index
Relationship-related Terms
Relationships
Types of Relationships
One-to-One Relationships
One-to-Many Relationships
Many-to-Many Relationships
Types of Participation
Degree of Participation
Integrity-related Terms
Field Specification
Data Integrity
Summary
II. The Design Process
4. Conceptual Overview
The Importance of Completing the Design Process
Defining a Mission Statement and Mission Objectives
Analyzing the Current Database
Creating the Data Structures
Determining and Establishing Table Relationships
Determining and Defining Business Rules
Determining and Establishing Views
Reviewing Data Integrity
Summary
5. Starting the Process
Conducting Interviews
THE CASE STUDY: MIKES'S BIKES
Defining the Mission Statement
The Well-Written Mission Statement
Composing a Mission Statement
CASE STUDY
Defining The Mission Objectives
Well-Written Mission Objectives
Composing Mission Objectives
CASE STUDY
Summary
6. Analyzing the Current Database
Getting to Know the Current Database
Paper-based Databases
Legacy Databases
Conducting the Analysis
Looking at How Data Is Collected
Looking at How Information Is Presented
Conducting Interviews
Conducting User Interviews
Reviewing Data Type and Usage
Reviewing the Samples
Reviewing Information Requirements
Current Information Requirements
Additional Information Requirements
Future Information Requirements
Conducting Management Interviews
Reviewing Current Information Requirements
Reviewing Additional Information Requirements
Reviewing Future Information Requirements
Reviewing Overall Information Requirements
Compiling a Complete List of Fields
The Preliminary Field List
The Calculated Field List
Reviewing Both Lists with Users and Management
CASE STUDY
Summary
7. Establishing Table Structures
Defining the Preliminary Table List
Determining Implied Subjects
Using the List of Subjects
Using the Mission Objectives
Define the Final Table List
Refining the Table Names
Guidelines for Creating a Table Names
Indicating the Table Types
Composing the Table Descriptions
Guidelines for Composing a Table Description
Interviewing Users and Management
Associating Fields with Each Table
Refining the Fields
Improving the Field Names
Guidelines for Creating Field Names
Using the Ideal Field to Resolve Anomalies
Elements of the Ideal Field
Resolving Multipart Fields
Resolving Multivalued Fields
Refining the Table Structures
A Word about Redundant Data and Duplicate Fields
Using the Ideal Table to Refine Table Structures
Elements of the Ideal Table
Resolving Unnecessary Duplicate Fields
Establishing Subset Tables
Refine Previously Unidentified Subset Tables
CASE STUDY
Summary
8. Keys
Why Keys Are Important
Establishing Keys for Each Table
Candidate Keys
Elements of a Candidate Key
Artificial Candidate Keys
Primary Keys
Elements of a Primary Key
Rules for Establishing a Primary Key
Alternate Keys
Non-keys
Table-Level Integrity
Reviewing the Initial Table Structures
CASE STUDY
Summary
9. Field Specifications
Why Field Specifications Are Important
Field-Level Integrity
Elements of the Ideal Field
Anatomy of a Field Specification
General Elements
Field Name
Label
Parent Table
Shared By
Alias(es)
Description
Guidelines for Composing a Field Description
Physical Elements
Data Type
Character Support
Length
Decimal Places
Input Mask
Display Format
Logical Elements
Type of Key
Uniqueness
Required Value
Null Support
Edit Rule
Comparisons Allowed
Operations Allowed
Values Entered By
Default Value
Range of Values
Specification Information
Specification Type
Based on Existing Specification
Source Specification
Defining Field Specifications for Each Field in the Database
CASE STUDY
Summary
10. Table Relationships
Types of Relationships
One-to-One Relationships
One-to-Many Relationships
Many-to-Many Relationships
Problems with Many-to-Many Relationships
Identifying Existing Relationships
Establishing Each Relationship
One-to-One and One-to-Many Relationships
The One-to-One Relationship
The One-to-Many Relationship
The Many-to-Many Relationship
Reviewing the Structure of Each Table
Elements of the Ideal Table
Refining All Foreign keys
Elements of a Foreign Key
Establishing Relationship Characteristics
Establishing a Deletion Rule for Each Relationship
Identifying the Type of Participation for Each Table
Identifying the Degree of Participation for Each Table
Verifying Table Relationships with Users and Management
Relationship-Level Integrity
CASE STUDY
Summary
11. Business Rules
What Are Business Rules?
Types of Business Rules
Categories of Business Rules
Field-Specific Business Rules
Relationship-Specific Business Rules
Defining and Establishing Business Rules
Working with Users and Management
Defining and Establishing Field-Specific Business Rules
Defining and Establishing Relationship-Specific Business Rules
Validation Tables
What Are Validation Tables?
Using Validation Tables to Support Business Rules
Reviewing the Business Rule Specification Sheets
CASE STUDY
Summary
12. Views
What Are Views?
Anatomy of a View
Data Views
Aggregate Views
Validation Views
Determining and Establishing Views
Working with Users and Management
Establishing Views
Using Calculated Fields Where Appropriate
Imposing Criteria to Filter the Data
Using a View Specifications Sheet to Record the View
Reviewing the Documentation for Each View
CASE STUDY
Summary
13. Reviewing Data Integrity
Why You Should Review Data Integrity
Reviewing and Refining Data Integrity
At the Table Level
At the Field Level
At the Relationship Level
At the Level of Business Rules
At the Level of Views
Assembling the Database Documentation
Done at Last!
CASE STUDY—WRAP UP
Summary
III. Other Database Design Issues
14. Bad Design—What Not To Do
Flat-File Design
Spreadsheet Design
Dealing with the Spreadsheet View Mind-set
Database Design Based on the Database Software
A Final Thought
Summary
15. Bending or Breaking the Rules
When May You Bend or Break the Rules?
Designing an Analytical Database
Improving Processing Performance
Is It Worth It?
Improving Performance by Other Means First
Documenting Your Actions
Summary
16. In Closing
A. Recommended Reading
B. Sample Designs
C. Diagram Symbols
D. Documentation Forms
References
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3. Terminology
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4. Conceptual Overview
Part II. The Design Process
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