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Database design for mere mortals

Chapter 1. The Relational Database

A fish must swim three timesin water, in butter, and in wine.
POLISH PROVERB

Part I: Relational Database Design

Chapter 1. The Relational Database

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Types of Databases

Early Database Models

The Relational Database Model

Relational Database Management Systems

Beyond the Relational Model

What the Future Holds

Review Questions

Chapter 2. Design Objectives

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Why Should You Be Concerned with Database Design?

The Importance of Theory

The Advantage of Learning a Good Design Methodology

Objectives of Good Design

Benefits of Good Design

Database-Design Methods

Review Questions

Chapter 3. Terminology

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Why This Terminology Is Important

Value-Related Terms

Structure-Related Terms

Relationship-Related Terms

Integrity-Related Terms

Review Questions

Part II: The Design Process

Chapter 4. Conceptual Overview

Topics Covered in This Chapter

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 Defining Views

Reviewing Data Integrity

Review Questions

Chapter 5. Starting the Process

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Conducting Interviews

The Case Study: Mike's Bikes

Defining the Mission Statement

Defining the Mission Objectives

Review Questions

Chapter 6. Analyzing the Current Database

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Getting to Know the Current Database

Conducting the Analysis

Looking at How Data Is Collected

Looking at How Information Is Presented

Conducting Interviews

Interviewing Users

Interviewing Management

Compiling a Complete List of Fields

Review Questions

Chapter 7. Establishing Table Structures

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Defining the Preliminary Table List

Defining the Final Table List

Associating Fields with Each Table

Refining the Fields

Refining the Table Structures

Review Questions

Chapter 8. Keys

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Why Keys Are Important

Establishing Keys for Each Table

Table-Level Integrity

Reviewing the Initial Table Structures

Review Questions

Chapter 9. Field Specifications

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Why Field Specifications Are Important

Field-Level Integrity

Anatomy of a Field Specification

Using Unique, Generic, and Replica Field Specifications

Defining Field Specifications for Each Field in the Database

Review Questions

Chapter 10. Table Relationships

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Why Relationships Are Important

Types of Relationships

Identifying Existing Relationships

Establishing Each Relationship

Refining All Foreign Keys

Establishing Relationship Characteristics

Relationship-Level Integrity

Review Questions

Chapter 11. Business Rules

Topics Covered in This Chapter

What Are Business Rules?

Categories of Business Rules

Defining and Establishing Business Rules

Validation Tables

Reviewing the Business Rule Specifications Sheets

Review Questions

Chapter 12. Views

Topics Covered in This Chapter

What Are Views?

Anatomy of a View

Determining and Defining Views

Review Questions

Chapter 13. Reviewing Data Integrity

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Why You Should Review Data Integrity

Reviewing and Refining Data Integrity

Assembling the Database Documentation

Part III: Other Database-Design Issues

Chapter 14. Bad Design-What Not to Do

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Flat-File Design

Spreadsheet Design

Database Design Based on the Database Software

A Final Thought

Chapter 15. Bending or Breaking the Rules

Topics Covered in This Chapter

When May You Bend or Break the Rules?

Documenting Your Actions

Part IV: Appendixes

Appendix A. Answers to Review Questions

Appendix B. Diagram of the Database-Design Process

Appendix C. Design Guidelines

Defining and Establishing Field Specific Business Rules

Defining and Establishing Relationship Specific Business Rules

Elements of a Candidate Key

Elements of a Foreign Key

Elements of a Primary Key

Elements of the Ideal Field

Elements of the Ideal Table

Field-Level Integrity

Guidelines for Composing a Field Description

Guidelines for Composing a Table Description

Guidelines for Creating Field Names

Guidelines for Creating Table Names

Identifying Relationships

Identifying View Requirements

Interview Guidelines

Mission Statements

Mission Objectives

Relationship-Level Integrity

Resolving a Multivalued Field

Table-Level Integrity

Appendix D. Documentation Forms

Appendix E. Database-Design Diagram Symbols

Appendix F. Sample Designs

Appendix G. Recommended Reading

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