Defining the Preliminary Table List
Defining the Final Table List
Associating Fields with Each Table
Refining the Fields
Refining the Table Structures
Case Study
Summary
Review Questions
Organizations use databases to keep track of various subjects that are important to them. For example, a medical clinic keeps track of, among other things, its patients, doctors, and appointments; an equipment rental business must maintain data on its customers, equipment, and rental agreements; and a registrar's office is concerned (at the very least) with students, teaching staff, and courses. In every caseand in any other scenario you can imaginea table within the database represents each subject. Furthermore, each table is composed of fields, which represent the characteristics that define or describe the subject of the table. Tables constitute the very foundation of the database, and they guarantee a solid and sound foundation when they are properly designed.
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