Database Design for Mere Mortals: 25th Anniversary Edition (For Mere Mortals), 4th Edition

The #1 Easy, Commonsense Guide to Database Design―Now Update d Foreword by Michelle Poolet, Mount Vernon Data Systems LLC Database Design for Mere Mortals has earned worldwide respect as the simplest way to learn relational database design. Now, this hands-on, software independent tutorial is even clearer and easier to use. Step by step, this new 25th Anniversary Edition shows you how to design modern databases that are soundly structured, reliable, and flexible, even in the latest online applications. Michael Hernandez guides you through everything from planning to defining tables, fields, keys, table relationships, business rules, and views. You will learn practical ways to improve data integrity, how to avoid common mistakes, and when to break the rules. Updated review questions and figures help you learn these techniques more easily and effectively. Understand database types, models, and design terminology Perform interviews to efficiently capture requirements―even if everyone works remotely Set clear design objectives and transform them into effective designs Analyze a current database so you can identify ways to improve it Establish table structures and relationships, assign primary keys, set field specifications, and set up views Ensure the correct level of data integrity for each database Identify and establish business rules Preview and prepare for the future of relational databases Whatever relational database systems you use, Hernandez will help you design databases that are robust and trustworthy. Never designed a database before? Settling for inadequate generic designs? Running existing databases that need improvement? Start here. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents at a Glance Contents Foreword Preface Introduction What’s New in the Fourth Edition Who Should Read This Book The Purpose of This Book How to Read This Book How This Book Is Organized A Word about the Examples and Techniques in This Book PART I: RELAT IONAL DATA BASE DESIGN Chapter 1: The Relational Database Topics Covered in This Chapter What Is a Database? The Relational Database Retrieving Data Advantages of a Relational Database Relational Database Management Systems What’s Next? Summary 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 Traditional Design Methods The Design Method Presented in This Book Normalization Summary Review Questions Chapter 3: Terminology Topics Covered in This Chapter Why This Terminology Is Important Value-Related Terms Data Information Null The Value of Null The Problem with Null Structure-Related Terms Table Field Record View Keys Index Relationship-Related Terms Relationships Types of Relationships Types of Participation Degree of Participation Integrity-Related Terms Field Specification Data Integrity Summary 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 Summary Review Questions Chapter 5: Starting the Process Topics Covered in This Chapter Conducting Interviews Participant Guidelines Interviewer Guidelines (These Are for You) Defining the Mission Statement The Well-Written Mission Statement Composing a Mission Statement Defining the Mission Objectives Well-Written Mission Objectives Composing Mission Objectives Summary Review Questions Chapter 6: Analyzing the Current Database Topics Covered in This Chapter 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 Basic Interview Techniques Before You Begin the Interview Process . . . Interviewing Users Reviewing Data Type and Usage Reviewing the Samples Reviewing Information Requirements Interviewing Management 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 Summary Review Questions Chapter 7: Establishing Table Structures Topics Covered in This Chapter Defining the Preliminary Table List Identifying Implied Subjects Using the List of Subjects Using the Mission Objectives Defining the Final Table List Refining the Table Names Indicating the Table Types Composing the Table Descriptions Associating Fields with Each Table Refining the Fields Improving the Field Names Using an Ideal Field to Resolve Anomalies Resolving Multipart Fields Resolving Multivalued Fields Refining the Table Structures A Word about Redundant Data and Duplicate Fields Using an Ideal Table to Refine Table Structures Establishing Subset Tables Summary Review Questions Chapter 8: Keys Topics Covered in This Chapter Why Keys Are Important Establishing Keys for Each Table Candidate Keys Primary Keys Alternate Keys Non-keys Table-Level Integrity Reviewing the Initial Table Structures Summary Review Questions Chapter 9: Field Specifications Topics Covered in This Chapter Why Field Specifications Are Important Field-Level Integrity Anatomy of a Field Specification General Elements Physical Elements Logical Elements Using Unique, Generic, and Replica Field Specifications Defining Field Specifications for Each Field in the Database Summary Review Questions Chapter 10: Table Relationships Topics Covered in This Chapter Why Relationships Are Important Types of Relationships One-to-One Relationships One-to-Many Relationships Many-to-Many Relationships Self-Referencing Relationships Identifying Existing Relationships Establishing Each Relationship One-to-One and One-to-Many Relationships The Many-to-Many Relationship Self-Referencing Relationships Reviewing the Structure of Each Table Refining All Foreign Keys Elements of a Foreign Key Establishing Relationship Characteristics Defining 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 A Final Note Relationship-Level Integrity Summary Review Questions Chapter 11: Business Rules Topics Covered in This Chapter 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 Specifications Sheets Summary Review Questions Chapter 12: Views Topics Covered in This Chapter What Are Views? Anatomy of a View Data View Aggregate View Validation View Determining and Defining Views Working with Users and Management Defining Views Reviewing the Documentation for Each View Summary Review Questions Chapter 13: Reviewing Data Integrity Topics Covered in This Chapter Why You Should Review Data Integrity Reviewing and Refining Data Integrity Table-Level Integrity Field-Level Integrity Relationship-Level Integrity Business Rules Views Assembling the Database Documentation Done at Last! Summary PART III: OTHER DATA BASE DESIGN ISSUES Chapter 14: Bad Design—What Not to Do Topics Covered in This Chapter “Flat-File” Design Spreadsheet Design Dealing with the Spreadsheet View Mindset Database Design Based on the Database Software A Final Thought Summary Chapter 15: Bending or Breaking the Rules Topics Covered in This Chapter When May You Bend or Break the Rules? Designing an Analytical Database Improving Processing Performance Documenting Your Actions Summary Chapter 16: In Closing PART IV: APPENDIXES Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions Appendix B: Diagram of the Database Design Process Appendix C: Design Guidelines Appendix D: Documentation Forms Appendix E: Database-Design Diagram Symbols Appendix F: Sample Designs Appendix G: On Normalization Appendix H: Recommended Reading Glossary A B C D E F I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z References Index A B C D E F G H I J-K L M N O P Q R S T U V W-X-Y-Z This title is available via Pearson+ and includes an eTextbook with audio on most titles. Pearson+ also offers expert videos, notes, and flashcards so you can learn anyway you like. The #1 Easy, Commonsense Guide to Database Design—Now Updated Foreword by Michelle Poolet, Mount Vernon Data Systems LLC Michael J. Hernandez’s best-selling Database Design for Mere Mortals has earned worldwide respect as the simplest way to learn relational database design. Now, he’s made this hands-on, software independent tutorial even clearer and easier to use. Step by step, this new 25th Anniversary Edition shows you how to design modern databases that are soundly structured, reliable, and flexible, even in the latest online applications. Hernandez guides you through everything from planning to defining tables, fields, keys, table relationships, business rules, and views. You’ll learn practical ways to improve data integrity, how to avoid common mistakes, and when to break the rules. Updated review questions and figures help you learn these techniques more easily and effectively. Understand database types, models, and design terminology Perform interviews to efficiently capture requirements—even if everyone’s working remotely Set clear design objectives and transform them into effective designs Analyze a current database so you can identify ways to improve it Establish table structures and relationships, assign primary keys, set field specifications, and set up views Ensure the correct level of data integrity for each database Identify and establish business rules Preview and prepare for the future of relational databases Whatever relational database systems you use, Hernandez will help you design databases that are robust and trustworthy. Never designed a database before? Settling for inadequate generic designs? Running existing databases that need improvement? Start here. Step by step, this new 25th anniversary edition shows you h ow to design modern databases that are soundly structured, reliable, and flexible, even in the latest online applications