A Word About the Examples and Techniques in This Book

   

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How This Book Is Organized

Here's a brief overview of what you'll find in each part and each chapter.

Part I: Relational Database Design

This section provides an introduction to databases, the idea of database design, and some of the terminology you'll need to be familiar with in order to learn and understand the design process presented in this book.

Chapter 1 , The Relational Database , provides a brief discussion of the types of databases you'll encounter, common database models, and a brief history of the relational database.

Chapter 2 , Design Objectives , explores why you should be concerned with design, points out the objectives and advantages of good design, and provides a brief introduction to normalization and normal forms.

Chapter 3 , Terminology , covers the terms you need to know in order to learn and understand the design methodology presented in this book.

Part II: The Design Process

Each aspect of the database-design process is discussed in detail in Part II, including establishing table structures, assigning primary keys, setting field specifications, establishing table relationships, setting up views, and establishing various levels of data integrity.

Chapter 4 , Conceptual Overview , provides an overview of the design process, showing you how the different components of the process fit together.

Chapter 5 , Starting the Process , covers how to define a mission statement and mission objectives for the database, both of which provide you with an initial focus for creating your database.

Chapter 6 , Analyzing the Current Database , covers issues concerning the existing database. We look at reasons for analyzing the current database, how to look at current methods of collecting and presenting data, why and how to conduct interviews with users and management, and how to compile initial field lists.

Chapter 7 , Establishing Table Structures , covers topics such as determining and defining what subjects the database should track, associating fields with tables, and refining table structures.

Chapter 8 , Keys , covers the concept of keys and their importance to the design process, as well as how to define candidate and primary keys for each table.

Chapter 9 , Field Specifications , covers a topic that a number of database developers tend to minimize. Besides indicating how each field is created, field specifications determine the very nature of the values a field contains. Top