Appendix A: Examples of Column Properties, Data Structure, Data Rules, and Value Rules

This appendix demonstrates definitions of column properties, data structure, data rules, and value rules over a sample database. The information shown is not intended to be exhaustive, just representative. This is not a real database definition; it was invented to demonstrate principles in this book.

A.1 Business Objects

The business objects in this example include INVENTORY data, SUPPLIER data, and PURCHASE_ORDER data. The inventory business object records the current state of parts in the corporation's warehouses. These are parts needed for manufacturing, as well as parts needed for operation of the business. Each part in the inventory has current status information, as well as history information.

The supplier business object describes companies from which parts are acquired. This includes the subject corporation as well: parts that are manufactured internally. It includes information about the supplier, as well as ordering and invoicing information.

The purchase order business object records each order of parts from a supplier. It tracks the order from inception through delivery to the inventory warehouse.