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

Author Michael J. Hernandez
Release Date: 2020/12/01
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Book Description

The #1 Easy, Commonsense Guide to Database DesignNow Updated

Foreword by Michelle Poolet, Mount Vernon Data Systems LLC

Michael J. Hernandezs best-selling Database Design for Mere Mortals has earned worldwide respect as the simplest way to learn relational database design. Now, hes 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. Youll 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 requirementseven if everyones 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.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. About This eBook
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication Page
  6. Contents at a Glance
  7. Contents
  8. Figure Credits
  9. Foreword
  10. Preface
    1. Register Your Book
  11. Acknowledgments
  12. About the Author
  13. Introduction
    1. What’s New in the Fourth Edition
    2. Who Should Read This Book
    3. The Purpose of This Book
    4. How to Read This Book
    5. How This Book Is Organized
    6. A Word about the Examples and Techniques in This Book
  14. Part I: Relational Database Design
    1. 1. The Relational Database
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. What Is a Database?
      3. The Relational Database
      4. What’s Next?
      5. Summary
      6. Review Questions
    2. 2. Design Objectives
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Why Should You Be Concerned with Database Design?
      3. The Importance of Theory
      4. The Advantage of Learning a Good Design Methodology
      5. Objectives of Good Design
      6. Benefits of Good Design
      7. Database-Design Methods
      8. Normalization
      9. Summary
      10. Review Questions
    3. 3. Terminology
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Why This Terminology Is Important
      3. Value-Related Terms
      4. Structure-Related Terms
      5. Relationship-Related Terms
      6. Integrity-Related Terms
      7. Summary
      8. Review Questions
  15. Part II: The Design Process
    1. 4. Conceptual Overview
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. The Importance of Completing the Design Process
      3. Defining a Mission Statement and Mission Objectives
      4. Analyzing the Current Database
      5. Creating the Data Structures
      6. Determining and Establishing Table Relationships
      7. Determining and Defining Business Rules
      8. Determining and Defining Views
      9. Reviewing Data Integrity
      10. Summary
      11. Review Questions
    2. 5. Starting the Process
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Conducting Interviews
      3. Defining the Mission Statement
      4. Defining the Mission Objectives
      5. Summary
      6. Review Questions
    3. 6. Analyzing the Current Database
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Getting to Know the Current Database
      3. Conducting the Analysis
      4. Looking at How Data Is Collected
      5. Looking at How Information Is Presented
      6. Conducting Interviews
      7. Interviewing Users
      8. Interviewing Management
      9. Compiling a Complete List of Fields
      10. Summary
      11. Review Questions
    4. 7. Establishing Table Structures
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Defining the Preliminary Table List
      3. Defining the Final Table List
      4. Associating Fields with Each Table
      5. Refining the Fields
      6. Refining the Table Structures
      7. Summary
      8. Review Questions
    5. 8. Keys
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Why Keys Are Important
      3. Establishing Keys for Each Table
      4. Table-Level Integrity
      5. Reviewing the Initial Table Structures
      6. Summary
      7. Review Questions
    6. 9. Field Specifications
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Why Field Specifications Are Important
      3. Field-Level Integrity
      4. Anatomy of a Field Specification
      5. Using Unique, Generic, and Replica Field Specifications
      6. Defining Field Specifications for Each Field in the Database
      7. Summary
      8. Review Questions
    7. 10. Table Relationships
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Why Relationships Are Important
      3. Types of Relationships
      4. Identifying Existing Relationships
      5. Establishing Each Relationship
      6. Refining All Foreign Keys
      7. Establishing Relationship Characteristics
      8. Relationship-Level Integrity
      9. Summary
      10. Review Questions
    8. 11. Business Rules
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. What Are Business Rules?
      3. Categories of Business Rules
      4. Defining and Establishing Business Rules
      5. Validation Tables
      6. Reviewing the Business Rule Specifications Sheets
      7. Summary
      8. Review Questions
    9. 12. Views
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. What Are Views?
      3. Anatomy of a View
      4. Determining and Defining Views
      5. Summary
      6. Review Questions
    10. 13. Reviewing Data Integrity
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. Why You Should Review Data Integrity
      3. Reviewing and Refining Data Integrity
      4. Assembling the Database Documentation
      5. Done at Last!
      6. Summary
  16. Part III: Other Database Design Issues
    1. 14. Bad Design—What Not to Do
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. “Flat-File” Design
      3. Spreadsheet Design
      4. Database Design Based on the Database Software
      5. A Final Thought
      6. Summary
    2. 15. Bending or Breaking the Rules
      1. Topics Covered in This Chapter
      2. When May You Bend or Break the Rules?
      3. Documenting Your Actions
      4. Summary
    3. 16. In Closing
  17. Part IV: Appendixes
    1. A: Answers to Review Questions
    2. B: Diagram of the Database Design Process
    3. C: Design Guidelines
    4. D: Documentation Forms
    5. E: Database-Design Diagram Symbols
    6. F: Sample Designs
    7. G: On Normalization
    8. H: Recommended Reading
  18. Glossary
  19. References
  20. Index
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