Professional SQL Server 2000 Database Design

Logical database design is one of the most important tasks in any database project, and yet is probably also the least well understood. This part of the book specifically hopes to change that by mixing a little database theory with some practical advice, as well as considering some common techniques that are often overlooked.
In this section we lay the foundations for the physical implementation of our design in the second half of the
book and in doing so cover the following material:
❑ Chapter 1 Introduction to Database Methodologies – As its name implies, a brief introduction
to the different database methodologies that are commonly used to implement a fully featured
database system, such as OLTP databases, Data Warehouses, Operation Data Stores and Data
Marts.
❑ Chapter 2 Gathering Information for a Database Project – In this chapter we give an overview
of the process of determining the requirements that the users will have of the database system, by
looking at some of the more obscure places where important data hides.
❑ Chapter 3 Fundamental Database Concepts – A basic understanding of the concepts of relational
theory is fundamental to the process of database design and is considered here. This will provide a
basis for the development of our design.
❑ Chapter 4 Entities, Attributes, Relationships, and Business Rules – In this chapter we will begin
the process of turning the information gathered in Chapter 2 into a logical design of our relational
database, in particular by devising the entities we will require.
❑ Chapter 5 Data Modeling – Once we have discovered objects, we need to have a way to display
and share the information with programmers and users. The data model is the most effective tool for
depicting database design information.
Chapter 6 Normalization Techniques – Normalization is the process of taking the information we
gathered in Chapter 2, and developed in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5, and turning it into a well
structured draft of the data model. In this chapter we consider the normalization rules we must
follow in designing a well-structured model for our system.
❑ Chapter 7 Advanced Normalization Topics – This chapter builds on the previous one by
extending the basic normalization techniques beyond those familiar to most programmers. In this
way we are able to fine-tune our logical design so as to avoid, as far as is possible, any data
anomalies.
❑ Chapter 8 Ending The Logical Design Phase – Once we have designed the “perfect” database, we
need to return to the original specifications to ensure that the data we expect to store will serve the
data needs of the users. By this point many programmers are ready to code away, but it is important
to finish off the logical design phase, by double checking our model and its documentation to try
and minimize the level of changes required when we come to physically implementing it.