Chapter 4. Conceptual Overview

 

         I don't pretend to understand the Universe—               it's a great deal bigger than I am.       

 
 --Thomas Carlyle

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 Establishing Views

  • Reviewing Data Integrity

  • Summary

Understanding how to design a relational database isn't quite as hard as understanding the universe; in fact, it's much easier. It is important, however, to have an overall idea of the way the database design process works and a general idea of the steps involved ...

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