Foundations of database design series

This book focuses on presenting: (1) an ER design methodology for developing an ER diagram; (2) a grammar for the ER diagrams that can be presented back to the user; and (3) mapping rules to map the ER diagram to a relational database. The steps for the ER design methodology, the grammar for the ER diagrams, as well as the mapping rules are developed and presented in a systematic, step-by-step manner throughout the book. Also, several examples of "sample data" have been included with relational database mappings — all to give a "realistic" feeling. This book is divided into ten chapters. The first chapter gives the reader some background by introducing some relational database concepts such as functional dependencies and database normalization. The ER design method-ology and mapping rules are presented, starting in Chapter 2. Chapter 2 introduces the concepts of the entity, attributes, relationships, and the "one-entity" ER diagram. Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the ER Design Methodology are developed. The "one-entity" grammar and mapping rules for the" one-entity" diagram are presented. Chapter 3 extends the one-entity diagram to include a second entity. The concept of testing attributes for entities is discussed and relationships between the entities are developed. Steps 3a, 3b, 4, 5, and 6 of the ER design methodology are developed, and grammar for the ER diagrams developed upto this point is presented. Chapter 4 discusses structural constraints in relationships. Several examples are given of 1:1, 1:M, and M:N relationships. Step 6 of the ER design methodology is revised and step 7 is developed. A grammar for the structural constraints and the mapping rules is also presented. Chapter 5 develops the concept of the weak entity. This chapter revisits and revises steps 3 and 4 of the ER design methodology to include the weak entity. Again, a grammar and the mapping rules for the weak entity are presented. Chapter 6 discusses and extends different aspects of binary relationshipsin ER diagrams. This chapter revises step 5 to include the concept of more than one relationship, and revises step 6(b) to include derived and redundant relationships. The concept of the recursive relationship is introduced in this chapter. The grammar and mapping rules for recursive relationships are presented. Chapter 7 discusses ternary and other "higher-order" relationships. Step 6 of the ER design methodology is again revised to include ternary and other, higher-order relationships. Several examples are given, and the grammar and mapping rules are developed and presented. Chapter 8 discusses generalizations and specializations. Once again, step 6 of the ER design methodology is modified to include generalizations and specializations, and the grammar and mapping rules for generalizations and specializations are presented. Chapter 9 provides a summary of the mapping rules and reverse￾engineering from a relational database to an ER diagram. Chapters 2 through 9 present ER diagrams using a Chen-like model. Chapter 10 discusses the Barker/Oracle-like models, highlighting the main similarities and differences between the Chen-like model and the Barker/Oracle-like model. Every chapter presents several examples. "Checkpoint" sections within the chapters and end-of-chapter exercises are presented in every chapter to be worked out by the students — to get a better understanding of the material within the respective sections and chapters. At the end of most chapters, there is a running case study with the solution (i.e., the ER diagram and the relational database with some sample data)