Database Design for Mere Mortals A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design

by Hernandez, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780321884497
• ISBN10: 0321884493
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-02-14
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional

Summary

Learn database design the easy, common-sense way! For years, Michael J. Hernandez's best selling Database Design for Mere Mortals®has earned worldwide respect as the clearest, most straightforward, software-independent tutorial on the basic principles of relational database design. Now, he's thoroughly updated this hands-on best-seller, making it even easier to understand and use, while thoroughly updating its coverage for today's databases and design best practices. Database Design for Mere Mortals, Third Editionopens with a completely new first chapter, and text and figures have been revised throughout for even greater clarity and simplicity. Updates also include new content explaining normalization and showing how to transparently incorporate it into database design; updated and improved coverage of data types; and extensive new support for instructional use, including spec sheets in the form of Word document templates; PowerPoint slide decks; and new test questions for instructors. Database Design for Mere Mortals, Third Editiondelivers foundational, software-independent knowledge you can use immediately to start solving real-world problems immediately, and offers a smooth learning curve that prepares you to learn more advanced skills whenever you're ready!

Author Biography

Michael J Hernandez has been an independent relational database consultant specializing relational database design. He has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, developing database application for a wide variety of clients. He’s been a contributing author to wide variety of magazine columns, white papers, books and periodicals, and is co-author of the best-selling SQL Queries for Mere Mortals. Mike has been a top-rated and noted technical trainer for the government, the military, the private sector and companies throughout the United States. He has spoken at numerous national and international conferences, and has consistently been a top-rated speaker and presenter.

Aside from his technical background, Mike has a diverse set of skills and interests that he also pursues, ranging from the artisitc to the metaphysical. His greatest interest is still the guitar, as he’s been a practicing guitarist for over 40 years and once played professionally for 15 years. He’s a great cook, loves to teach (writing, public speaking, music), has a gift for bad puns, and even reads Tarot cards.

He says he’s never going to retire, per se, but rather just change whatever it is he’s doing whenever he finally gets tired of it and move on to something else that interests him.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction

I. RELATIONAL DATABASE DESIGN

Chapter 1:  The Relational Database

Chapter 2:  Design Objectives

Chapter 3:  Terminology

II. THE DESIGN PROCESS

Chapter 4:  Conceptual Overview

Chapter 5:  Starting the Process

Chapter 6:  Analyzing the Current Database

Chapter 7:  Establishing Table Structures

Chapter 8:  Keys

Chapter 9:  Field Specifications

Chapter 10: Table Relationships

Chapter 11: Business Rules

Chapter 12: Views

Chapter 13: Reviewing Data Integrity

III. OTHER DATABASE DESIGN ISSUES

Chapter 14: Bad Design-What Not To Do

Chapter 15: Bending or Breaking the Rules

IV. APPENDIXES

Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions

Appendix B: Diagram of the Database Design Process

Appendix C: Design Guidelines

Appendix D: Documentation Forms

Appendix E: Database Design Diagram Symbols

Appendix F: Sample Designs

Appendix G: On Normalization

Appendix H: Recommended Reading