John Mitchell-245523 (10/5/2011)
L' Eomot Inversé (10/5/2011)
I find it quite frightening that so few people know enough about normalisation to get this one right.I don't. This question is couched in abstract language. "Elementary key", "prime attribute"and "fixed" aren't part of the everyday SQL Server vernacular. Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining, since I found it an educational experience. I just think more people would have got it right if the terminology had been a bit more familiar.
John
I wish I knew some more familiar terminology. I suppose for "prime attribute" one can use "key attribute" (although the SQL influence on terminology means that a key attribute may allow nulls that case is covered bu other options) but "fixed" is just normal English (or American) and I'm not aware of any other term at all for "elementary key".
If you can suggest any better terms, I'll be glad to hear them - and will maybe use them in an article soon.
Tom