Forum Replies Created

Viewing 15 posts - 316 through 330 (of 824 total)

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    Well now you've gone and started another holy war!  While I agree with Date's findings for the most part, I'm not quite prepared to accept his complete prohibition on NULLs,...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: A (Classic?) Table Design Issue

    Don't do it!  This is a train wreck waiting to happen.  This is essentially the same thing that I refered to as a MUCK table in this article:

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/columnists/dpeterson/lookuptablemadness.asp

    Also see...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    Ahh, I wondered if that was you.  It must be rough out there in paradise!

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    While the MUCK table might be properly normalized when viewed in isolation, the database that utilizes a MUCK cannot possibly be properly normalized.

    Good articles on database design are always needed. ...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    Actually, I made a typo.  I should have said 3NF since 1NF says nothing about key dependence...  Sorry for any confusion. 

    So while Troy's point about 1NF is valid (assuming...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    To add to what Joe said:

    Use of MUCK tables violates either the Information Principle or 1NF--or both.  It is common to see a MUCK table defined with like so

    CREATE TABLE...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    I think you are minimizing the risks of a MUCK table and maximizing the percieved benefits...

    The risk of drift is real, but using MUCKs does nothing to address it.  Using...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: To Convert Output from Column format to a Row

    STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN.  This is a terrible way to design a database.  Follow the link above and look at my article here:

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/columnists/dpeterson/lookuptablemadness.asp

    and look at the responses to this...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Three Column Tables

    It isn't possible to use these abominations properly. 

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    I don't see how defining views can possibly help this situation.  Views can't be referenced by FK constraints.  Using such a method throws you immediately back to triggers or UDF's...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    Not unless you are willing to allow them to alter the table (by adding a FK constraint).  This can get pretty messy when it comes time to roll out upgrades...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    Customer configurable attributes can be a huge problem.  The fact that commercial software so often can't properly define the requirements for all of their potential customers is one of the...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Problem with attaching database

    So, you lost the log file(s) but the data files were fine?  Then you restored the log file and attempted to attach the database?

    If by restored, you mean that you...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database Design and Reference Tables

    Ahh, I didn't specifically address the old UDF enforced integrity in my article, but the same argument that I used against triggers applies here.  Using the MUCK approach, your referencing...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

  • RE: Database File Size Even Distribution

    Yes and no...  This is generally the right idea, but it won't do much good if your various meta-luns are all ultimately created from the same raid arrays (which is...

    /*****************

    If most people are not willing to see the difficulty, this is mainly because, consciously or unconsciously, they assume that it will be they who will settle these questions for the others, and because they are convinced of their own capacity to do this. -Friedrich August von Hayek

    *****************/

Viewing 15 posts - 316 through 330 (of 824 total)