Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 7.33. The second version of the Preliminary Table List
You cross out “Customers,” “Employees,” and “Products” on the list of subjects because
they represent the same subjects as their counterparts on the Preliminary Table List. The
SALES table has no counterpart on the Preliminary Table List, but it does represent the
same
subject as “Invoices.” “Invoices” is most meaningful to Mike and his staff, however,
so you use it on the Preliminary Table List instead of “Sales.” A similar situation exists
between “Suppliers” and “Vendors”; Mike selects “Vendors” as the name to appear on the
Preliminary Table List, so you cross out “Suppliers.”
Note
Selecting a name that best represents the subject of the table is an arbitrary task. A
good rule to follow is to use the name that is
most
meaningful to everyone in the
organization.
Now you'll work toward the final version of the Preliminary Table List. Use the mission
objectivesyoucreatedatthebeginningofthedatabasedesignprocesstodeterminewhether
there are subjects you may have overlooked during the previous two procedures. Identify
each subject represented in the mission objectives using the Subject-Identification Tech-
nique. Once you've identified as many subjects as possible, you can use the steps from the
second procedure to cross-check these subjects against the subjects currently listed on the
Preliminary Table List. When you've completed the review and have resolved any duplic-
ate items, your final version of the Preliminary Table List is complete.
