Database Reference
In-Depth Information
create a new subset table called SERVICES, make the appropriate modifications to the
PRODUCTS table, and use the P
RODUCT
N
AME
field to relate the two tables to each other.
You then add the suitable listing for the SERVICES table to the Final Table List.
Figure
7.38
shows the revised PRODUCTS table and the new SERVICES subset table.
Figure 7.38. The new PRODUCTS and SERVICES tables
Summary
Weopenedthechapterwithadiscussionofthe
Preliminary Table List.
Thislistconstitutes
the initial table structures for the new database. You learned how to develop this list using
the Preliminary Field List, the list of subjects, and the mission objectives, all of which you
compiled during the analysis phase of the database design process.
Next we discussed the procedure for transforming the Preliminary Table List into a
Final
Table List,
which contains the name, type, and description of each table in the database.
You learned a set of
guidelines for creating table names,
and another set of
guidelines for
composing table descriptions.
We then worked on creating table names that are unambigu-
ous, descriptive, and meaningful and descriptions that explicitly define tables, as well as
statingtheirimportancetotheorganization.Youalsolearnedthatenlistingthehelpofusers
and management is crucial to the process of developing well-defined table descriptions.
Table descriptions must be suitable and easily understood by everyone in the organization.
