Bad Design—What Not to Do - Database Design for Mere Mortals - page 412

You cannot produce a report with this type of layout using a database. Whereas a spread-
sheet stores the data exactly as you see it on the report, a database would store it in four
separatefieldswithinatable. Figure14.4 showsanexampleofadatabasereportyoucould
generate for the same data. The database presentation is not the same as the spreadsheet
presentation, but it is just as clear.
Figure 14.4. An example of a typical database report
The point to remember is that you'll have to adjust the manner in which you think about
workingwiththedatainyourdatabase.Intheend,therearemanymoreadvantagestostor-
ing and using your data in an actual database than trying to use a spreadsheet in a similar
manner. A database gives you much more control over data integrity and the consistency
andvalidityofthedata.Italsoprovidesanalmostunlimitednumberofwaystoretrievethe
data, enabling you to obtain a wide variety of information.
Database Design Based on the Database Software
AnRDBMSdoesnotprovideabasisorprocedureorevenareasonfordesigningadatabase
in a particular fashion—it only provides the tools that you need to implement a design. In
contrast,aformaldatabasedesignmethodprovidesboththeprinciplesandrationaleneces-
sary to define a database properly and effectively.