A General Framework for Database Design Strategies

Abstract

Database design tools need to be adaptable to a wide range of designers. This paper surveys the strategy support of the design system RADD and demonstrates how different database design strategies can be developed and supported. 1 Data base Design Database design methodologies and tools should facilitate database modeling, ef­ fectively support database processing, database redesign and transform a concep­ tual schema of the database to a high-performance database schema in the model of the corresponding DBMS. Since the late 1970's, various tools for database de­ sign have been introduced. Most of them, however, are dependent on the knowl­ edge, comprehension and experience of the database analyst and their knowledge in normalization theory. The systems (DB)2 and RADD (Rapid Application and Database Development) developed in our groups do not require the user to un­ derstand the theory, the implementational restrictions and the programming problems in order to design a database scheme. A novice designer can create a database design successfully using the system. These tools are based on an ex­ tended entity-relationship model. The entity-relationship model is extended to the Higher-order Entity-Relationship Model (BERM) by adding structural con­ structs and using integrity constraints and operations. The system RADD has a component which enables the user to choose his design strategy according to his experience and abilities. Different database design methodologies are developed based on the BERM approach. The problem of database design can be stated as follows: Design the logical and physical structure of a database in a given database management system to contain all the information required by the user and required for an efficient behavior of the information system. The implicit goals of database design are: to meet all the information (content) requirements of the entire spectrum of users in the given application area;