A survey of database design transformations based on the Entity-Relationship model

Abstract

At present, the Entity-Relationship (ER) model is the most important paradigm for conceptual database design. Since the model was introduced in the mid-seventies, a large body of literature has been published on transforming conceptual ER schemas or diagrams into logical data models. The purpose of this paper is to survey this literature. A first focus is on transformation approaches from the ER model to traditional data models, i.e. to the relational, the network, or the hierarchical model; this is then complemented by a discussion of more recent transformations to object-oriented models. A second focus is on considering the process of reverse engineering, i.e. transformations from a logical model back into the ER model; finally, an overview of direct transformations between various logical data models is presented.