An ER Based Methodology for Modeling User Views and Detecting Derived Relationships

Abstract

The entity relationship (ER) data model has become the most popular conceptual data modeling tool. Most CASE and expert tools that perform data modeling are based on the ER model. Further, many ER-based methodologies have been proposed. No ER-based methodology, however, has presented a systematic approach to model user views. This paper suggests an ER-based methodology for data modeling of user views even if they are complex and involve many layers of nested data. The methodology can not only handle binary relationships, but also ternary and higher degree relationships. In addition, it includes a methodical approach to detect derived relationships. It should be possible to implement the methodology in a CASE or expert tool.