relational database design based on the entity-relationship model开题资料.pdf

Data & Knowledge Engmeermg 7 (1991) 47-83 47
North-Holland
Relational database design based on the
Entity-Relationship model*
Veda C. Storey
Wtlham E Stmon Graduate School of Busmess Admmtstratton, Untverstty of Rochester, Rochester,
NY 14627, USA
Abstract
Storey, V C, Relational database design based on the Entity-Relationship model, Data & Knowledge
Engmeermg 7 (1991) 47-83
The Entity-Relationship (E-R) model is often recommended for use m the database design process because
its concepts are percewed to be both natural and easy to use This paper describes a methodology for the
design of a relational database based on the E-R model The methodology starts with the identification of the
basic E-R constructs that occur m an apphcatlon resulting in an mltlal database design Next, ways of
capturing certam semantics of an application through data abstraction and procedures for Identifying
potential design problems are discussed The translation of the E-R model into a set of normahzed relations
completes the design process This methodology budds on previous work on the Extended Entity-
Relationship Model and on the automation of database design.
Keywords Database design, Entity-Relationship model, relattonal model
Part I. Introduction
The Entity-Relationship (E-R) Model [7] is often used as a tool for communication
between a designer and an end-user of a database because of its ease of use and its
convenience in representation [30]. According to Brodie [5], the popularity of the E-R
model for high level design is due to its economy of concepts and belief in entities and
relationships as natural modelling concepts. This paper presents a m