Information Modeling and Relational Databases / Edition 2

by Terry Halpin

Overview

Information Modeling and Relational Databases provides an introduction to ORM (Object Role Modeling)-and much more. In fact, it's the only book to go beyond introductory coverage and provide all of the in-depth instruction you need to transform knowledge from domain experts into a sound database design.

Inside, ORM authority Terry Halpin blends conceptual information with practical instruction that will let you begin using ORM effectively as soon as possible. Supported by examples, exercises, and useful background information, his step-by-step approach teaches you to develop a natural-language-based ORM model and then, where needed, abstract ER and UML models from it. This book will quickly make you proficient in the modeling technique that is proving vital to the development of accurate and efficient databases that best meet real business objectives.

Features

• The most in-depth coverage of Object Role Modeling available anywhere-written by a pioneer in the development of ORM.
• Provides additional coverage of Entity Relationship (ER) modeling and the Unified Modeling Language-all from an ORM perspective.
• Intended for anyone with a stake in the accuracy and efficacy of databases: systems analysts, information modelers, database designers and administrators, instructors, managers, and programmers.
• Explains and illustrates required concepts from mathematics and set theory.
• Via a companion Web site, provides answers to exercises, appendices covering the history of computer generations, subtype matrices, and advanced SQL queries, and links to downloadable ORM tools.

Author Biography:Dr. Terry Halpin is Program Manager in the Database Modeling, Enterprise Framework, and Tools Unit at Microsoft Corporation. During a lengthy career as an academic in computer science, he also worked in industry on database modeling technology and as a data modeling consultant. Recent positions include Head of Database Research at Asymetrix, Research Director at InfoModelers, and Director of Database Strategy for Visio.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900123735682
Publication date:	03/03/2008
Pages:	976
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)

About the Author

Dr. Terry Halpin, is a Principal Scientist at LogicBlox, headquartered in Atlanta, USA, and a Professor at INTI International University, Malaysia. After many years in academia, he worked on data modeling technology at Asymetrix Corporation, InfoModelers Inc., Visio Corporation, and Microsoft Corporation, before returning to academia as Distinguished Professor at Neumont University (Utah, USA), and then once again returning to industry at LogicBlox and also taking a professorship at INTI. His research focuses on conceptual modeling and conceptual query technology. Dr. Halpin is the recipient of the DAMA International Academic Achievement Award and the IFIP Outstanding Service Award. He is a member of IFIP WG 8.1 (Design and Evaluation of Information Systems), is an editor or reviewer for several academic journals and international program committees, has co-chaired several international workshops on modeling, and has presented at dozens of international conferences in both industry and academia. For many years, his research has focused on conceptual modeling and conceptual query technology for information systems, using a business rules approach. His doctoral thesis formalized Object-Role Modeling (ORM/NIAM), and his publications include over 160 technical papers, and six books, including Information Modeling and Relational Databases, Second Edition, Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann.

Dr. Tony Morgan is a British computer scientist, data modeling consultant, and Professor in Computer Science at INTI International University, Malaysia. Dr. Morgan obtained his BA in Earth Sciences from The Open University, his BSc in Computer Systems Engineering from Coventry University, where in 1984 he also obtained his MSc in Control Engineering. In 1988 he obtained his PhD in Computer Science from University of Cambridge with a thesis on automated decision-making using qualitative reasoning. Dr. Morgan has done extensive work in industry with companies such as Unisys, EDS, and other corporations across transport, aerospace, government, and financial services, including the UK’s National Computing Centre in Manchester. Dr. Morgan has published several articles on AI and simulation. In 2003 he was appointed Professor of Computer Science and Vice President of Enterprise Informatics at Neumont University, Utah, USA. His research interests focus on business rules and business processes and the rapid development of high-quality information systems. Along with Dr. Halpin, he is the co-author of Information Modeling and Relational Databases, Second Edition, Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann.

Table of Contents

Industrial foreword

Academic foreword

Preface

1 Introduction

1.1 Information modeling
1.2 Modeling approaches
1.3 Some historical background
1.4 The relevant skills
1.5 Summary

2 Information levels and frameworks

2.1 Four information levels
2.2 The conceptual level
2.3 From external to conceptual to relational
2.4 Development frameworks
2.5 Summary

3 Conceptual modeling: first steps

3.1 Conceptual modeling language criteria
3.2 ORM's conceptual schema design procedure
3.3 CSDP step 1: from examples to elementary facts
3.4 CSDP step 2: draw fact types, and populate
3.5 CSDP step 3: trim schema; note basic derivations
3.6 Summary

4 Uniqueness constraints

4.1 CSDP step 4: uniqueness constraints; rarity check
4.2 Uniqueness constraints on unaries and binaries
4.3 Uniqueness constraints on longer fact types
4.4 External uniqueness constraints
4.5 Key length check
4.6 Projection-join check
4.7 Summary

5 Mandatory roles

5.1 Introduction to CSDP step 5
5.2 Mandatory and optional roles
5.3 Logical derivation check
5.4 Reference schemes
5.5 Case study: a compact disk retailer
5.6 Summary

6 Value, set comparison and subtype constraints

6.1 CSDP step 6: value, set and subtype constraints
6.2 Basic set theory
6.3 Value constraints and independent objects
6.4 Subset, equality and exclusion constraints
6.5 Subtyping
6.6 Generalization of object types
6.7 Summary

7 Other constraints and final checks

7.1 CSDP step 7: other constraints; final checks
7.2 Occurrence frequencies
7.3 Ring constraints
7.4 Other constraints
7.5 Final checks
7.6 Summary

8 Entity relationship modeling

8.1 Overview of ER
8.2 Barker notation
8.3 Information Engineering notation
8.4 IDEF1X
8.5 Mapping from ORM to ER
8.6 Summary

9 Data modeling in UML

9.1 Introduction
9.2 Object reference and single-valued attributes
9.3 Multi-valued attributes
9.4 Associations
9.5 Set comparison constraints
9.6 Subtyping
9.7 Other constraints and derivation rules
9.8 Mapping from ORM to UML
9.9 Summary

10 Relational mapping

10.1 Implementing a conceptual schema
10.2 Relational schemas
10.3 Relational mapping procedure
10.4 Advanced mapping aspects
10.5 Summary

11 Relational languages

11.1 Relational algebra
11.2 Relational database systems
11.3 SQL: historical and structural overview
11.4 SQL: identifiers and data types
11.5 SQL: choosing columns, rows and order
11.6 SQL: joins
11.7 SQL: in, between, like and null operators
11.8 SQL: union and simple subqueries
11.9 SQL: scalar operators and bag functions
11.10 SQL: grouping
11.11 SQL: correlated and existential subqueries
11.12 SQL: data definition
11.13 SQL: updating table populations
11.14 SQL: security and meta-data
11.15 Summary

12 Schema transformations

12.1 Schema equivalence and optimization
12.2 Predicate specialization and generalization
12.3 Nesting, co-referencing and flattening
12.4 Other conceptual transformations
12.5 Conceptual schema optimization
12.6 Normalization
12.7 Denormalization and low level optimization
12.8 Re-engineering
12.9 Summary

13 Other modeling aspects and trends

13.1 Introduction
13.2 Data warehousing and OLAP
13.3 Conceptual query languages
13.4 Schema abstraction mechanisms
13.5 Process modeling and external design
13.6 Post-relational databases and other trends
13.7 Meta-modeling
13.8 Summary

Answers

Bibliography

ORM glossary

ER glossary

UML glossary

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Presents a methodical and thorough explanation of Object-Role Modeling (ORM) and sound database design

Editorial Reviews

The information revolution is in motion, and sound database design will drive the ease of data handling and, in turn, improve the results of business practices. A timely topic, then, is Object-Role Modeling (ORM), a way to design and query databases via an application written in lay terms. Halpin expertly explains ORM as well as other solid database design practices so that even seasoned pros will learn something new. Designers, programmers, systems analysts, and managers will discover everything they need to know about database design. Complete with a companion web site, this is highly recommended for libraries serving techies. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

"This book is an excellent introduction to both information modeling in ORM and relational databases. The book is very clearly written in a step-by-step manner, and contains an abundance of well-chosen examples illuminating practice and theory in information modeling. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in conceptual modeling and databases." —Dr. Herman Balsters, Director of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

From the Publisher