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Galen Boyer wrote:
> On 27 Nov 2003, domenicg_at_hotmail.com wrote:
>
>
>>Using meaningless keys when meaningful ones exist is stupid >>because you create a condition that always requires a join to >>pick up the value that everyone understands.
>>Bad design -- it comes from people copying textbook examples >>and using them in real life.
>>My social security number is a key,
>>so is my phone number (for a telco)
>>-- they don't assign a sequential number on top of that.
Your post contains things with which I agree and those with which I disagree. You are correct about Telcos as I pointed out. And also corect about social security numbers. And I can't argue with a statement that uses the word 'whim'.
But you are incorrect about 'textbook examples'. Too many databases are built based on some textbook example or cannabilizing a design from some other system rather than a serious analysis of the business and data integrity implications of the specific case.
-- Daniel Morgan http://www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/oad/oad_crs.asp http://www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/aoa/aoa_crs.asp damorgan_at_x.washington.edu (replace 'x' with a 'u' to reply)Received on Fri Nov 28 2003 - 12:14:54 CST