Entities - what are they?

Is an entity any file (table) in a database. So in a library BOOKS and MEMBERS are entities. Is there such a thing a transaction entity? So BORROWINGS can be called a transaction entity.

So a file which resolves a many to many relationship such as between books and members is a transaction entity.

Or are entities only sources? If so, what is the transaction file?

These questions also relate to drawing diagrams.

Would BORROWINGS be shown in an Entity Diagram? And is an Entity Diagram exactly the same as what some people call a File Relationship Diagram. For example, the Relationship window in Access is a file relationship diagram. Is it the same thing as an Entity diagram?

Thanks in anticipation of any suggestions.

Peter
pmitchell_at_start.com.au
pmitchell_at_hello.net.au Received on Fri Jan 14 2000 - 00:00:00 CET