Re: Stored fields ordered left to right

"Jerome H. Gitomer" <jgitomer_at_erols.com> wrote in message news:3ffecf81$0$6735$61fed72c_at_news.rcn.com...
> Dawn M. Wolthuis wrote:
> > Sorry for all the typos -- saw them while clicking to post, argh. Read
this
> > instead.
> >
> > Yes, the info is in Codd's 1970 paper, but for those who do not prefer
to
> > read more mathematical jargon than necessary for this particular point,
it
> > is this:
> >
> > A mathematical relation is a set of ordered tuples {a1, a2, ..., an}
with
> > certain characteristics.
> >
> > In Codd's definition of a relation, however, he removes the ordering
> > requirement (by using names instead of positions) so that a "Codd
relation"
> > is a set of unordered tuples. Therefore, relational database theorists
> > often think that relations MUST be unordered, when in fact it is they
who
> > opted not to use the correct mathematical definition of the term.
> >
> > My point in stating this is that I'm writing up responses to a set of
> > questions that Chris Date put out regarding the MultiValue model and he
> > claims that MultiValue must not be relational (and I'll admit it isn't
by
> > his definition) because it has ordered tuples. That argument always
just
> > sounds out-n-out wrong to me since mathematical relations are ordered
> > tuples, dag nab it! So, I just had to clear this little matter up.
> >
> > MultiValue uses mathematical relations which are, in fact, also
functions
> > (they map a unique key to an ordered tuple) but it does not use Codd's
> > definition of a relation (although a developer can use names for
locations
> > in the tuple, thereby using the database as if it were unordered
tuples)..
> >
> > I wasn't trying to say "nah nah na boo boo, relational databases are
not
> > mathematical relations like MultiValue databases are" (I'll leave that
for
> > others), but was simply trying to get a sound, logical, and fair
response
> > for Mr. Date. Cheers! --dawn
> >
> >
> From the perspective of an assembly language software developer
> (a rapidly disappearing breed) Codd's use of names rather than
> positions is immaterial. This is because in assembly language
> development it is common practice to assign names as aliases to
> locations rather than use the location itself as an identifier.
> This practice came about because it was easer to remember
> meaningful names, e.g. Salary, that it was to remember memory
> locations, e.g. 0357321. Codd did nothing more than follow
> common practice by assuming the use of names as aliases for
> positions and the fact that he did so should not be taken to
> mean that he removed the ordering requirement.

Jerry,

Dawn is beyond help. She is too stupid to understand the difference between mathematics and notation. Mathematics is the universal language because it does not depend on notation.

Codd did a lot more than follow common practice. The relational model is -- without question -- a work of genius.

Regards,
Bob Received on Fri Jan 09 2004 - 18:57:28 CET