Re: object algebra

Paul Vernon asked:
> In theory, what's the practical limit for the number of relations in a
> database?

In practice, the ERP vendors such as SAP, Peoplesoft and Baan have thousands of tables in their databases - literally. As in, 40,000 or so. Typically, they are not all in use -- indeed, I suspect that usually most are not in use. But that's the sort of number I hear about.

If people's attention can focus on 7 +/- 2 items, does that mean that a database with more than about a dozen tables is too complex? I don't think so, but that's in part because you don't have to focus on all the tables at any one time.

-- 
Jonathan Leffler                   #include <disclaimer.h>
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