Database design/normal form conundrum

From: Mark Carter <cartermark46_at_ukmail.com>
Date: 26 Mar 2004 02:39:53 -0800
Message-ID: <d3c9c04.0403260239.20a57d3f_at_posting.google.com>



Normally, in one-to-many relationships, where you don't know how many is many, it is necessary to have two tables linked to each other. But supposing there were a fixed number of relationships. How would that change your view over using two linked tables over one big wide one?

Here's the setup:

A database exists whereby each record contains a data value. The data value has exactly five tests applied to it. A test consists of a pass/fail result, a user comment about the failure, and a user decision as to whether or not to ignore the error.

So, that's five tests, consisting of 3 fields apiece, making 15 fields in all; and there is possibility that a couple more tests may need to be added.

So which is better:
1. just have one table with lots of fields 2. two tables with much fewer fields, but with all the complications that linking implies Received on Fri Mar 26 2004 - 11:39:53 CET

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