Re: How to model searchable properties of an entity

"Alan" <not.me_at_uhuh.rcn.com> wrote in message news:<V62Tc.11115$dG.2722_at_trndny02>...
> "Dilip Angal" <dilip_angal_at_yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:df683587.0408122214.51852da3_at_posting.google.com...
> > Hi
> > I have been struggeling with this question for a while.
> >
> > Let us say I have Part# and it has very large number of flexible
> > attributes defined by the user, such as color, width, height, etc...
> > Depending on Part number, these attributes may change.
> >
> > To make the things worse, they are searchable, meaning show me all the
> > parts which are blue in color and whose width is less than 10 inches,
> > etc.
> >
> > Now how do I model my parts table.
> > If I make, name value pair, them my search will has as many self joins
> > as I have ands in my query.
> > If I model attributes as columns, then I don't even know all the
> > possible attributes I can have and besides, even if I know them, not
> > all attributes are applicable to all the parts and hence I have really
> > screwed up table
> >
> > Any help will be appreciated.
> > Dilip
>
>
> This is a common problem, usually discussed in university courses. Is this
> for a class assignment?

No Not for Class assignment. I have a real life need. I would be curious to find out what are the solutions given in university courses. Dilip Received on Fri Aug 13 2004 - 20:20:19 CEST