Re: Modelling objects with variable number of properties in an RDBMS

From: Roy Hann <specially_at_processed.almost.meat>
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 14:00:46 -0000
Message-ID: <9v-dnYE-SanY6PreRVnygg@pipex.net>

"vc" <boston103_at_hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1130765800.098046.93870_at_f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Roy Hann wrote:
> ....
> > Actually no, let's not. What you have re-invented here is the tired old
> > entity-attribute-value (EAV) design (much beloved of medical research
wonks
> > for some reason).
>
> Often they do that (EAV) not because they do not know any better but in
> order to overcome a specific database physical limitations. Their
> entities very often contain thousands of attributes (molecular
> biology/pharmaceutical research/drug discovery) [snip].

Always check the bath water for babies...

Roy Received on Tue Nov 01 2005 - 08:00:46 CST