Re: Key attributes with list values was Re: What are the differences ...KEY

From: Anith Sen <anith_at_bizdatasolutions.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 11:25:55 -0600
Message-ID: <dtvco6$12a$1_at_emma.aioe.org>


>> With those propositions, you can't, of course. Declaring name as the key
>> is declaring that two people with the same name *are* the same person. Or
>> perhaps more accurately, a table with person-names as the key is a table
>> of names, not a table of people. Since names can't have a marital status,
>> trying to map the table's attributes back to the real world breaks down.

Agree. Regardless of being a surrogate or not, keys provide logical identity and it makes little sense to talk about any kind of constraints without them.

-- 
Anith 
Received on Mon Feb 27 2006 - 18:25:55 CET

Original text of this message