Re: Question on Structuring Product Attributes

From: Bob Badour <bob_at_badour.net>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:30:09 -0700
Message-ID: <VfSdnXFPrZhehD7TnZ2dnUVZ5qqdnZ2d_at_giganews.com>


Eric wrote:

> On 2011-10-19, Derek Asirvadem <derek.asirvadem_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>

>>On Oct 17, 10:05?pm, Eric <e..._at_deptj.eu> wrote:
>>
>>>It's sort-of fun to watch two people who don't know enough trying to
>>>have an argument.
>>
>>It is even more fun to watch someone on the sidelines, who is not
>>party to the argument, picking up clauses and examining them in
>>isolation.

>
>
> A private argument, on Usenet? Whatever next? And if a clause is all I
> want to comment on, why should I not pick it out? There is no isolation,
> everybody has read, or can read, the rest of the thread.
>
>
>>>What on earth is "and have them in a visible column, non-pointer, form"
>>>supposed to mean?
>>
>>Let me spell it out for you:
>>- I was not posting a new thread (I would have used proper terms).
>>- As I detailed to Jonathan, I was not writing a fully qualified
>>thesis (if you are expecting that, you will find it lacking)
>>- I was posting a response to Celko's thread.  That defines the
>>context.
>>- Celko was playing "slippery fish", to avoid dealing with specific
>>problems that I identified (check the whole thread)
>>- In an attempt to prevent the slipperiness, I used Celko's terms.
>>- As it progressed, I used further terms make distinctions, using his
>>used terms as the base (I would not have used his terms, or my-terms-
>>that-are-based-on-his-terms in a stand-alone article)

>
>
> All you have spelled out is the context in which you wrote that, whereas
> what I wanted to know was what you meant by it and what is the
> alternative (since why mention it if there isn't one?).
>
>
>>>All you can ever see of an index (apart from its
>>>effect on query performance) is the list of columns indexed and some
>>>vendor-dependent stuff usually about physical storage.
>>
>>Excellent, you seem to understand that correctly.  So your question is
>>either rhetorical or plain absurd.

>
>
> No, see above.
>
>
>>If you have an honest argument with me, just state it; if there is
>>something you wish to clarify about one of my statements, ask a
>>question.

>
>
> Which is exactly what I did, but you provided no clarification
> whatsoever.
>
>
>>But this picking and gnawing on the carcasses left, after
>>others have feasted, is for the birds.

>
>
> Now that's just rude.
>
>
>>>Just to pick on one more thing:
>>>
>>>
>>>>- each PRIMARY KEY constraint builds an index
>>>>- each UNIQUE constraint builds an index
>>>
>>>Not "builds", but "usually needs" :
>>
>>Correcting my English is petty.  If you fancy yourself an editor, send
>>me your CV, I will send you all my posts to edit, before I post.

>
>
> I am _not_ correcting your English, I am questioning your meaning.
> Declaring a Primary Key does not necessarily cause an index to be built,
> though in most, if not all, current SQL-based systems, it requires that
> one exist. However there is no theoretical reason why this should be so,
> it is merely a readily available method that has been widely adopted.
> And yes, I have deliberately mentioned a theoretical possibility as part
> of my argument, you have no right to tell me that I can't.
>
>
>>>- nowhere is there a requirement that primary and unique keys be
>>>? implemented with an index
>>
>>Try reading the entire statement in context.  You might draw a
>>different conclusion.

>
>
> Obviously not!
>
>
>>If that is still confusing, try this: I did not say "there is a
>>requirement..." so there is no point arguing against what I did not
>>say. I am quite happy to address issues regarding what I have said
>>(the thread is ready evidence).  But I do not engage with isolated
>>scraps.  It might give the readers the idea that such isolated scraps
>>have some credibility, or that bird-like behaviour is appropriate for
>>functioning adults.

>
>
> More rudeness.
>
> I never claimed that you said so, it was merely a part of my argument.
> If you want to insist that a discussion should be only on your terms
> then you are obviously not sure you can win without this. And, of
> course, you can't make rules of discussion here.
>
>
>>>- only one index is needed and there is nothing to prevent an SQL parser
>>>  being smart enough to realise this
>>
>>Marvellous.  Identify which SQL does that (post evidence).

>
>
> I don't know for certain that one exists. So what? I know that it is
> possible. Again, you can't make rules of discussion here.
>
>
>>Until then your suggestion is possibility in the future, not a
>>reality, which is what Celko posted (he did not say "sometime in the
>>future, some SQL could ...", he posted "Here is how to do this
>>[now] ..."), which I am arguing.  I can simply state, no SQL does that
>>[now].  The implication is "now", on Earth, not "ten years from now",
>>not "if and when the vendors wake up and read Celko's post", not on
>>the fourth moon of Jupiter.
>>
>>
>>>- if the parser is not smart enough there may well be a way of
>>>? second-guessing it and still ending up with only one index.
>>
>>Feel free to post the method.

>
>
> Create the table without declaring the keys, then create the appropriate
> index, then create the keys. No new indexes will be built.
>
> I know this works in Oracle, because I do it frequently, and I am pretty
> sure it works in other products.
>
>
>>Otherwise your suggestion is a yet
>>another fantasy of could-bes and guesses.  Just like Celko.  Any
>>examination reveals that his method is based on facilities that are
>>not available now, as stated "do this", that the method might be
>>useful at some point in the future, if and when some SQL vendor
>>supplies the the underlying facility.
>>
>>My method is based on the here and now, in any SQL (I have
>>specifically excluded the non-SQLs), on Earth.
>>
>>
>>>And finally...
>>>
>>>
>>>>... under the covers is not relevant ...
>>>
>>>True, but you don't always seem to understand where the covers are.
>>
>>Thanks for your opinion.  I will make sure I give it the consideration
>>it deserves, keeping in mind your demonstrated level of capability, in
>>understanding technical matters, and your could-be, should-be,
>>attitude to addressing present day reality.
>>
>>Should you wish to address any of the salient points in my post, a
>>piece of meat, rather than a scrap, I might give your avian opinion
>>more consideration.

>
>
> You have failed to understand what I was saying. You have descended to
> insult. No doubt you will think you have "won". Enjoy your "victory".
>
> Eric

Must the troll feedings continue? Received on Sat Oct 22 2011 - 21:30:09 CEST

Original text of this message