Re: Rolenames in schema design

Hello Ann:

    I don't know what others' experience is, but I've seldom seen role names used. You can always qualify the column name with the table name if you actually want to see both. Having said that, I've played with them a little in ERwin. I don't have ERwin here on this computer, but role names were fairly easy to set up as I recall.

Van

Ann Schrader wrote in message <3662FBD7.19ED_at_wavefront.com>...
>What's your opinion?
>
>I am are seeking feedback on the use of role names in database design.
>A Role Name "declares a new attribute whose name and definition are
>intended to connote the busines statement embodied by the relationship
>that contributes the foreign key or keys." (Designing Quality Databases
>with IDEF1X Information Models, Thomas A. Bruce, 1992). How prevalent
>is the use of role names in the real world? Its use seems to create as
>much confusion as it lends clarity. How is this implemented in case
>tools (i.e., ERwin).
>
>ROLE NAME
>
>Defintion: A new name for a foreign key attribute or group of foreign
>key attributes, which defines the role that it plays in the child
>entity.
>
>Example:
>team-id in parent table TEAM
>player-team-id in child table PLAYER
Received on Mon Nov 30 1998 - 17:50:12 CST