Web resources for teaching data base design.

Over the course of time, I've looked for web resources that illustrate database design principles, so that I can refer to them instead of typing in the same responses over and over again.

Here are the best two I've found:

http://www.databaseanswers.com/

this one has about 200 data models that you can grab right off the web. The models are in the form of an ER diagram (for conceptual models) or a relational schematic (for logical models). In addition, the owner will send you, by e-mail, an empty MS Access database derived from the model, if you send an appropriate e-mail to him (or to his mailbot, I guess).

These models provide functional examples of minimal level models for a variety of situations. You can typically use one of these models as a starting place for prototyping your way up to a full model.

http://www.utexas.edu/its/windows/database/datamodeling/index.html

This one contains a bare bones introduction to both the ER model (conceptual data modeling) and the relational model
(logical data modeling). It's not perfect, as some regulars in comp.databases.theory have pointed out, but it's very good. It lays out the essentials in a format that's easily followed.

I particularly like the fact that it differentiates clearly between conceptual data modeling and logical data modeling. There are many experts who skip right over conceptual modeling and start out right away with logical modeling. I think that's a mistake, when it comes to discussing information requirements with subject matter experts that may be very naive about data. But other professionals report the opposite experience. Go figure.

Anyway, I hope this helps. Received on Thu Aug 25 2005 - 14:43:22 CEST