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From: "David Cressey" <cressey73@verizon.net>
Newsgroups: comp.databases.theory
References: <15b312ea-1f66-4f22-abbb-63581e0eca73@x69g2000hsx.googlegroups.com> <e1bf13f3-76a4-4596-91a7-7ef5614a6ab3@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com> <fjtdb3$h58$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk> <6vOdnbLXmc7E3f_anZ2dnUVZ8qydnZ2d@pipex.net> <fjtsaa$r60$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk> <28068342-3712-4ea2-b0d3-697bfa018e51@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com> <fju8op$6g0$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk> <68d6ef06-3978-4950-8ce8-f711afdb45a0@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com> <fjuh4u$gb6$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk> <476593b3$0$21933$157c6196@dreader1.cybercity.dk> <93v9j.3808$qv1.1207@trndny01> <47669663$0$5290$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net>
Subject: Re: Newbie question about db normalization theory: redundant keys OK?
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Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:57:39 GMT
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"Bob Badour" <bbadour@pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:47669663$0$5290$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
> David Cressey wrote:
> > "Dr. Dweeb" <spam@dweeb.net> wrote in message
> > news:476593b3$0$21933$157c6196@dreader1.cybercity.dk...
> >
> >>>Would you a) tell the university that the data cannot be modelled and
> >>>you can't hold it in a database or b) use an artificial key?
> >>
> >>This makes my student number 7613861 artifical?
> >>This makes my employee number 644923 artificial?
> >>
> >>One is used by my university, the other by my employer. They may be
> >>arbitrarily assigned, but they are unique and indicate me alone.
> >
> > Artificial in the sense of man made,  yes.  The assignment of those
numbers
> > to you
> > was purely an arbitrary act,  and not based on any naturally observable
> > charactersitics you have.
>
> As was your name when (presumably) your parents assigned it to you.
>

Yes.