Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design

Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK Module 1: Course Overview Module 4: Deriving a Logical Data Design Module 5: Normalizing the Logical Data Design Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Module 7: Implementing Data Integrity Module 2: Solution Design Processes Module 3: Using a Conceptual Design for Data Requirements Module 8: Designing Data Services Module 9: Data Storage Considerations Designing Data Services and Data Models Physical Data Design Activity 6.1: Translating the Logical Data Design Implementing Relationships Data Optimization Techniques Activity 6.2: Optimizing a Physical Data Design Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 119 ! !! ! Overview " Physical Data Design " Implementing Relationships " Data Optimization Techniques " Review In this module . In this module . At the end of this module, you will be able to: " Derive a physical data design for tables and fields from a logical data design. " Analyze data-usage characteristics to optimize a physical data design. " Determine methods for implementing relationships in a physical data design. " Identify different optimization techniques. " Determine the proper criteria for optimizing a physical data design. Slide Objective To provide an overview of this module’s topics and objectives. Lead-in In this module, you will learn about how data is stored, how to implement a relational model, and how to optimize a database system. 120 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design ! !! ! Physical Data Design " Describing a Physical Data Model " Identifying Database Tables and Fields " Common Data Types In this section . In this section . In this section, you will learn about the physical design of a database. Slide Objective To introduce general relational database concepts. Lead-in This section discusses a few general relational database concepts and the ways in which data is stored. Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 121 Describing a Physical Data Model " Flat-file $ ISAM " Hierarchical $ Microsoft Exchange " Relational $ SQL Of the many different types of database management systems (DBMS) available today, most use one of three models for storing data. These models define the internal structure that the DBMS uses to keep track of data. The structure affects the types of database tables that you can create, as well as the speed of access and versatility of the database. Flat-File Flat-file databases were one of the first methods used to store data in an organized format. A flat-file database uses a set of rows and columns to store all information within a single file. There is no relationship between flat-file databases because each database exists without knowledge of any other database. Performance on this type of database is usually very good because of its inherent simplicity. Fast updates and retrievals of flat-file data are achieved by using an indexing method called the indexed sequential access method (ISAM). Legacy mainframe databases, as well as smaller PC-based databases, employ ISAM storage technology. Hierarchical Hierarchical databases are extensible and flexible. They have the advantage of being able to store a wide range of information in a variety of formats. This type of database is often used when information storage needs vary greatly. An example of a hierarchical database is Microsoft ® Exchange, which is capable of storing varying types of information in a format that facilitates messaging and collaboration applications. (With collaborative applications, many types of information tend be encapsulated in messages.) Relational Relational databases combine the advantages of both flat-file and hierarchical databases by providing good performance and flexibility of storage. The relational model tends to be the most popular for new database development because tables can be linked together with unique values. It is important to understand, however, that the other models are still in use and that developers Slide Objective To introduce the different data storage models available for use with a database management system (DBMS). Lead-in A DBMS can store data in several ways. 122 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design working in enterprise environments will likely need to interface with one of these other types of databases at some point. " The relational model focuses on storing data, retrieving data, and maintaining data integrity. Data is stored in one or more tables, consisting of columns and rows, within a single file. Related items of data can be retrieved efficiently by using Structured Query Language (SQL), regardless of whether the items are all stored in one table or in many tables. Data integrity is maintained by applying rules and constraints. Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 123 Identifying Database Tables and Fields " Each entity becomes a table in the physical model $ Tables are organized in rows and columns Each row is an instance of an entity Each column is an attribute $ Tables can be linked " Fields are the attributes of the entity $ Each field contains only one piece of data $ Each field must have a distinct data type Tables are the physical representation of entities. If logical data design is done correctly, entities identified in the logical design stage should map directly to tables within a relational database. Good logical design is extremely important for good database design. Tables can store a wide variety of data. A table can contain a name, address, picture, voiceprint, movie, Microsoft Word document, and so on. Because of this flexibility, a database can be used not only to store simple text data, but also to store the knowledge base of a business, no matter what form that knowledge takes. " The data in a table is stored in rows, or records. Each record must be unique. Records are manipulated by using the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard relational database language, which is referred to as SQL. SQL is an English-like language that abstracts the operations performed on a database into easily readable statements, such as Insert, Update, and Delete. Most referential databases adhere to the ANSI SQL standard, although the version and enhancements used vary from product to product. Tables can be linked to other tables within the same database file. This capability allows one type of data to be joined to another type and allows data normalization. The data in each record is stored in columns, or fields, that are specified from the attributes of the table’s defining entity. Each field contains one distinct item of data, such as a customer name, and each field must have a singular data type, such as text. This data type is defined based on the kind of data stored in the field. The data types that are allowed for a given field depend on the data types supported by the hosting DBMS. When defining your tables, you should choose data types that will optimize performance, conserve disk space, and allow for growth. Slide Objective To introduce the role of a table and fields in the physical data design. Lead-in Tables and fields are the basic building blocks of physical data design. 124 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Common Data Types Date and time dataDate Fixed-length character dataString Fixed-length binary dataBinary Currency values with fixed scaleMoney Integer (whole number) dataInteger Floating point with fixed-precision data rangeFloat Float value with double-precision data range over regular float data type (Double) Float (Long) Integer Integer value with double-precision data range over regular integer data type Every field within a database must have a data type. The data type allows you, and the database engine itself, to verify that a value entered in a field is valid for the information that the field represents. Most DBMSs support two major classifications of data types: " System-supplied data types Every DBMS contains its own data types. Examples of system-supplied types are Integer, Character, and Binary. Some DBMSs contain variations of these types as well as additional types. " User-defined data types Some DBMSs allow you to define your own data types based on the system- supplied types. For example, with SQL Server ™ you might define a State data type based on the Character type with a length of 2. Defining this data type would help maintain conformity across all tables that include a State field. In every table, any field of State data type would be consistent and identical. The slide shows a set of common data types, each of which is a variation on a generic character, number, or binary data type. For example, Float, Money, and Integer all store numeric data, but they store it in different formats and can display it in different formats. Because their data is stored in different formats, different data types consume different amounts of storage space . For example, the double variants of a data type can store a number that is twice as large or store a fraction to more decimal places, but they typically use twice as much storage space. During physical design, you need to consider the nuances of each data type to ensure that the most efficient storage solution is obtained. Details about data types are generally specific to the DBMS engine being used. Refer to the DBMS documentation for specific information. Slide Objective To provide a generic listing of common data types. Lead-in Most system-supplied data types fall within a generic set of types. Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 125 ! !! ! Implementing Relationships " Implementing One-to-One Relationships " Implementing One-to-Many Relationships " Implementing Many-to-Many Relationships " Activity 6.1: Translating the Logical Data Design In this section . In this section . Just as the entities and attributes identified in logical design are represented as tables and columns in physical design, the relationships identified in logical design also have to be represented physically. In this section, you will learn about the relationships in a physical model and how they are implemented in a host DBMS. Slide Objective To introduce the discussion of how to implement relationships. Lead-in This section takes a look at the various relationships that can exist between database tables and how to implement those relationships. 126 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Implementing One-to-One Relationships " If relationship is mandatory $ Put both entities in a single table OR $ Maintain separate tables " If relationship is optional $ Use foreign keys to maintain relationship between two tables Attr1 Attr2 Attr3 E1_Key (PK) E2_Key (FK) Enti ty1 Attr1 Attr2 Attr3 E2_Key (PK) E1_K ey (F K) Entity2 E1_Attr1 E1_Attr2 E1_Attr3 E1_Key ( PK) Enti ty1 E2_Attr1 E2_Attr2 E2_Attr3 E2_Key (PK) Entity2 + E1_Attr1 E1_Attr2 E1_Attr3 E2_Attr1 E2_Attr2 E2_Attr3 E1_Key (PK) E2_Key (PK) Entity3 If the relationship specified between two entities is one-to-one, you have several options when designing the physical model. In a one-to-one relationship, an instance of one entity is directly related to the corresponding instance of the other entity. If both entities are required for the relationship, the entities and their relationship can be represented in one of two ways: " As one table You can combine the two entities into one table and use the primary keys as a composite key of the combined tables. The advantage of combining the entities into one table is that you avoid the need to maintain separate tables, thereby reducing overhead and providing for more efficient utilization of storage space. The disadvantage is that if the relationship changes at some point in the future, reversing this design decision can sometimes be costly. " As two tables You can keep each entity in its own table and add the primary key of one entity as a foreign key of the other entity. Often there is an implied parent- child relationship between the entities. In this case, you should add the primary key of the child entity as a foreign key in the parent entity because the parent entity owns the child entity. This arrangement forces the database to allow only unique entries in each key field and helps to ensure that each instance of one entity can relate to only one instance of the other entity. " If the relationship between the entities is optional, meaning that the parent entity can exist without a related instance of the child entity, then you should create a separate table for each entity and then use foreign keys to implement the relationship. Slide Objective To introduce the issues involved in specifying one- to-one relationships in the physical design. Lead-in One-to-one relationships can be mandatory or optional. [...]... Overview Module 8: Designing Data Services Module 7: Implementing Data Integrity Module 2: Solution Design Processes Designing Data Services and Data Models Module 3: Using a Conceptual Design for Data Requirements Module 4: Deriving a Logical Data Design Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Module 5: Normalizing the Logical Data Design In the next module, you will learn about business rules and ways... Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 133 Optimizing for Creation of Data Slide Objective To discuss how the physical data design can be optimized for the creation of new data Lead-in Creating new data can be an intensive process for a DBMS " Table design " Loading of data " Alternate field data types When optimizing the physical data design, you should consider the impact that inserting new data into... online analytical processing (OLAP) 142 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Review Questions Slide Objective To reinforce this module s objectives by reviewing key points " Derive a physical data design for tables and fields from a logical data design " Analyze data usage characteristics to optimize a physical data design " Determine methods for implementing relationships in a physical data design. .. in a table " Produce a physical data design 130 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design ! Data Optimization Techniques Slide Objective To introduce the topic of data optimization Lead-in In this section, you will learn how data can be optimized for specific uses " Goals of Optimization " Optimizing for Creation of Data " Optimizing for Retrieval of Data " Optimizing for Updating Data " Considerations... Deleting Data " Activity 6.2: Optimizing a Physical Data Design In this section In this section In this section, you will learn about the types of actions typically performed with data in an application and the DBMS used to store the data for the application’s use You will also learn how data can be optimized to make each action performed with that data as efficient as possible Module 6: Deriving a Physical. .. The data becomes more redundant Related data is moved into one table to increase query performance and reduce disk access times " The number of tables is reduced, which makes query programming and administration easier The disadvantage is that the data is located in fewer places, thus creating tables with more fields and possibly duplicating data across tables " Data that appears in more than one place... than storing Yes or No in a text field 134 Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Optimizing for Retrieval of Data Slide Objective To discuss how the physical data design can be optimized for the retrieval of data " Indexes $ Lead-in Optimization of data retrieval can be done in several ways $ " Benefits Faster data access Data integrity Types Clustered Nonclustered Joins Optimizing the physical. .. how the physical data design can be optimized for the updating of data " " Lead-in Denormalization Transaction support Updating data can be a costly process, especially in large databases Optimizing the physical data design for updates is a common practice In many systems, data will change frequently, and having a system optimized for this activity is important You should consider several issues when... critical when optimizing for data updates Transactions allow for the reliable update (or deletion) of groups of data A transaction is an all-or-nothing action If one update within a transaction of 10 updates fails, all the updates before the failed update are rolled back to their non-updated state When optimizing the physical data design, you should consider using transactions because they allow the design. .. directly, each entity’s primary key is used as a foreign key in a separate Contracts table This foreign key pair uniquely identifies the relationship between the Employee table and the Client table Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 129 Activity 6.1: Translating the Logical Data Design Slide Objective To introduce this activity Lead-in In this activity, you will derive a physical data design from a . Optimizing a Physical Data Design Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design Module 6: Deriving a Physical Data Design 119 ! !! ! Overview " Physical Data Design. Derive a physical data design for tables and fields from a logical data design. " Analyze data- usage characteristics to optimize a physical data design.