Data Modeling Articles
Primary keys come from candidate keys. Each candidate key consists of the attribute or attributes used to label a distinct row in a table. Every candidate key should contain the fewest number of attributes possible to identify rows individually and uniquely. Every entity within a design requires at least one candidate key.
Posted March 04, 2010
BlueFinity International, part of the Mpower1 group of companies, has announced that support for Microsoft Silverlight within mv.NET Solution Objects will be available with the formal release of Visual Studio 2010, which has been scheduled by Microsoft for April 2010.
Posted February 24, 2010
Rocket Software has announced that a new version of the SystemBuilder Extensible Architecture (SB/XA) Personal Edition is available for customers now using Personal Editions of UniData or UniVerse. This new version incorporates all the features and benefits provided in SB/XA 6.0.1. SB/XA 6.0.1, released in November 2009, is designed to maximize its customers' investments in U2 technology. SB/XA is a Rapid Application Development (RAD) and deployment environment that delivers up-to-the-minute interface design and portable reporting capabilities. Existing SB+ applications can automatically convert without requiring changes to the underlying code.
Posted February 09, 2010
There are still a few exhibitor opportunities available for the 2010 Users Conference, which will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., April 27-30. Exhibitors have the opportunity to book a booth or table top and sponsorships include admission for one attendee with a second attendee free, as well as additional amenities.
Posted February 09, 2010
Designing a data model that supports the reporting and analytical functions is no different, initially, than any other modeling effort. Understanding the data is crucial. The data architect or modeler needs to feel comfortable with dimensional modeling techniques and needs to obtain a working knowledge of the universe of discourse for the subject-at-hand. A good start in gathering this knowledge begins by reviewing the operational data structures containing the identified source elements. The challenge in designing analytical solutions is found in applying best practices for analytics simply and effectively.
Posted February 09, 2010
Progress Software Corporation, a provider of enterprise operations software, announced yesterday at its Global Field Operations Conference the acquisition of Savvion Inc., a privately held business enterprise software company based in Santa Clara, Calif., for approximately $49 million, net of cash acquired.
Posted January 12, 2010
The process for designing a database that supports the operational functions of an organization begins with simple understanding. The data architect or modeler needs to obtain a working knowledge of the language comprising the universe of discourse for the solution. This awareness is gathered through many activities, such as talking with the people currently doing the work, sitting with them and watching how they do their tasks, reading over existing training manuals or standard operation procedures. The designer is best served when figuratively walking a mile in the shoes of the future application users. The more that the designer knows about the user needs and goals, the better able the designer is to definitively craft a data model supporting user tasks.
Posted January 11, 2010
To further enhance developer productivity and simplify Oracle Database development, Oracle announced the availability of Oracle SQL Developer Release 2.1, the latest release of the free database development and migration tool. Oracle SQL Developer Release 2.1 introduces two key capabilities—PL/SQL Unit Testing and Data Modeler Viewer — in addition to enhancements to the software overall.
Posted January 06, 2010
Looking for an easier way to develop and test applications? Join IBM on Thursday, December 17, 2009, at 12pm ET to hear how Linux and IBM software can expedite the development and test of applications in the cloud More than just a presentation, this webcast will take you from the theory of cloud computing to practice in a few simple steps and give you the confidence to explore cloud computing further with the IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud.
Posted December 16, 2009
In composing a data model, the structures are put together thoughtfully and with intention. Data structures emerge from the application of semantics germane to the universe-of-discourse and filtered through the rules of normalization. Each table expresses meaning, with columns that are self-evident. The best models reduce the data items within the covered subject area into obvious arrangements. However, this simplicity often confuses observers, persuading many that modeling itself must therefore be a simple task. DBMS tools often incorporate wizards that facilitate the quick definition of tables which are then immediately created within the chosen database. These tools enable the developer to build tables in the blink of an eye. At times some prototypes are approached in this fashion, and while this provides for placeholders, such slapped-up table structures are insufficient for an industrial strength solution. Under these instant-table setups, developers often have no problem reworking large sections of code for minor changes, or misusing data elements to mean many things while making the determination of meanings at a specific point-in-time less clear. Unaware of these less-than-stellar consequences, users become confused; they often wonder why modeling tasks should ever need to be done because the proof of concept worked, didn't it?
Posted December 14, 2009
Underlining the value of a leveraged development model and a growing appreciation of the fact that it is not necessary for all applications and products to be built from the ground up, a new study finds that businesses and organizations implementing multi-source development with open source software benefit from significant cost savings and improved application development efficiencies. The survey of enterprise development organizations was conducted by Black Duck Software, a global provider of products and services for accelerating software development through the managed use of open source software.
Posted November 18, 2009
Altova has announced the availability of Version 2010 of the Altova MissionKit, an integrated suite of XML, database, and UML tools. Version 2010 delivers a large number of new features across the product line for XML editing, data mapping, visual stylesheet designing, UML modeling, database schema analysis, and comparing and merging XML and database content.
Posted November 18, 2009
IBM announced new solutions for developers to create and deliver software in both public and private cloud environments. The offerings include application lifecycle management and software delivery tools from IBM Rational, as well as new services.
Posted November 16, 2009
In June of this year, IBM unveiled its cross-company strategy to capture the enterprise cloud computing market, helping clients attack rising costs and complexity by workload. Since then many products and services from the portfolio have entered the market, including Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud, which began its public beta on October 1, 2009. Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud includes Software Delivery Services from Rational Software and is designed to accelerate organizations' development and test cycles.
Posted October 21, 2009
BMC Software announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Tideway Systems Limited, a provider of IT discovery solutions. The acquisition is intended to enhance BMC's Business Service Management (BSM) platform and help organizations minimize the risks associated with business-critical initiatives such as data center consolidation, virtualization and compliance. BMC expects the transaction to close within the week.
Posted October 19, 2009
Embarcadero Technologies, a provider of multi-platform database tools and developer software, has announced the general availability of Embarcadero's flagship data modeling suite, ER/Studio Enterprise 8.5. This newest version of Embarcadero's data modeling tool combines process modeling, data modeling, application modeling and reporting into a comprehensive design and modeling solution.
Posted October 08, 2009
ModelRight, a data modeling software company, has released version 3.5 of its flagship product ModelRight, adding support for three additional database platforms as well as a wide variety of productivity enhancements. There are two editions of the product, the ModelRight Professional Version and the Free Community Version, and the new 3.5 release applies to both of them.
Posted August 18, 2009
New data modelers often see things as black and white. But rather than being concrete flooring beneath our feet, knowledge is more like a gossamer web that builds up layer upon layer to provide the effect of a solid foundation. We may think we know facts, such as one plus one equals two, or Columbus discovered America in 1492. What we have come to know about our world comprises our own internal knowledge base. We gain much of this knowledge because it has been passed onto us by others, people with experience, parents, educators, clever friends, verbally or in print. But how do we know such items are real, actual, absolute bona fide beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt truths?
Posted August 14, 2009
Quest Software recently announced the forthcoming release of Toad for Oracle version 10, the de-facto standard tool for Oracle database development and administration. Toad for Oracle 10 will offer new functionality enhancements that the Toad community has been asking for, providing improved productivity, better database manageability and easier access to educational resources. Toad for Oracle 10 is the culmination of suggestions gathered from the Toad community's "wish list," incorporating many enhancements in the areas of usability, automation, education, and flexibility.
Posted July 28, 2009
While good database design is always necessary, the value of good design is reinforced by such endeavors as service-oriented architecture. The semantics-laden engineering of service-oriented tactics used in creating solutions melds seamlessly into the semantics-laden world of data modeling. Although one aspect does not necessarily build on top of the other, each works as part of a team in braiding solutions that grow in usefulness as they emerge. The processes surface as a method to further define the meaning of an object, and the object serves as a harbinger of the processes that must exist. Business rules much more advanced than today's simple constraints may one day reside within the database itself as a built-in function of a some future DBMS. Therefore, data architects should never try to wall themselves behind a veneer of thinking only in terms of data without a thought regarding the processes that touch the data. As a database designer, working within projects that use service-oriented architecture approaches can be exhilarating.
Posted July 13, 2009
Oracle today introduced the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler. The standalone tool supports logical, relational, multi-dimensional and data type modeling while featuring multi-layered design and generation capabilities to produce conceptual entity relationship diagrams (ERDs) and transform them to relational models.
Posted July 07, 2009
Embarcadero Technologies has released a new version of its database change management software. Change Manager 5.1 helps DBAs and developers by automating complex database change management tasks, resulting in more streamlined development cycles and fewer errors. Change Manager, which supports Oracle, IBM DB2 for LUW, Microsoft SQL Server, and Sybase from a single user interface, is available as a standalone tool or as part of All-Access, a cost-effective tool chest that includes all of Embarcadero's multi-platform application development and database tools.
Posted June 30, 2009
Enormous data volumes in complex systems exacting high total cost of ownership (TCO) are endemic in today's enterprises. Must this always be the case? Not for enterprises and agencies using today's advanced data virtualization to simplify data complexity and reduce costs, time to solution and risk.
Posted June 15, 2009
There comes a time at the start of a new engagement when the data architect must acquaint himself with the system for the first time. When first learning about a new application, the relevant data, and its foundational concepts, many questions are reviewed.
Posted June 15, 2009
An inherent awkwardness exists in every many-to-many relationship between entities. Ambiguity causes this persistent awkwardness, primarily because a many-to-many relationship is such a fuzzy thing. In data discovery, encountering many-to-many relationships may actually expose a level of disregard about details by the subject matter experts.
Posted May 15, 2009
In a relational database approach, regardless of whether one is considering persisted data or transitory query results, almost everything is viewed as a logical table. Associations between these envisioned tables are based on data values, versus the alternative to the pre-relational idea of linking multiple data structures via "hidden" pointers maintained by the system. Relationships among objects are ultimately derived from the semantics of a situation.
Posted April 15, 2009
Embarcadero Technologies recently held DataRage, three days of online technical sessions and a virtual trade show targeted at DBAs, data architects, database developers, security experts, and other database professionals, and found that the virtual approach was the right one for the times, according Greg Keller, chief evangelist, at the company. The online event was held March 17 through March 19.
Posted March 31, 2009
In formulating the tenets of relational theory, issues anent to order were explicitly addressed. These relational theory tenets included defining a relational database so that it need have no concern with the order of columns in a row, or with the order of rows in a table. And yet, such a stance seems counter-intuitive since the database brings structure and organization to content. Chaos is the primordial soup from which all things originated. Thus it seems only reasonable that a relational database, being the best and brightest of its kind, should abhor such chaos and bring ever more order instead, right?
Posted March 15, 2009
The time is past when the unique attributes of the MultiValue database model alone provided sufficient justification for the use of the technology, according to Pete Loveless. He explains why MV companies must support interoperability and integration from the ground up, in order to meet the challenges presented by the market now, and in the future.
Posted March 15, 2009
Embarcadero Technologies plans to hold DataRage, three full days of online technical sessions and a virtual trade show targeted at DBAs, data architects, database developers, security experts, and other database professionals, from March 17 through March 19. "We needed a conference tuned to the massive user base that we have—and beyond," Greg Keller, chief evangelist at Embarcadero, tells 5 Minute Briefing.
Posted March 03, 2009
Increased governmental oversight has amplified organizational attention concerning the tracking of content changes made to application database tables. Database log reading tools do not always provide the most useful means of reviewing specific changes for all organizational purposes. Fortunately, other reviewing options do exist.
Posted February 15, 2009
A leading supplier of data integration software for businesses, finding that its developers were spending too much time grappling with data management inside each of its products, adapted its architecture to a service-oriented architecture (SOA) and built its own data services platform (DSP). However, problems arose that required a complete rebuilding of the architecture. The underlying cause of those problems? Poorly architected data access.
Posted February 15, 2009
Altova, creator of XMLSpy, the industry-leading XML editor, announced the availability of Version 2009 of the Altova MissionKit, an integrated suite of XML, database, data integration, and UML tools.
Posted February 10, 2009
CA has announced a new release of its ERwin Data Modeling Suite, with updated data modeling capabilities, integrated data profiling, and new reporting features. The CA ERwin Data Modeling Suite is an integrated tool for a complete model-based approach to the analysis, design, and construction of high quality database and data warehouse applications. The capabilities and pricing of the new release allow data architects at midmarket-to-global 2000 companies to reduce time, cost, and complexity in providing timely, accurate information to the business.
Posted January 27, 2009
Occasionally the database under design becomes more than a one-off project. For example, the data mart or data warehouse might act as a profit center for the organization, and as a solution sold to many customers. The possibility exists to capture a basic truth for a given industry in a simple universal design exactly suiting everyone. But unless the situation really qualifies as a valid "one-size-fits-all" circumstance, one needs a level of customization within the architecture.
Posted January 15, 2009