Database Design Shortcuts

What’s your problem? Sort out the basic idea for the Database… e.g. : Your local Angling Club is looking to set up a Database to manage their Membership & Match information.

Identify the basic elements Hold the list of Members Manage the renewal of Memberships Hold a list of their Venues Hold the list of Annual Matches Manage the booking of Matches

Be a bit more specific ! Membership list… –Add new Members –Review &/or update Member details –Allocate new Membership IDs –Track & log the renewal of Memberships

And more specific !! Add new Member… –Check existing Membership –Enter new Member details –Store details in the Members Table –Generate & Issue new Membership ID –Issue Membership Card

Do a diagram… Add a New Member Store details in Members Table (ID, Name, Address, Phone, Date joined, etc…) Issue new Membership ID Name, Address, Phone, Date joined, etc… Membership ID

Repeat, repeat, repeat… Repeat the process for each of the elements identified. Add more detail where necessary.

What Tables ?? Identify the Tables you need… –tblMembers – For the Membership List –tblMatches – Lists Match details –tblVenues – Where we fish –tblBookings – Link Members to Matches and their Venues

List you Fields… Fieldnames Data Types Key Fields Formats

And Normalise… Split Fields into appropriate Tables No duplication of Data!! Don’t over-do-it! Identify the Relationships…

Do a Diagram tblMembers MembershipID DateJoined Title FirstName LastName Etc… tblVenues VenueID Name Location Type Etc… tblMatches MatchNo VenueID Date Swims Etc… tblMatchBookings BookingID MembershipID MatchNo VenueID Date StartTime Fee Etc…

Check back with Specs Link Design to Specifications –Does it do what was intended? –Is the client happy? –Do the Specs need revising? –Could someone implement your Design? Move to Implementation…