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The fundamental problem of database design

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SOFSEM'97: Theory and Practice of Informatics (SOFSEM 1997)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1338))

Abstract

We introduce a new point of view into database schemes by applying systematically an old logical technique: translation schemes, and their induced formula and structure transformations. This allows us to re-examine the notion of dependency preserving decomposition and its generalization refinement. We have previously demonstrated the usefulness of this approach by recasting the theory of vertical and horizontal decompositions in our terminology.

The most important aspect of this approach, however, lies in laying the groundwork for a formulation of the Fundamental Problem of Database Design, namely to exhibit desirable differences between translation equivalent presentations of data and to examine refinements of data presentations in a systematic way. The emphasis in this paper is not on results. The main line of thought is an exploration of the use of an old logical tool in addressing the Fundamental Problem.

Partially supported by a Grant of the German-Israeli Foundation and by the Fund for Promotion of Research of the Technion-Israeli Institute of Technology

Partially supported by a Grant of the German-Israeli Foundation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    J. A. Makowsky & E. V. Ravve

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  1. J. A. Makowsky
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  2. E. V. Ravve
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František Plášil Keith G. Jeffery

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Makowsky, J.A., Ravve, E.V. (1997). The fundamental problem of database design. In: Plášil, F., Jeffery, K.G. (eds) SOFSEM'97: Theory and Practice of Informatics. SOFSEM 1997. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1338. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-63774-5_97

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-63774-5_97

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-69645-2

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