Hi,

I have to design a Database as part of my assignment. I'm currently half way through and I'm stuck on the follwing in one part of the written assignment. Please can you help?

Thanks.

You should review the development methodology which you used and its effectiveness. Two alternative methodologies should be discussed and compared with the one used. A recommendation for similar projects in the future should be made, with reasons. Note that all material from other sources should be referenced. It is recommended that you put lengthy descriptions from other sources in an Appendix to your report, and then summarise/discuss the details in the report body. Merely listing the properties of the methodologies will be regarded as a ‘minimal attempt’ for marking.

What specific questions do you have? It just looks like your teacher wants you to explain how you came up with your database design.

Hi,
Thanks for replying mate. I wanted to know where I can find info on different methodologies for designing a database.

Do a search for "database normalization". That will show you the proper way to design a DB and what trade offs need to be made and when.

Thanks mate.

It seems to me that database design has a few things in common with systems analysis, but here are two tutorial sites about databases and one that my friend told me about systems analysis - sorry it is just a portal to more tutorials to choose and pick.

http://www.agiledata.org/essays/dataModeling101.html http://www.extropia.com/tutorials/sq...se_design.html http://www.umsl.edu/~sauter/analysis..._links.html#er

I am reading a book called "Database Systems, A practical Approach to Design, Implementation and Management" by Thomas Conolly and Carolyn Begg. It is very good, I actually enjoy reading it just for fun. However, if you can find a similar book by the same authors (sorry, I cannot remember the exact name so I won't quote it here), it is even better because it is has more practical approach. Both books are very expensive though, so see if you can find it in the library. (I'm lucky because in my town anyone can use the university library, although I cannot borrow it: only university students can do that.)

Hope this helps.