Database Design for Mere Mortals has earned worldwide respect as the simplest way to learn relational database design. Now, this hands-on, software independent tutorial is even clearer and easier to use.

Step by step, this new 25th Anniversary Edition shows you how to design modern databases that are soundly structured, reliable, and flexible, even in the latest online applications. Michael Hernandez guides you through everything from planning to defining tables, fields, keys, table relationships, business rules, and views. You will learn practical ways to improve data integrity, how to avoid common mistakes, and when to break the rules. Updated review questions and figures help you learn these techniques more easily and effectively.

• Understand database types, models, and design terminology
• Perform interviews to efficiently capture requirements—even if everyone works remotely
• Set clear design objectives and transform them into effective designs
• Analyze a current database so you can identify ways to improve it
• Establish table structures and relationships, assign primary keys, set field specifications, and set up views
• Ensure the correct level of data integrity for each database
• Identify and establish business rules
• Preview and prepare for the future of relational databases

Whatever relational database systems you use, Hernandez will help you design databases that are robust and trustworthy. Never designed a database before? Settling for inadequate generic designs? Running existing databases that need improvement? Start here.

Table of Contents

Part I: RELAT IONAL DATA BASE DESIGN

Chapter 1: The Relational Database

Chapter 2: Design Objectives

Chapter 3: Terminology

Part II: THE DESIGN PROCESS

Chapter 4: Conceptual Overview

Chapter 5: Starting the Process

Chapter 6: Analyzing the Current Database

Chapter 7: Establishing Table Structures

Chapter 8: Keys

Chapter 9: Field Specifications

Chapter 10: Table Relationships

Chapter 11: Business Rules

Chapter 12: Views

Chapter 13: Reviewing Data Integrity

Part III: OTHER DATA BASE DESIGN ISSUES

Chapter 14: Bad Design—What Not to Do

Chapter 15: Bending or Breaking the Rules

Chapter 16: In Closing

Part IV: APPENDIXES

Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions

Appendix B: Diagram of the Database Design Process

Appendix C: Design Guidelines

Appendix D: Documentation Forms

Appendix E: Database Design Diagram Symbols

Appendix F: Sample Designs

Appendix G: On Normalization

Appendix H: Recommended Reading

About the Author

Michael J. Hernandez is a man with many talents and has done quite a bit in his life, and he continues to do many things to keep him busy. You could say he's a modern-day Renaissance Man.

For instance, he has been an independent database consultant with more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry, and has been a contributing author to a wide variety of magazine articles, white papers, books, and periodicals. Mike has also been a top-rated and noted technical instructor for two national training organizations, the government, the military, the private sector, and companies throughout the United States, and he has been a top-rated speaker and presenter at numerous national and international conferences. He also worked full-time at Microsoft for seven years as a program manager, product manager, and marketing manager in the Visual Studio Group.

Mike is mainly pursuing his artistic side at this point in his life. He is currently a professional actor (with more than seven years of experience as of this writing), performing in commercials for the likes of U.S. Bank, Allstate Insurance, and Subaru; in TV for shows such as Veep, American Crime, and Unbelievable; and feature films such as Ernesto's Manifesto, The Honor List, and Almost Home.