Relational Database Writings, 1994-1997 / Edition 1

Relational Database Writings, 1994-1997 / Edition 1

by Chris J. Date, D. Mcgoveran, Hugh Darwen
     
 

ISBN-10: 0201398141

ISBN-13: 9780201398144

Pub. Date: 08/19/1998

Publisher: Addison-Wesley

This book is the fifth in Chris Date's well known Relational Database Writings series. Like its precursors, the book consists of a collection of papers on various aspects of relational technology.

It is divided into four parts:

I. Theory is Practical II. Relational Database Management III. The Problem of Missing Information IV.

See more details below

Overview

This book is the fifth in Chris Date's well known Relational Database Writings series. Like its precursors, the book consists of a collection of papers on various aspects of relational technology.

It is divided into four parts:

I. Theory is Practical II. Relational Database Management III. The Problem of Missing Information IV. Relational vs. Nonrelational Systems This unique collection combines practical advice on how to solve real world implementation problems with more thought-provoking and sometimes controversial articles. The first part consists of installments from Chris Date's regular column in Database Programming and Design magazine in which he takes a variety of theoretical aspects of relational technology and explains, in a non-academic way, just why those aspects are important and why they should be of interest to the database practitioner. In Part II, Hugh Darwen and David McGoveran comment on the true nature of databases and on the status of attempts to implement the relational model in the industry. There is also a detailed introduction to the ideas behind The Third Manifesto - the log ical foundation for object/relational databases - something every database professional will want to read. Part III addresses the much discussed but serious issue of missing information and provides a well argued case for why many-valued logics are u nsuitable as a basis for addressing the problem. Finally, Part IV provides a critical and sometimes controversial analysis of object databases. In addition, an appendix contains the transcript for a live presentation entitled "Database Graffiti". Relational Database Writings 1994-1997 continues the tradition established by its predecessors and will need no further recommendation for readers familiar with them. It is essential reading for all serious database students and professionals. * The fifth in the series of books written by Chris Date on the general topic of database technology * Chris Date is renowned for his ability to explain complex technical material in a clear and understandable fashion * Should appeal to anyone working in the area of database technology from professional to academic * Covers articles he has written from 1994-1997 that he feels are worth preserving

Product Details

ISBN-13:
9780201398144
Publisher:
Addison-Wesley
Publication date:
08/19/1998
Pages:
608
Product dimensions:
6.59(w) x 9.56(h) x 1.38(d)

Table of Contents

Preface xvii(2)
Publishing History xix
PART I THEORY IS PRACTICAL! 4(273)
Introduction 1(3)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 26 Oh Oh Relational
4(12)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 27 Integrity Revisited
16(8)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 28 Relations and Their Interpretation
24(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 29 It's All Relations!
30(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 30 Answers to Puzzle Corner Problems (Installments 26-29)
36(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 31 Nested Relations (Part 1 of 2)
43(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 32 Nested Relations (Part 2 of 2)
50(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 33 We Don't Need Composite Columns
57(8)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 34 The Department of Redundancy Department
65(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 35 A Note on Orthogonality
72(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 36 Answers to Puzzle Corner Problems (Installments 31-35)
79(9)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 37 Domains Aren't Relations!
88(9)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 38 SQL Domains Aren't Domains!
97(8)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 39 Functional Dependencies Are Fun (Part 1 of 2)
105(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 40 Functional Dependencies Are Fun (Part 2 of 2)
111(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 41 The Saga of IEFBR14
118(5)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 42 Round and Round the Nullberry Bush
123(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 43 Answers to Puzzle Corner Problems (Installments 37-42)
129(9)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 44 Aggregate Operators
138(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 45 SUMMARIZE Revisited
145(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 46 The Art of the Possible
151(8)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 47 Quota Queries (Part 1 of 3)
159(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 48 Quota Queries (Part 2 of 3)
165(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 49 Quota Queries (Part 3 of 3)
172(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 50 Answers to Puzzle Corner Problems (Installments 44-49)
179(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 51 Faults and Defaults (Part 1 of 5)
186(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 52 Faults and Defaults (Part 2 of 5)
193(9)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 53 Faults and Defaults (Part 3 of 5)
202(10)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 54 Faults and Defaults (Part 4 of 5)
212(10)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 55 Database Graffiti
222(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 56 Faults and Defaults (Part 5 of 5)
229(8)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 57 Answers to Puzzle Corner Problems (Installments 51-56)
237(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 58 Why Is It Important to Think Precisely? (Part 1 of 4)
243(8)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 59 Why Is It Important to Think Precisely? (Part 2 of 4)
251(6)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 60 Why Is It Important to Think Precisely? (Part 3 of 4)
257(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 61 Why Is It Important to Think Precisely? (Part 4 of 4)
264(7)
INSTALLMENT NUMBER 62 Answers to Puzzle Corner Problems (Installments 55-61)
271(6)
PART II RELATIONAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT 277(52)
Introduction 277(2)
CHAPTER 1 What a Database Really Is: Predicates and Propositions
279(10)
Abstract
279(1)
Comments on republication
279(1)
Introduction
280(1)
Statements of fact
281(1)
Propositions
281(1)
A database is a set of true propositions
282(1)
Predicates
282(4)
Quantification
286(1)
Concluding remarks
286(1)
Acknowledgments
287(2)
CHAPTER 2 The Relational Model Turns 25
289(16)
Abstract
289(1)
Comments on republication
289(1)
Introduction
290(1)
Goals
291(2)
We've come a long way, maybe
293(2)
The relational model, vintage 1969-70
295(3)
The 1979 paper
298(1)
Related technical work
299(1)
The twelve rules and beyond
299(1)
Well, what do you know?
300(1)
The neorelational model
300(3)
References
303(2)
CHAPTER 3 The Third Manifesto: Foundation for Object/Relational Databases
305(16)
Abstract
305(1)
Comments on republication
305(1)
Introduction
306(1)
What problem are we trying to solve?
307(1)
Why the third manifesto?
308(1)
Relations vs. relvars
308(3)
Domains vs. object classes
311(2)
Relvars vs. object classes
313(6)
A note on inheritance
319(1)
Concluding remarks
319(1)
Acknowledgments
319(1)
References
320(1)
CHAPTER 4 Some Remarks on Types, Units, and Type Design
321(8)
Abstract
321(1)
Comments on publication
321(1)
Introduction
322(1)
Confusion in the industry
322(1)
Lengths and weights
323(1)
Temperatures
324(2)
Lengths again
326(1)
Concluding remarks
327(1)
Acknowledgments
327(1)
References
328(1)
PART III THE PROBLEM OF MISSING INFORMATION 329(108)
Introduction 329(2)
CHAPTER 5 Nothing from Nothing (Part 1 of 4): What's Logic Got to Do with It?
331(16)
Abstract
331(1)
Comments on republication
332(1)
Introduction
332(1)
DBMS goals
333(2)
Formal logical systems
335(3)
Propositional calculus
338(2)
Predicate calculus
340(2)
Implementation
342(2)
Objectives
344(1)
Logic and the database
345(1)
Exercises
345(1)
Acknowledgments
346(1)
Bibliography
346(1)
CHAPTER 6 Nothing from Nothing (Part 2 of 4): Classical Logic: Nothing Compares 2 U
347(20)
Abstract
347(1)
Comments on republication
347(1)
Introduction
348(2)
Leaving nothing
350(1)
Fragments
351(1)
Extensions
352(1)
Extensions and deviants
352(4)
More rope, please!
356(4)
Other many-valued logics
360(1)
"Relational" three-valued logic
361(1)
What should we do?
362(1)
Acknowledgments
363(1)
Notes and references
363(4)
CHAPTER 7 Nothing from Nothing (Part 3 of 4): Can't Lose What You Never Had
367(10)
Abstract
367(1)
Comments on republication
367(1)
Introduction
368(1)
Conditional relationships
369(1)
Conditional properties
370(1)
Conditional operations
371(1)
Conditional constraints
371(1)
Capturing nothing: conditional information
372(2)
What about defaults?
374(1)
Conclusions
375(1)
Acknowledgments
375(1)
References
375(2)
CHAPTER 8 Nothing from Nothing (Part 4 of 4): It's in the Way That You Use It
377(18)
Abstract
377(1)
Comments on republication
377(1)
Introduction
378(1)
Conditional information
379(3)
Conditional relationships
382(2)
Conditional entities
384(1)
Conditional properties
385(1)
Conditional operators
386(1)
Types and subtypes
387(2)
Conditional constraints
389(1)
Abstract entities
390(1)
Surrogate keys
390(1)
Meaningful defaults
391(1)
Conclusions
392(1)
Acknowledgments
393(1)
Notes and references
393(2)
CHAPTER 9 Nothing to Do with the Case
395(16)
Abstract
395(1)
Comments on republication
395(1)
Background
396(1)
Introduction
397(1)
Overview
397(1)
2VL flaws vs. 3VL flaws
398(2)
Staying with basic logic
400(1)
Inconclusive objections?
401(1)
Default values vs. MVL
401(1)
Miscellaneous comments
402(2)
Conclusion
404(1)
Hugh Darwen adds:
404(1)
David McGoveran adds:
405(3)
Notes and references
408(3)
CHAPTER 10 Up to a Point, Lord Copper
411(26)
Abstract
411(1)
Comments on republication
411(1)
Introduction
412(1)
Overview
412(3)
An agreement with Date: scope and limits
415(1)
Date's positions and Date's objections
416(3)
A logical howler?
419(1)
Does Dr. Codd understand what a relation is?
420(2)
McGoveran's points
422(4)
Date's points
426(3)
Nothing to do with the case?
429(2)
What should we do?
431(2)
Conclusion
433(1)
Notes and references
433(4)
PART IV RELATIONAL vs. NONRELATIONAL SYSTEMS 437(102)
Introduction 437(2)
CHAPTER 11 Why "The Object Model" Is Not a Data Model
439(18)
Abstract
439(1)
Comments on republication
439(1)
Introduction
440(1)
Data models and storage models
440(2)
An overview of "the object model"
442(3)
Object construction
445(2)
Object identification
447(4)
Values vs. variables
451(1)
A little speculation
452(2)
Summary
454(1)
Acknowledgments
455(1)
References
455(2)
CHAPTER 12 Object Identifiers vs. Relational Keys
457(20)
Abstract
457(1)
Comments on publication
457(1)
Introduction
457(1)
User keys
458(2)
Surrogate keys
460(3)
Object identifiers
463(1)
Identity vs. equality (?)
464(1)
Blair's questions
465(1)
Response by ODMG member X
465(3)
Response by ODMG member Y
468(5)
Concluding remarks
473(1)
Acknowledgments
474(1)
References
474(3)
CHAPTER 13 Objects and Relations: Forty-Seven Points of Light
477(28)
Abstract
477(1)
Comments on republication
477(2)
Introduction
479(1)
Some fundamental distinctions
480(3)
Further preliminaries
483(1)
Why marry objects and relations?
483(5)
The relation-centric perspective
488(8)
The object-centric perspective
496(6)
Conclusion
502(1)
Acknowledgments
502(1)
References
502(3)
CHAPTER 14 Don't Mix Pointers and Relations!
505(20)
Abstract
505(1)
Comments on republication
505(1)
Introduction
506(1)
Values and variables
507(1)
Relation values and relation variables
508(1)
Referencing and dereferencing
509(2)
Mixing pointers and relations: the basic idea
511(4)
A closer look at the basic idea
515(1)
Can the idea be rescued?
516(1)
Further issues
517(5)
Concluding remarks
522(1)
Acknowledgments
522(1)
References
523(2)
CHAPTER 15 Don't Mix Pointers and Relations--Please!
525(14)
Abstract
525(1)
Comments on publication
525(1)
Introduction
526(1)
Red herrings?
526(3)
The SQL3 proposals
529(5)
Referential integrity
534(2)
Why we don't need "references"
536(2)
Acknowledgments
538(1)
References
538(1)
APPENDIX Database Graffiti (script for a live presentation)
539(40)
Abstract
539(1)
Comments on publication
539(1)
Introduction
539(2)
The prehistoric era
541(4)
Objects and Objections
545(3)
Normalization, networks, and nulls
548(2)
The role of simplicity
550(2)
The joy of self-reference
552(1)
Some fundamental principles
553(11)
Relational database: further misconceptions number 4
564(6)
Some good quotes
570(4)
Books and book reviews
574(2)
Miscellany
576(1)
The great database limerick competition
577(1)
Concluding remarks
577(2)
Index 579

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