Michael J. Hernandez - Database Design for Mere Mortals®: 25th Anniversary Edition

25th Anniversary Edition

A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design

Fourth Edition

Michael J. Hernandez

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020945073

Copyright 2021 Michael J. Hernandez

Published by Pearson Education, Inc.

Cover image: CARACOLLA / Shutterstock

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ISBN-13: 978-0-13-678804-1
ISBN-10: 0-13-678804-1

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For my wife, who has always believed in me and continues to do so.

To those who have helped me along my journeyteachers, mentors, friends, and colleagues.

To anyone who has unsuccessfully attempted to design a relational database.

To the hope that a better, more equitable, and more unified world will evolve from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure Credits

Figure Attribution

Cover CARACOLLA / Shutterstock

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Screenshot of Visio Microsoft 2020

Foreword

Twenty-five years ago, Information Technology looked a lot different from the way it looks today. Twenty-five years from now, its going to look a lot different again. One thing is certain; shared repositories where we park our data, that is, databases, are still going to be around. Theyve stood the test of time. And as long as we have databases, were going to need to design them, so that we can find whatever it was we stored in them.

Mike Hernandez and I came to database design from different directions. Mike spent long years designing and developing databases, learning on the job as he was developing his technique. I started with a theoretical background and dived into database design armed with normalization tools and entity-relationship diagrams. At some point over these 25 years, weve managed to meet in the middle, and now here we are.

Mikes methodology is unique. He has based it on solid theory, but has been able to describe it in totally practical terms, detached from any single database product, wisely steering away from overburdening the reader with theoretical concepts and instead providing methods and tools that any person charged with designing a database on any platform can use to successfully complete his or her project.

Over the years, Mike and I have traded tips and quips and even argued over certain issues. I used his second edition when I was teaching classes in database fundamentals before the turn of the century (if that doesnt make you feel old...). At some point between the second and third editions of the book, he finally gave up and added the appendix on normalizationthank you, Mike. Even though data normalization can cause brain damage if you study it too hard or too long, at least you, dear reader, will have an opportunity to get some exposure.

At this point Im comfortable with the content. Just so you know, Ive done a total review of this book before it was published, and if Mike has followed my suggestions, itll be a good and terribly useful read. This book is not meant to be a formal treatise on database design theory. It is a book for everyman and everywoman. It is a book that lays out the fundamentals of how to create a database that will do what its meant to do, as long as you follow the steps in Mikes methodology. As he says more than once, skip a step and live to regret!

Best wishes, dear reader, as you start your journey on the path to database design awareness. Youre in good hands with Mike.

Mount Vernon Data Systems LLC

Preface

Life, as the most ancient of all metaphors insists, is a journey...