The Data Model Toolkit

How To Use This Book The Book's Signposts Who Are You? The Foundations 1: Data Models And The Real World Is The Data Model Finished Yet? What Are Data Models? Process Versus Function Organisation Awareness The Subject Matter Expert 2: The Data Model As A Communication Tool The Data Model As A Communication Tool Abstraction Barrier Splattergrams Data Model Dissemination 3: The Data Modelling Process Overview The Data Modelling Process Create Engagement Data Modelling In 3-D Perform Closure Activities Data Model Longevity The Tools 4: The Names Of Things - Entities Entities Discovering Entities Defining Entities 5: The Characteristics Of Things - Entities' Attributes Introduction Entity Properties - Attributes Enhancing the Organisation Entity 6: Tying Things Together - Simple Relationships Introduction Simple Relationships - Master Detail Relationship Syntax Defining Relationships Relationship Transferability Multiple Relationships between two Entities Many To Many Relationships Master Detail with Detail group Methodical Data Model Layout Name Guidelines Summary 7: Which One Is It? - Identifying Entities Introduction Unique Identifier Attributes Selecting Valid Unique Identifier Attributes Alternate Keys Surrogate Keys 8: Attributes That Become Entities - Normalisation Introduction When Attributes Demand Their Own Entities Gaining A New Master Entity Gaining A New Detail Entity Sneaky De-normalisation 9: Relationships As Unique Identifiers Introduction Relationships As Unique Identifiers Additional Identifying Attribute Additional Identifying Relationship More Complex Combinations Of Unique Identifiers 10: Advanced Relationship Modelling Introduction Fan Traps Recursive Relationships Cyclical Recursive Relationships Multiple Hierarchy Types Many To Many Recursive Relationships' Resolution Grouping Pattern 'Typing' Of Master Entities Data Typing Spectrum 11: Things that Are The Same But Different - Super -Type Modelling Introduction What Are Super-type Entities? Super-type Check List Super-type Syntax Invalid Super-types Attributes Within Super/Sub-type Models Relationships Within Super/Sub-type Models Arcs 12: Actors' Roles Introduction Entity Roles Explicit Versus Generalised Roles Common Explicit Roles Modelling Roles As Sub-types 13: Rule Based Modelling Introduction Rule Based Modelling Technique Attribute Extensibility Globalisation and Localisation 14: Representing Lifecycles In Data Models Introduction Effective Date Pattern State Status Transition Pattern Milestones Phases Effective Date Lifecycles Lifecycle Versioning The Deliverables 15: Data Model Development Approach The Embryonic Data Model Logical Data Models Stakeholders' Relationships With Data Models Data Models Development Profile Do We Care? Data Models And The Software Development Life-Cycle Data Modelling Using An Agile Approach Rapid Active Data Modelling (RADM) 16: Where to Start? - The Engagement Process Introduction Creating The Engagement Process Planning Your Data Modelling 17: Data Modelling In 3-D - Discover, Decide and Define Introduction Discover Decide Define 18: Quality Assuring Data Models Introduction Data Model Completeness Wholesome Structures The Basic Quality Assurance Check List 19: Closure Processes Introduction Model Dissemination Liaise With Consumers Integration With Data Governance Processes 20: What Happens Next? Physical Data Models Introduction The Enterprise Data Models' Composition Data Model Inter-Relationships Canonical Models Physical Data Models De-Normalised Models Appendices A-F