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I shared the links to my recent three-part series on foreign keys (and integrity constraints in general) on LinkedIn. Comments on the second installment raised an important issue about keys (discussed in more depth in Business Modeling for Database Design), which deserves attention.

NK: Let me first affirm my position that I believe foreign keys are the fundamental bases on which relational database managements system operate. Foreign keys provide the relationship in database normalization. Foreign keys are like the framework of a building structure. While some developers may have the notion that constraints and integrity checks can be handled better at the application layer, I would want to refer them to tools like ER Studio, ERWIN, and Visual Studio ... A good database design starts at the logical design level. Abstracting constraints and integrity checks from this layer to the application layer can lead to corrupt database designs. A simple case in point; How would you enforce a unique constraint on a table with 10 million rows? Will it make better sense to have a unique index on the table\field or have the application layer enforce the constraint?

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1.
On the SCHEDULE:

A private database design seminar, October 9-10, Milan, Italy (sponsored by Microsoft and SolidQ)

A public presentation to the SQL Server User Group Italy (UGISS), October 8, Milan, Italy.

Details forthcoming. Contact Davide Mauri @SolidQ.


2.
The 'Quote of the Week' is an online question that is too long to post to the QUOTES page, so I posted the link to the exchange it initiated.


3.
A 'To Laugh or Cry' item was posted on the LAUGH/CRY page.

Remember my claim that we are regressing to this?


4.
A link to an exchange I participated was posted on the FP ONLINE page.


5.
Life and Work of Ted Codd (YouTube)

Is everything accurate?


6.
And now for something completely different.

How the Hum of a Coffee Shop Can Boost Creativity

The logical conclusion and real risk of digitizing everything in sight.

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Note: For a more in-depth discussion see Business Modeling for Database Design.

Chris Date once wrote a paper titled Models, Models Everywhere, Nor Any Time to Think, deploring the confused and distorted way in which fundamental concepts and terminology in general and relational ones in particular, are used in the industry. But no matter how many times a misconception is debunked, the abuse continues and will do so given educational failure and disregard for precision. Data model is a case in point (see Unmuddling Modeling, Parts 1,2) and What Is a Data Model?)

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1.
The following were added to the SCHEDULE:

• Private database design seminar, October 9-10, Milan, Italy (sponsored by Microsoft and organized by SolidQ)

• Public presentation to the SQL Server User Group Italy (UGISS), October 8, Milan, Italy, organized by SolidQ.

2
The 'Quote of the Week' was posted on the QUOTES page.

3.
My latest All Analytics column was posted on the FP ONLINE page.

Two of the previously posted exchanges have new comments:
Different Types of DBMS
Comments on my Foreign Keys, Part 2 The Costs of Application-Enforced Integrity

4.
A 'To Laugh or Cry' item was posted on the LAUGH/CRY page.

5.
A link to an exchange I participated was posted on the FP ONLINE page.

6.
And now for something completely different

European data protection watchdogs are closing in on Google, with Spain charging the software giant with six legal infringements punishable by up to €1.5m (£1.3m) in fines, while France has given it three months to rewrite its privacy policy.
...
On the same day, France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) gave Google formal notice that it risks a fine of up to €150,000 and a second of €300,000 if it fails to rewrite its privacy policy within three months.
--Google and privacy: European data regulators round on search giant

I'm sure this will put stop to abuses cold.

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See: Foreign Keys Part 1: Understanding the Fundamentals

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1.
The 'Quote of the Week' was posted on the QUOTES page.

2.
A 'To Laugh or Cry' item was posted on the LAUGH/CRY page.

3.
A link to an exchange I participated was posted on the FP ONLINE page.


4.
And now for something completely different.

The United States Is Still in an Extraordinarily Good Position 

Certainly true from his perspective.

Banks Reap Profits on Overdraft Fees as Customers Lose Money 

See what I mean?

The World Isn't Fair

He should know. And it works because he

Augmented Reality vs. Decimated Reality

helps ensuring we stay like this:

The laughable innocence of Facebook and Google (and us)

Incidentally, believing in corporate innocence is what public innocence is all about.

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