Saturday, November 10, 2018

Conceptual Modeling Is Not Data Modeling



“Ok, now that we have those two (Parts 3 and 4 of your series) 'on the table' so to speak, perhaps you would address these questions...
1. Would it be safe to say that facts expressed in a Conceptual model should be verifiable in reality?

2. Are the following facts logically equivalent or are they different:

a) The car with license number 62-JZK-6 has the color aquamarine blue
b) De auto met kenteken 62-JZK-6 heeft de kleur aquamarijnblauw

3. If a previously true fact is found in reality to be verifiably false, would that mean the Conceptual model is wrong or the Logical model, or reality?”

“I'm going to add another:

4. How does RDM handle temporal changes to the 'truth' of statement 2a) when:

a) The owner of the car paints it black.
b) The owner of the license plate legally transfers it to a truck.
c) The owner of the car replaces every single part except the chassis.”

John O'Gorman asked me these questions in a LinkedIn exchange[1] in response to my comments in another exchange on modeling[2], where I alerted to the confusion of levels of representation common in the industry, particularly conceptual-logical conflation(CLC)[3]: calling conceptual modeling data modeling both reflects and induces it.

Online exchanges are not a proper vehicle for learning, particularly foundation knowledge. Which is why I publish free blog posts, and papers and books, to which to refer interested serious data professionals. It just so happened that my just posted four-part series covers the subject at hand[4], so I referred to it, as well as other writings (the answers are already there if one cares to read them). I will not discuss the whole exchanges -- read them and judge for yourself -- but I promised to answer the questions here, where I can do them justice.

John raises primarily conceptual, not data model issues -- the latter are subservient to decisions in the former -- but then asks "how does RDM handle..." From experience, I recognize implicit doubts that the RDM can. As far as we know there is no formal data model[5] that is a superior alternative to the RDM with respect to "handling" conceptual issues (in fact, there is no other formal data model -- i.e., that satisfies Codd's definition -- period).


Since most of the issues involved are covered by McGoveran's work in progress[6] (in which my multi-part series is rooted), to ensure consistency with it I passed the questions by him. As he too pointed out, "Answers that work in all situations require highly complicated discussions and lots of time, and trying to teach someone without proper experience and educational background would be very cumbersome, or an oversimplication via online exchanges." 


Here's what's possible within the constraints of a blog post -- the serious reader is referred to our writings.

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Understanding Conceptual vs. Data Modeling Part 4: Properties-object Modeling



Revised 6/26/19.

In Part 1 and Part 2 we explained that when the RDM (1969-70) and the E/RM (1976) were introduced, there was no distinction between a conceptual and a logical level -- the conceptual-logical-physical distinction of levels of representation emerged in mid 80s. Only in 1980 did Codd specify three components of a formal data model -- structure, integrity, manipulation. While the RDM satisfies the specification, the E/RM does not: it is a conceptual modeling approach, weaknesses of which have been elaborated elsewhere[1]. In Part 3 we presented a common example of conceptual-logical conflation (CLC), and corresponding confusion of types of model (conceptual, logical, physical, and data).

As promised, here we outline a new conceptual modeling approach derived by David McGoveran from his work formalizing Codd's RDM. It makes an ontological commitment different from that by conventional modeling, which requires revision and extension of the RDM -- an objective of David's effort.


Sunday, October 28, 2018

Understanding Conceptual vs. Data Modeling Part 3: Don't Conflate Reality and Data




In Part 1 and Part 2  we explained that between 1975-81, when the E/RM and RDM were introduced, there was no distinction between an informal conceptual and a formal logical level. In 1980, however, Codd defined a formal data model and in the later 80s the conceptual-logical-physical levels of representation emerged. If applied to the two models:

  • Only the RDM satisfies the definition;
  • The E/RM can be used at the conceptual level to model reality, the latter can be used to model data at the logical level (i.e., formalize conceptual models as logical models for database representation).
Current practitioners, however, continue to confuse levels of representation and confuse/conflate types of model. So much so, that in my presentations I used to draw an imaginary line dividing the room into two sections, and move to the right section to discuss one level/model, and to the left section to discuss another.

Consider the question "does data modeling slow down an application development process?". I will set aside the notion of "speeding up" application development by skipping altogether "data modeling" (whichever way it is meant), and focus on the response.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Understanding Conceptual vs.Data Modeling Part 2: E/RM Models Reality, RDM Models Data




Re-write 10/17/18
Revised 11/1/18

In Part 1 we explained that when the RDM and the E/RM were introduced, the distinct conceptual-logical-physical levels of representation had not yet emerged, and a data model had not yet been formally defined. But in 1980 Codd defined a formal data model as a combination of (1) data structures, (2) integrity constraints, and (3) operators on the structures[1], and later on the three-fold trinity of levels came into being. Given a conceptual level distinct from the logical, do the RDM and the E/RM satisfy the definition -- are they data models in today's terms?

Recall from Part 1 that the RDM has all three components and is defined in purely logical terms, so it is a data model. But the E/RM definition intermingles conceptual and logical terminology, and therefore is not consistent with two distinct levels. Moreover, as a data model E/RM is incomplete:

“The E/RM is not a data model as formally defined by Codd: no explicit structural component except sets classified in various ways, no explicit manipulative component except implied set operations, and very limited integrity (keys).”
--David McGoveran
Contrary to claims, Date does not exactly say that the E/RM is a data model:
“[It] is not even clear that the E/R "model" is truly a data model at all, at least in the sense in which we have been using that term in this book so far (i.e., as a formal system involving structural, integrity, and manipulative aspects). Certainly the term "E/R modeling" is usually taken to mean the process of deciding the structure (only) of the database, although [it does deal with] certain integrity aspects also, mostly having to do with keys ... However, a charitable reading of [Chen's original E/RM paper] would suggest that the E/R model is indeed a data model, but one that is essentially just a thin layer on top of the relational model (it is certainly not a candidate for replacing the relational model, as some have suggested).”[2]
Note that even if, charitably, the E/RM is considered a data model, it is not up to the RDM.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Don't Conflate/Confuse Primary Keys, PK Constraints, and Indexes




“What is the difference between an index and a key? How are they related?”

“There seams to be some confusion between what a Primary Key is, and what an Index is and how they are used. The Primary Key is a logical object. By that I mean that is simply defines a set of properties on one column or a set of columns to require that the columns which make up the primary key are unique and that none of them are null. Because they are unique and not null, these values (or value if your primary key is a single column) can then be used to identify a single row in the table every time. In most if not all database platforms the Primary Key will have an index created on it. An index on the other hand doesn’t define uniqueness. An index is used to more quickly find rows in the table based on the values which are part of the index. When you create an index within the database, you are creating a physical object which is being saved to disk.”

“A primary key by default creates a clustered index. A unique constraint/key by default creates a non-clustered index.”

“An index is a (logically) ordered list of rows. For example, an index on LastName means all values are already sorted in LastName order. Usually index rows contain far fewer columns in them than the table itself (except the clustered index, which is the table). A key is a column or columns that defines the order of an index. For example, on an index ordered by (LastName,FirstName), then LastName and FirstName are the keys. Btw, a primary key is a physical object, not a logical one. The db engine needs physical rows in order to insure unique values in the index.”
--Difference between an index and a key?, SQLTeam.com
I have recently published a paper[1], and posted a multipart series[2] on relational keys. In the latter I stated as follows:
"As a relational feature, keys can only be properly understood within the formal foundation of the RDM, which is simple set theory (SST) expressible in first order predicate logic (FOPL) adapted and applied to database management. Yet that is precisely what is ignored and dismissed in the industry -- including by the authors of SQL[3]."
I have also written extensively on widespread logical-physical confusion (LPC)[4], recently specifically in the key-index context[5]. The replies above are examples -- if any more were needed -- that validate my repeated claim of lack of foundation knowledge in the industry -- can you tell what's wrong with, and what's correct in, them?

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

RE-WRITE



See: https://www.dbdebunk.com/2018/09/designation-property-and-assertion.html
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