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From: tiberio@seismo.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Normalized Databases
Message-ID: <43239@beno.seismo.CSS.GOV>
Date: Wed, 1-Apr-87 08:46:19 EST
Article-I.D.: beno.43239
Posted: Wed Apr  1 08:46:19 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Apr-87 06:00:34 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: Center for Seismic Studies, Arlington, VA
Lines: 35
Keywords: normal form, relational

At our facility we have a certain large investment in a relational database
design that is not in the highest normal form. We have some folks proposing
that we redesign our database (and no doubt out database interface software)
to a greater or highest normal form. They state we will enjoy the following
qualities when this is done.

1) The ammount of space required to store the data is lowest.

2) The ability to update the database is greatest.

3) Explaining the database is simplest.

While I agree with the first point, If disc space is not a problem I
don't see where this is a big win.

I'm not really sure under point two if they mean update the database
or update the database design. We update (or replace in INGRES terms)
our databases very little once they are established.

I disagree with the third point, especially if I have to explain this
twisted mess of relations (56 vs 24) to our mythical "joe" user.

What I am asking you folks in netland is for some guidance. I like the
intellectual concept of normal form relational databases, but I need to
know if there are any good reasons not to go that route. I would also
like to know if there are other advantages that the proposers failed to
mention.  I might add that we seem to have plenty of money for
hardware, but that man hours are at a premium.

Since this group has very little traffic, I don't see why we can't
discuss this on the net, but please feel free to send me E-mail for any
mega-responses. References to texts and/or papers would be welcome.

beno!tiberio
seismo!tiberio