Re: Designing a database

Don't, however, go overboard with trying to normalize your database. Don't get me wrong: normalization is good because it saves disk and memory space (and is quite elegant as well); however, too much normalization can come at a price in PHP in terms of application speed and server overhead (not to mention creating coding nightmares if you're using your web-based application to enter data into your database as well as pull information from it). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< On 4/21/01, 10:10:19 PM, Phil Jackson <pjfjacks@swbell.net> wrote regarding Re: [PHP-DB] Designing a database: > Well to start with, I would examine the nature of the data you want to > store, it's datatype, size, ect. Follow the other reccommendations as to > not repeating data > across tables. I tend to use autonumber fields for keys quite often. Also, > think about what data could go into "domain" tables where you have a fairly > non-volitile > and finite set of values, and you plan on searching on this, and don't want > to risk the vagaries of a user spelling it a dozen different ways when > entereing the data....for example - if you have a fixed number of locations, > or computer make - i.e.Dell, Compaq, etc. Also, be sure and provide admin > pages to update these domain tables...maybe next month your company starts > buying ABC-brand pcs - add it to the domain table. When entereing or > searching - the values in these domain tables populate drop-down listboxes - > not left to chance to be entered in a text field.... > Phil J. > Joni Järvinen - Wandu wrote: > > Hey > > > > I'm quite new to databases so I though I'd ask you for > > some tips in designing a database. > > > > The db that I'm supposed to design holds information > > about workstations: Motherboard (Motherboard id, # of pci slots, > > agp slot etc etc.), Harddisks (Size, in what ide and master/slave, etc), > > the physical location of the workstation and it's hardware configuration > > etc. > > > > So if you could give me some tips and pointers for what tables to create > > etc I would be grateful. > > > > TIA > > > > -Joni- > > > > -- > > PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > > To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-db-unsubscribe@lists.php.net > > For additional commands, e-mail: php-db-help@lists.php.net > > To contact the list administrators, e-mail: php-list-admin@lists.php..net > -- > PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-db-unsubscribe@lists.php.net > For additional commands, e-mail: php-db-help@lists.php.net > To contact the list administrators, e-mail: php-list-admin@lists.php.net