Relational Database Design by ER- and

EER-to-Relational Mapping

Handout-4

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 Outline
 Relational Database Design Using ER-to-
Relational Mapping
 Mapping EER Model Constructs to
Relations

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 Relational Database
Design by ER- and EER-to-
Relational Mapping
 Design a relational database schema
 Based on a conceptual schema design
 Seven-step algorithm to convert the basic
ER model constructs into relations
 Additional steps for EER model

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 Relational Database Design
Using ER-to-Relational Mapping

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm
 COMPANY database example
 Assume that the mapping will create tables
with simple single-valued attributes
 Step 1: Mapping of Regular Entity Types
 For each regular entity type, create a relation R
that includes all the simple attributes of E
 Called entity relations
• Each tuple represents an entity instance

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Step 2: Mapping of Weak Entity Types
 For each weak entity type, create a relation R
and include all simple attributes of the entity
type as attributes of R
 Include primary key attribute of owner as
foreign key attributes of R

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ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Step 3: Mapping of Binary 1:1 Relationship
Types
 For each binary 1:1 relationship type
• Identify relations that correspond to entity types
participating in R
 Possible approaches:
• Foreign key approach
• Merged relationship approach
• Crossreference or relationship relation approach

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Step 4: Mapping of Binary 1:N Relationship
Types
 For each regular binary 1:N relationship type
• Identify relation that represents participating entity
type at N-side of relationship type
• Include primary key of other entity type as foreign
key in S
• Include simple attributes of 1:N relationship type as
attributes of S

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Alternative approach
• Use the relationship relation (cross-reference)
option as in the third option for binary 1:1
relationships

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Step 5: Mapping of Binary M:N Relationship
Types
 For each binary M:N relationship type
• Create a new relation S
• Include primary key of participating entity types as
foreign key attributes in S
• Include any simple attributes of M:N relationship
type

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Step 6: Mapping of Multivalued Attributes
 For each multivalued attribute
• Create a new relation
• Primary key of R is the combination of A and K
• If the multivalued attribute is composite, include its
simple components

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 ER-to-Relational Mapping
Algorithm (cont’d.)
 Step 7: Mapping of N-ary Relationship
Types
 For each n-ary relationship type R
• Create a new relation S to represent R
• Include primary keys of participating entity types as
foreign keys
• Include any simple attributes as attributes

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Discussion and Summary of
Mapping for ER Model
Constructs

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 Discussion and Summary of
Mapping for ER Model
Constructs (cont’d.)
 In a relational schema relationship, types
are not represented explicitly
 Represented by having two attributes A and B:
one a primary key and the other a foreign key

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Mapping EER Model Constructs
to Relations
 Extending ER-to-relational mapping
algorithm

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 Mapping of Specialization or
Generalization
 Step 8: Options for Mapping Specialization
or Generalization (see pages 294-295)
 Option 8A: Multiple relations—superclass
and subclasses
• For any specialization (total or partial, disjoint or
overlapping)
 Option 8B: Multiple relations—subclass
relations only
• Subclasses are total
• Specialization has disjointedness constraint
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 Mapping of Specialization or
Generalization (cont’d.)
 Option 8C: Single relation with one type
attribute
• Type or discriminating attribute indicates subclass of
tuple
• Subclasses are disjoint
• Potential for generating many NULL values if many specific
attributes exist in the subclasses
 Option 8D: Single relation with multiple type
attributes
• Subclasses are overlapping
• Will also work for a disjoint specialization
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 Mapping of Shared Subclasses
(Multiple Inheritance)
 Apply any of the options discussed in step
8 to a shared subclass

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 Mapping of Categories (Union
Types)
 Step 9: Mapping of Union Types
(Categories)
 Defining superclasses have different keys
 Specify a new key attribute
• Surrogate key

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 Summary
 Map conceptual schema design in the ER
model to a relational database schema
 Algorithm for ER-to-relational mapping
 Illustrated by examples from the COMPANY
database
 Include additional steps in the algorithm for
mapping constructs from EER model into
relational model

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