You developed and revised your ERD in Week Two, bringing you one step closer to creating the physical database in the Structured Query Language (SQL) server in your virtual lab environment. However, before doing so, you need to check the conceptual model you created and ensure that it meets the First, Second and Third normal forms.
For this assignment, explain the purpose of the normalization process including a description for each of the five normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF, 4NF, and 5NF) and providing examples for each. Cite the sources for all examples. You will then translate the ERD model you created and revised in Week Two into 3NF.
Within your paper explain how each table in your ERD meets 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF. If the tables do not meet the forms, you need to resolve any issues and normalize the database in order to meet 1NF, 2NF, 3NF. If issues were encountered and had to be resolved, describe the rules that were violated and how you resolved them.
ERD from Week 2 (see below):
Step
Description
1. Analyze User Needs
Carefully review the Business Rules document to understand project requirements and user needs (Pulungan et al., 2023).
2. Identify Entities and Attributes
Based on the Business Rules document, identify entities and their attributes, distinguishing major database objects from their properties.
3. Define Entity Relationships
Determine how entities relate to each other, defining connections such as a “Customer” entity relating to an “Order” entity through a “Place” relationship.
4. Select Data Types
Choose appropriate data types for attributes, considering data nature and system requirements. For example, use “VARCHAR” for names and “DECIMAL” for prices.
5. Identify Primary Keys
Determine unique primary keys for each entity, like “CustomerID” or “ProductCode,” to ensure record identification.
6. Build the ERD in Visio
Utilize Microsoft Visio or a similar ERD modeling tool to construct the diagram, leveraging user-friendly interface and symbols.
7. Save as PDF
Save the completed ERD in Visio as a PDF file for easy sharing and submission.
Tips for ERD Construction
- Sketch a preliminary ERD to picture connections and guarantee all substances and traits are incorporated.
- Use clear, descriptive names for elements and traits to improve meaningfulness.
- Validate relationships for accuracy, taking into account cardinality and flexibility.
- Refer to the Business Rules document and task directions for consistence.
Data Type Selection
Consider data nature and system necessities while picking data types:
Data Type
Description
VARCHAR
Variable-length character strings.
INTEGER
Whole numbers.
DECIMAL
Decimal numbers with precise decimal places.
DATE
Dates.
BOOLEAN
True/false or yes/no values.
Primary Key Selection
Choose primary keys from ascribes with novel qualities. Opt for naturally unique attributes or mixes, making interesting identifiers. Guarantee solidness over the long haul.
Benefits of MS Visio for ERD
Benefit
Description
User-Friendly
Visio provides an intuitive interface, making ERD creation accessible to non-technical users.
Symbol Variety
A rich symbol library aids accurate representation of entities, attributes, and relationships.
Compatibility
Supports various file formats, including PDF, for easy sharing and collaboration.
Customization
Allows diagram customization to meet specific requirements.