Newsletter

Importing data (#49)

By |2018-10-21T00:20:49+11:00August 28th, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

Often the data we are modelling must be imported into a database.  Data importing can be a complex and difficult task. Often the data must come from several different sources and the importing will occur in several steps. Sometimes the data for different tables can come from different sources and must be imported at different [...]

Performance (#48)

By |2018-10-21T00:27:01+11:00August 21st, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

In a database, good performance is vital. So, how can we be sure we will have good performance in a project?  What will make a data model good for performance or bad? And what is good performance anyway? Let’s start by defining good performance. […]

Use case design (#46)

By |2018-10-20T22:35:42+11:00August 1st, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

Use cases must be designed in cooperation with future users of the software or database.  Designers will have a theoretical view to some extent, while users have more practical demands.  Theoretical matters are not an end in themselves, so aim for practical solutions. […]

What do we need? (#45)

By |2018-10-20T23:07:34+11:00July 24th, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

If you are going on a long hike; planning an overseas trip; building a new house; planting a garden; or doing many other things in life, one of the main questions is “What do I need?” Sometimes it is deciding what we need to take with us, while at other times it is deciding what [...]

Use cases (#44)

By |2018-10-20T23:14:48+11:00July 14th, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

Definition With software, a “use case” is a specific situation for which the software must be used to achieve a particular goal. Normally, this will be defined as a set of steps that must be followed to do the work. Use cases are invaluable for customers and suppliers alike. They help a supplier to understand [...]

Putting it all together (#43)

By |2018-10-20T23:20:31+11:00July 7th, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

At times we feel that we are getting everything right in one area of our work.  Everything we touch seems to turn to gold and we feel completely happy with our decisions and achievements – in that area. But data modelling won’t let us work in only one area – ignoring all the bits we [...]

System Matters (#42)

By |2018-10-20T23:31:10+11:00June 30th, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

In some cases, when we begin a task of data modelling, we can build walls around our project and treat it as an independent kingdom.  The design process is easier if the project has no need of any inputs from outside nor any need to provide information to anywhere else.  This gives us much more [...]

Analysis of future usage (#41)

By |2018-10-20T23:40:52+11:00June 22nd, 2017|Modelling principles, Newsletter|

How will my software be used in two years’ time?  What extra fields should I add now so that they can be used in “a while”?  Should I make these fields optional until some extra data is available next year?  Is data validation necessary, or will it become a maintenance nightmare? […]

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