Re: [libreoffice-users] Currently Using Spreadsheet for Personal Project - Thinking About Database

Joel,

The NumberOfBooksByAuthor and ReadBooksByAuthor fields are unnecessary.
They can be derived from a simple query for a report.

Since there has to be a one-to-one relation between the ReadStatus table
and the BookInformation table, you might as well merge them. When you do
merge them, a NotRead field is superfluous. If the Read field is binary,
when it is true the book has been read and when it is false it is not read.
Also, you left out a DateRead field, corresponding to the Year, Month, Day
fields of your original spread sheet.

Similarly, since there has to be a one-to-one relation between the
BookInformation table and the Rankings table, you might as well merge them
as well.

The NumberOfBooksInSeries, the ReadInSeries and the RemainingInSeries
fields are unnecessary. Such information is readily obtained through
queries for reports.

By the way, carefully consider how you intend to import the data from your
original spreadsheet to the database. There are various ways to do it, and
how you structure your database will impact how you import your data.




On Sun, Aug 10, 2014 at 2:48 PM, Joel Madero <jmadero.dev@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> So I went back to planning stage. Link to what I think might work - hoping
> to get the planning stage done today so I can start actually putting
> together the db - I have 3 days off so now's a good time for me to get the
> basic structure together :) Thanks in advance!
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2kdRhc960qdbGJIQ1M3NWtrdmc/
> edit?usp=sharing
>
> Best,
> Joel
>
>
>  I havne't used Base, but I have taken a very complex spreadsheet and
> > designed an SQL database from it when it became unwieldy. Key things I'd
> > suggest, more tables is not bad, in fact the more the better if it clearly
> > separates data into one table. Do not duplicate data. If you have a field
> > whose contents are duplicated then that really probably needs to be a
> > separate table.
> >
> > 2 books I found invaluable for helping me design my system are
> >
> > Beginning Database Design by Clare Churcher and Beginning SQL Queries
> > also by Clare Churcher. They were the most readable and understandable of
> > the lot.
> >
> > If I were doing your system I'd do the following:
> > Book table
> >         Title
> >         number of pages
> >         Foreign key links to an authors table and a series table
> >         boolean read or not or else a link to a table read status see
> > below
> > Authors
> >         Name
> > Series
> >         Name of series like Dragons of Pern or Harry Potter
> > Read status
> >         started
> >         finished
> >         wanted
> >
> > Linking should be by query.
> >
> > On Aug 8, 2014, at 10:29 AM, Joel Madero <jmadero.dev@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >  Just wanted to bump this to see if anyone has thoughts. Worst case I'm
> > > going to just dive into Database and see what I can learn but I'm hoping
> > > to
> > > get a little feedback before spending time which might be totally
> > > pointless
> > > as I really don't have the time to just throw away ;) Thanks again in
> > > advance!
> > >
> > >
> > >  Eugenie (Oogie) McGuire
> > Desert Weyr, LLC - Black Welsh Mountain Sheep http://www.desertweyr.com/
> > LambTracker - Open Source SW for Shepherds http://www.lambtracker.com
> > Paonia, CO USA
>
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