Abstract
This paper discusses the usability of convertibility, a principle for data quality used by the Xplain-DBMS. Convertibility (uniqueness) of type definitions is a helpful criterion for database design, whereas convertibility of instances is a criterion for the uniqueness of instances (records). However, in many situations with or without generalization/specialization, convertibility appears to be an insufficient criterion for correctness of instances, which is illustrated by many examples. In order to be able to specify more rigorous rules for correctness of instances we propose to use new concepts such as 'identifying property'. These new concepts also facilitate the transformation of relational databases into Xplain databases.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2481/dsj.010-037 | Journal eISSN: 1683-1470
Language: English
Page range: 1 - 36
Published on: Feb 17, 2012
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
© 2012 J A Bakker, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.