Includes index.

Theory -- Effects of Poor Database Design -- Unnecessary Duplicated Data and Data Consistency -- Data Insertion Problems -- Data Deletion Problems -- Meaningful Identifiers -- Entities and Data Relationships -- Entities and Their Attributes -- Entity Identifiers -- Single-Valued versus Multivalued Attributes -- Avoiding Collections of Entities -- Documenting Logical Data Relationships -- Entities and Attributes for Lasers Only -- Domains -- Documenting Domains -- Practical Domain Choices -- Basic Data Relationships -- One-to-One Relationships -- One-to-Many Relationships -- Many-to-Many Relationships -- Weak Entities and Mandatory Relationships -- Documenting Relationships -- Basic Relationships for Lasers Only -- Dealing with Many-to-Many Relationships -- Composite Entities -- Documenting Composite Entities -- Resolving Lasers Only's Many-to-Many Relationships -- Relationships and Business Rules -- Data Modeling versus Data Flow -- Schemas -- Historical Antecedents -- File Processing Systems -- Early File Processing -- ISAM Files -- Limitations of File Processing -- File Processing on the Desktop -- The Hierarchical Data Model -- Characteristics of the Hierarchical Data Model -- IMS -- The Simple Network Data Model -- Characteristics of a Simple Network -- CODASYL -- The Complex Network Data Model -- The Relational Data Model -- Understanding Relations -- Columns and Column Characteristics -- Rows and Row Characteristics -- Types of Tables -- A Notation for Relations -- Primary Keys -- Primary Keys to Identify People -- Avoiding Meaningful Primary Keys -- Concatenated Primary Keys -- All-Key Relations -- Representing Data Relationships -- Referential Integrity -- Foreign Keys and Primary Keys in the Same Table -- Views -- The View Mechanism -- Why Use Views? -- The Data Dictionary -- Sample Data Dictionary Tables -- A Bit of History -- Normalization -- Translating an ER Diagram into Relations -- Normal Forms -- First Normal Form -- Understanding Repeating Groups -- Handling Repeating Groups -- Problems with First Normal Form -- Second Normal Form -- Understanding Functional Dependencies -- Using Functional Dependencies to Reach 2NF -- Problems with 2NF Relations -- Third Normal Form -- Transitive Dependencies -- Boyce-Codd Normal Form -- Fourth Normal Form -- Multivalued Dependencies -- Normalized Relations and Database Performance -- Equi-Joins -- What's Really Going On: PRODUCT and RESTRICT -- The Bottom Line -- Database Structure and Performance Tuning -- Indexing -- Deciding Which Indexes to Create -- Clustering -- Partitioning -- Horizontal Partitioning -- Vertical Partitioning -- Codd's Rules -- The Information Rule -- The Guaranteed Access Rule -- Systematic Treatment of Null Values -- Dynamic Online Catalog Based on the Relational Model -- The Comprehensive Data Sublanguage Rule -- The View Updating Rule -- High-Level Insert, Update, and Delete -- Physical Data Independence -- Logical Data Independence -- Integrity Independence -- Distribution Independence -- Nonsubversion Rule -- Integrating Objects -- An Introduction to Object-Oriented Concepts -- Writing Instructions -- Objects -- Classes -- Class Relationships -- Benefits of Object Orientation -- Integrating Objects into a Relational Database -- ER Diagrams for Object-Relational Designs -- Practice -- Using SQL to Implement a Relational Design -- Database Object Hierarchy -- Naming and Identifying Objects -- Schemas -- Creating a Schema -- Identifying the Schema You Want to Use -- Domains -- Column Data Types -- Default Values -- NOT NULL Constraints -- Primary Keys -- Foreign Keys -- Additional Column Constraints -- Views -- Deciding Which Views to Create -- View Updatability Issues -- Creating Views -- Temporary Tables -- Creating Temporary Tables -- Loading Temporary Tables with Data -- Disposition of Temporary Table Rows -- Creating Indexes -- Modifying Database Elements -- Adding New Columns -- Adding Table Constraints -- Modifying Columns -- Deleting Elements -- Renaming Elements -- Deleting Database Elements -- Granting and Revoking Access Rights -- Types of Access Rights -- Storing Access Rights -- Granting Rights -- Revoking Rights -- Object-Relational Extensions -- Using CASE Tools for Database Design -- CASE Capabilities -- ER Diagram Reports -- Data Flow Diagrams -- The Data Dictionary -- Code Generation -- Sample Input and Output Designs -- The Drawing Environment -- Database Design Case Study #1: Mighty-Mite Motors -- Corporate Overview -- Product Development Division -- Manufacturing Division -- Marketing & Sales Division -- Current Information Systems -- Reengineering Project -- New Information Systems Division -- Basic System Goals -- Current Business Processes -- Designing the Database -- Examining the Data Flows -- Creating the ER Diagram -- Creating the Tables -- Generating the SQL -- The Object-Relational Design -- Creating the Classes -- Using the Classes in the Schema -- Database Design Case Study #2: East Coast Aquarium -- Organizational Overview -- Animal Tracking Needs -- The Volunteer Organization -- The Volunteers Database -- Creating the Application Prototype -- Creating the ER Diagram -- Designing the Tables -- Generating the SQL -- The Animal Tracking Database -- Highlights of the Application Prototype -- Creating the ER Diagram -- Creating the Tables -- Generating the SQL -- The Object-Relational Design -- The Volunteers Database -- The Animal Tracking Database -- Database Design Case Study #3: Independent Intelligence Agency -- Organizational Overview -- Current Information Systems -- Summary of IS Needs -- System Specifications -- Designing the Database -- ER Diagram for People -- ER Diagram for Intelligence Gathering and Sales -- ER Diagram for System Security -- ER Diagram for Equipment Tracking -- Designing the Tables -- Generating the SQL -- The Object-Relational Design -- Creating the Classes -- Writing the Schema.

Harrington approaches relational database design with a balance of theory and practice; the theory is targeted toward real-world practice. The book shows how to construct the SQL statements needed to install well-designed relational databases and discusses other performance related database design issues, such as indeces and clustering.