I have a database in which there is a particular data tables that has a lot of dictionary (or lookup) tables hanging off of it. The dictionary tables do not currently have PKs. They consist merely of a list of values that are used to create drop down lists in an application.
Would it be more efficient to create PKs for these dictionary tables so that an integer value is stored in the main data table as opposed to a sting value?
Is there a preferred database standard?
Thanks
Jodi
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Jodi L Kanter
BioInformatics Database Administrator
University of Virginia
(434) 924-2846
jkanter@virginia.edu