Re: Table Relationships

On Fri, 30 May 2003, Josh Berkus wrote:

> Jeandre,
> 
> > instead of normalizing the database. I think that they think that joining
> > tables will slow down retrieval, is this true?
> 
> No, it's not.   I'm afraid that your co-workers learned their computer 
> knowledge 10 years ago and have not kept up to date.  They may need 
> retraining.

Thought as much

> 
> Modern database systems, especially PostgreSQL, are much faster with a proper 
> relational schema than with an inadequate flat-file table, due to the 
> efficient storage of data ... i.e., no redundancy.   

That is what I thought, but since they out rank me at work I needed the 
extra conformation. Now at least I can show them that I am not the only 
person that thinks a flat table structure is stone age design. I know for a 
fact it is better on Sybase, but I wasn't to sure about postgres and since 
they have been working on it for longer than I have, I am expected to 
follow their lead.

> 
> I highly suggest that you take a look at the book "Database Design for Mere 
> Mortals"; if you're asking the question you posted, you are nowhere near 
> ready to build a production database application.
> 

Thanks, I will have a look at that book. You are right, I am only first 
year Bsc, but I had a feeling that the facts they are giving me can't be 
right, it just didn't make any sense. They way I figured it, is that 
having a relational database, makes the database smaller because there is 
no duplicate data, which should make it faster.

Thanks for your help. I will approach my managers.
Jeandre