Database design with UML and SQL, 4th edition

This fourth edition of this online book is by Alvaro Monge, please contact him with any questions and especially to report any errors or to suggest changes.

The previous editions were done by Tom Jewett. Now retired from teaching, Tom is still active in Web design and accessibility consulting.

Editions

This fourth edition of dbDesign is a significant update to the content of the book and also to its design (forthcoming). Most of the content has been updated and the work to do so is ongoing. More detailed information on the changes will continue to be posted below throughout the process.

Previous editions

For historical reasons, the list below documents the changes to previous editions.

  1. The third edition of dbDesign is a general update, both to meet legal requirements for U.S. “Section 508” accessibility and to bring the code into compliance with the latest World Wide Web Consortium standards. In the process, I've tried to make the SQL examples as generic as possible, although you will still have to consult the documentation for your own database system. Graphics no longer require the SVG plugin; large-image and text-only views of each graphic are provided for all readers; the menu is now arranged by topic areas; and the print version (minus left-side navigation) is done automatically by a style sheet.
  2. The second edition was largely motivated by the very helpful comments of Prof. Alvaro Monge, as well as by Tom Jewett's own observations in two semesters of using its predecessor in class. Major changes included the clear separation of UML from its implementation in the relational model, the introduction of relational algebra terminology as an aid to understanding SQL, and an increased emphasis on natural-language understanding of the design.
  3. The original site was the outgrowth of a previous book project, Practical Relational Database Design (PRDD), by Wayne Dick and Tom Jewett. The move online featured condensed discussions, an integrated view of database concepts and skills, and use of the Unified Modeling Language in the design process. I’m grateful for the positive response that the site has received so far, both from my own students and from online readers worldwide.

Acknowledgements

Alvaro Monge
Department of Computer Engineering and Computer Science
California State University, Long Beach
Alvaro Monge
email: alvaro.monge@csulb.edu