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O'Reilly Data Engineering Books

2001-10-19 – 2027-05-25 Oreilly Visit website ↗

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Spatial Databases

Spatial Databases is the first unified, in-depth treatment of special techniques for dealing with spatial data, particularly in the field of geographic information systems (GIS). This book surveys various techniques, such as spatial data models, algorithms, and indexing methods, developed to address specific features of spatial data that are not adequately handled by mainstream DBMS technology. The book also reviews commercial solutions to geographic data handling: ArcInfo, ArcView, and Smallworld GISs; and two extensions to the relational model, PostgreSQL and Oracle Spatial. The authors examine these underlying GIS technologies, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and consider specific uses for which each product is best suited. * Examines the strengths of various query languages and approaches to query processing. * Explains the use of computational geometry in spatial databases GISs, providing necessary background and an in-depth look at key algorithms. * Covers spatial access methods, including the R-tree and several space-driven structures, and is filled with dozens of helpful illustrations.

Transactional Information Systems

Transactional Information Systems is the long-awaited, comprehensive work from leading scientists in the transaction processing field. Weikum and Vossen begin with a broad look at the role of transactional technology in today's economic and scientific endeavors, then delve into critical issues faced by all practitioners, presenting today's most effective techniques for controlling concurrent access by multiple clients, recovering from system failures, and coordinating distributed transactions.The authors emphasize formal models that are easily applied across fields, that promise to remain valid as current technologies evolve, and that lend themselves to generalization and extension in the development of new classes of network-centric, functionally rich applications. This book's purpose and achievement is the presentation of the foundations of transactional systems as well as the practical aspects of the field what will help you meet today's challenges. Provides the most advanced coverage of the topic available anywhere--along with the database background required for you to make full use of this material. Explores transaction processing both generically as a broadly applicable set of information technology practices and specifically as a group of techniques for meeting the goals of your enterprise. Contains information essential to developers of Web-based e-Commerce functionality--and a wide range of more "traditional" applications. Details the algorithms underlying core transaction processing functionality.

Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes, Second Edition

Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes, 2E is a tutorial-based book, organized into a series of easy-to-follow, 10-minute lessons. These well targeted lessons teach you in 10 minutes what some books take several hours or days to teach. Instead of dwelling of database theory and relational design, this book takes a very hands-on approach to solving the needs of the majority of SQL users who simply need to interact with data. The reader of this book will learn how to: Retrieve and sort data Filter data using comparisons and wildcards Use the aggregate functions to analyze data Perform insert, update, and delete operations Join relational tables using inner, outer, and self joins Combine queries using unions Use views Create and use stored procedures, triggers, and other advanced database features

Oracle SQL*Loader: The Definitive Guide

SQL Loader is a ubiquitous tool in the Oracle world. It has been shipped with Oracle since at least Version 6 and continues to be supported and enhanced with each new version of Oracle, including Oracle8 and Oracle8Loader is to load data from flat files into an Oracle database. It's optimized for loading large volumes of data, and is flexible enough to handle virtually any input format.Almost every Oracle user has to use SQL i. The job of SQL Loader at one time or another, and DBAs are frequently called upon to load data for the users in their organization. Despite SQLLoader's wide availability and usage, few DBAs and developers know how to get the most out of it. Oracle SQL has everything you need to know to put SQLLoader to its best use: an introduction to SQL Loader: The Definitive Guide Loader, a reference to all of its syntax options, and most importantly, step-by-step instructions for all the SQLLoader tasks you'd want to perform--and maybe some you didn't realize you COULD perform.You'll learn how to construct the necessary control files and load from different types of files containing different types of data (e.g., fixed-width data, delimited data, and data of various datatypes). You'll also learn how to validate data, load it selectively, transform it as it is loaded, and recover after failure. This book explains how to optimize SQL Loader performance by adjusting the transaction size and using the new direct path option. It also covers the newest SQLLoader features--the loading of large object (LOB) columns and the new object types (nested tables, varying arrays, and object tables). Oracle SQL is an indispensable resource for anyone who is new to SQLLoader; a task-oriented learning tool for those who are already using it; and a quick reference for every user. If you want to take best advantage of an essential Oracle tool, you need this book. Loader: The Definitive Guide

Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Programming by Example

SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example provides clear and concise examples of basic programming techniques used in SQL Server 2000 primarily using Transact-SQL. Even if you're a complete novice to SQL Server 2000 programming, you will benefit by reading through the book's logical process. SQL Server 2000 is introduced and explored, database structure is designed and built, and finally a variety of programming techniques are studied and reviewed. If you are already familiar with SQL Server 2000 programming, you may use the book as a quick reference guide that provides plenty of pertinent examples.

Fiber Saver (2029) Implementation Guide

IBM offers a Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) solution with the IBM Fiber Saver (2029). The IBM 2029 provides data transport capabilities for data center applications such as: -Data center backup and recovery -DASD mirroring -Tape vaulting and remote printing -Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS) -LAN interconnectivity -Channel extension -Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) -Storage Area Network (SAN) This IBM Redbooks publication is for technical professionals who are interested in a metropolitan area network (MAN) solution for their data center, using DWDM technology. This document gives a broad understanding of the IBM 2029 architecture and application, and provides information to help plan, implement, configure, and manage an IBM 2029 network. It also contains a discussion on how to design/create a solution to migrate from an IBM 9729 to an IBM 2029. A walkthrough of the commissioning and provisioning process, as well as practical examples for problem determination, are also included.

XML Pocket Reference, Second Edition

XML, the Extensible Markup Language, is the next-generation markup language for the Web. It provides a more structured (and therefore more powerful) medium than HTML, allowing you to define new document types and stylesheets as needed. Although the generic tags of HTML are sufficient for everyday text, XML gives you a way to add rich, well-defined markup to electronic documents. The XML Pocket Reference is both a handy introduction to XML terminology and syntax, and a quick reference to XML instructions, attributes, entities, and datatypes. Although XML itself is complex, its basic concepts are simple. This small book combines a perfect tutorial for learning the basics of XML with a reference to the XML and XSL specifications. The new edition introduces information on XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) and Xpath.

Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices

In this book, Steven Feuerstein, widely recognized as one of the world's experts on the Oracle PL/SQL language, distills his many years of programming, writing, and teaching about PL/SQL into a set of PL/SQL language "best practices"--rules for writing code that is readable, maintainable, and efficient. Too often, developers focus on simply writing programs that run without errors--and ignore the impact of poorly written code upon both system performance and their ability (and their colleagues' ability) to maintain that code over time. Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices is a concise, easy-to-use reference to Feuerstein's recommendations for excellent PL/SQL coding. It answers the kinds of questions PL/SQL developers most frequently ask about their code: The book contains 120 best practices, divided by topic area. It's full of advice on the program development process, coding style, writing SQL in PL/SQL, data structures, control structures, exception handling, program and package construction, and built-in packages. It also contains a handy, pull-out quick reference card. As a helpful supplement to the text, code examples demonstrating each of the best practices are available on the O'Reilly web site. How should I format my code? What naming conventions, if any, should I use? How can I write my packages so they can be more easily maintained? What is the most efficient way to query information from the database? How can I get all the developers on my team to handle errors the same way? Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices is intended as a companion to O'Reilly's larger Oracle PL/SQL books. It's a compact, readable reference that you'll turn to again and again--a book that no serious developer can afford to be without.

Oracle and Open Source

Oracle & Open Source is the first book to tie together the commercial world of Oracle and the free-wheeling world of open source software. As this book reveals, these two worlds are not as far apart as they may seem. Today, there are many excellent and freely available software tools that Oracle developers and database administrators can use, at no cost, to improve their own coding productivity and their system's performance. Moreover, many of the finest Oracle developers are now making their source code freely available so their peers can build upon this code base. Oracle Corporation is even porting its RDBMS to Linux and starting to incorporate a growing number of open source tools in the company's own software. Oracle & Open Source describes close to 100 open source tools you can use for Oracle development and database administration, from large and widely known open source systems (like Linux, Perl, Apache, TCL/Tk and Python) to more Oracle-specific tools (like Orasoft, Orac, OracleTool, and OraSnap). You'll learn how to obtain the software and how to adapt it to best advantage. The book abounds with code examples, download and installation instructions, and helpful usage hints. Not only does it tell you how to find and use existing open source code; Oracle & Open Source gives you the details and the motivation to build your own open source contributions and release them to the Oracle community. You'll learn all about tools like the Oracle Call Interface (OCI) and Perl-DBI (Database Interface), which provide the glue allowing new open source tools to link into commercial Oracle software. With Oracle & Open Source as a guide, you'll discover an enormous number of highly effective open source tools, while getting involved with the thriving community of open source development.

The Data Model Resource Book, Volume 1

A quick and reliable way to build proven databases for core business functions Industry experts raved about The Data Model Resource Book when it was first published in March 1997 because it provided a simple, cost-effective way to design databases for core business functions. Len Silverston has now revised and updated the hugely successful 1st Edition, while adding a companion volume to take care of more specific requirements of different businesses. This updated volume provides a common set of data models for specific core functions shared by most businesses like human resources management, accounting, and project management. These models are standardized and are easily replicated by developers looking for ways to make corporate database development more efficient and cost effective. This guide is the perfect complement to The Data Model Resource CD-ROM, which is sold separately and provides the powerful design templates discussed in the book in a ready-to-use electronic format. A free demonstration CD-ROM is available with each copy of the print book to allow you to try before you buy the full CD-ROM.

XML and Java™ from scratch

With the help of XML and Java from scratch, you will build a Web site and application for ChaseWeb Furniture-a fictitious catalog furniture company. All of the information on products, prices, vendors, and so on, is rendered in XML. You'll learn how to display products on the company Web site, take orders, produce a paper catalog, and communicate with the external databases of vendors using XML. The from scratch format is designed to teach novice programmers the hows and whys of programming in the context of creating a functioning application.

Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days, Second Edition

Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days, 2E will teach programmers how to develop Transact-SQL queries. There will be a focus on providing methods for improving productivity without a reducing performance. Specifically, the reader will:Learn Transact-SQL syntax Learn how to add, delete, and modifying data using Transact-SQL Understand coding standards Review variations from ANSI-standard SQL Be presented with basic server operations. Recognize performance issues with queries. This book will also include:Constructs such as CUBE, ROLLUP, CASE, and JOIN. Techniques to solve complex problems How the server uses indexes Methods to write (correctly) stored procedures and triggers. Templates of procedures and triggers (reference) Advanced Topics such as: Outer and self joins Temporary tables Sub-queries.

The Data Model Resource Book, Vol. 2: A Library of Data Models for Specific Industries

A quick and reliable way to build proven databases for core business functions Industry experts raved about The Data Model Resource Book when it was first published in March 1997 because it provided a simple, cost-effective way to design databases for core business functions. Len Silverston has now revised and updated the hugely successful First Edition, while adding a companion volume to take care of more specific requirements of different businesses. Each volume is accompanied by a CD-ROM, which is sold separately. Each CD-ROM provides powerful design templates discussed in the books in a ready-to-use electronic format, allowing companies and individuals to develop the databases they need at a fraction of the cost and a third of the time it would take to build them from scratch. With each business function boasting its own directory, this CD-ROM provides a variety of data models for specific implementations in such areas as financial services, insurance, retail, healthcare, universities, and telecom.

Understanding IBM eServer pSeries Performance and Sizing

This IBM Redbooks publication is an update to the successful first edition of Understanding IBM RS/6000 Performance and Sizing, SG24-4810 that was published in 1997. It gives a broad overview of IBM RS/6000 and IBM eServer pSeries performance and sizing. Contained in this book is a close-up, performance related view of the different hardware architectures IBM offers in its RS/6000 and eServer pSeries systems, including system, processor, memory, storage, and network architectures. One chapter is dedicated to general sizing rules for a number of environments such as database sizing, IBM HTTP server sizing, Net.Commerce sizing, and Lotus Domino sizing. The reader will also find a description of the industry benchmarks that are performed on IBM systems as well as an overview of AIX performance tools. This book is intended to be a handbook for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of IBM RS/6000 and IBM eServer pSeries architectures from a performance perspective.

Designing SQL Server 2000 Databases

The Microsoft .NET initiative is the future of e-commerce - making it possible for organisations to build a secure, reliable e-commerce infrastructure. This is the first book to outline the capabilities of SQL Server 2000, one of the key components of .NET. SQL Server 2000 introduces powerful new data mining functionality designed specifically to capture and process customer profiles and to predict future buying patterns on e-commerce sites. Designing SQL Server 2000 Databases addresses the needs of IT professionals migrating from the popular SQL 7 databases to the new SQL 2000, as well as those who are starting from scratch. Covers all key features of SQL Server 2000 including; XML support, enhanced data-mining capabilities and integration with Windows 2000 While there are many books available on SQL 7 - this is the first to be announced for SQL 2000 Free ongoing customer support and information upgrades

Corporate Information Factory

The "father of data warehousing" incorporates the latest technologies into his blueprint for integrated decision support systems Today's corporate IT and data warehouse managers are required to make a small army of technologies work together to ensure fast and accurate information for business managers. Bill Inmon created the to solve the needs of these managers. Since the First Edition, the design of the factory has grown and changed dramatically. This Second Edition, revised and expanded by 40% with five new chapters, incorporates these changes. This step-by-step guide will enable readers to connect their legacy systems with the data warehouse and deal with a host of new and changing technologies, including Web access mechanisms, e-commerce systems, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. The book also looks closely at exploration and data mining servers for analyzing customer behavior and departmental data marts for finance, sales, and marketing. Corporate Information Factory

Learning XML

The arrival of support for XML--the Extensible Markup Language--in browsers and authoring tools has followed a long period of intense hype. Major databases, authoring tools (including Microsoft's Office 2000), and browsers are committed to XML support. Many content creators and programmers for the Web and other media are left wondering, "What can XML and its associated standards really do for me?" Getting the most from XML requires being able to tag and transform XML documents so they can be processed by web browsers, databases, mobile phones, printers, XML processors, voice response systems, and LDAP directories, just to name a few targets. In Learning XML, the author explains XML and its capabilities succinctly and professionally, with references to real-life projects and other cogent examples. Learning XML shows the purpose of XML markup itself, the CSS and XSL styling languages, and the XLink and XPointer specifications for creating rich link structures. The basic advantages of XML over HTML are that XML lets a web designer define tags that are meaningful for the particular documents or database output to be used, and that it enforces an unambiguous structure that supports error-checking. XML supports enhanced styling and linking standards (allowing, for instance, simultaneous linking to the same document in multiple languages) and a range of new applications. For writers producing XML documents, this book demystifies files and the process of creating them with the appropriate structure and format. Designers will learn what parts of XML are most helpful to their team and will get started on creating Document Type Definitions. For programmers, the book makes syntax and structures clear It also discusses the stylesheets needed for viewing documents in the next generation of browsers, databases, and other devices.

Advanced Use Case Modeling: Software Systems

"This book isn't just another introduction to use cases. The authors have used their wealth of experience to produce an excellent and insightful collection of detailed examples, explanations, and advice on how to work with use cases." –Maria Ericsson The toughest challenge in building a software system that meets the needs of your audience lies in clearly understanding the problems that the system must solve. Advanced Use Case Modeling presents a framework for discovering, identifying, and modeling the problem that the software system will ultimately solve. Software developers often employ use cases to specify what should be performed by the system they're constructing. Although use case-driven analysis, design, and testing of software systems has become increasingly popular, little has been written on the role of use cases in the complete software cycle. This book fills that need by describing how to create use case models for complex software development projects, using practical examples to explain conceptual information. The authors extend the work of software visionary Ivar Jacobson, using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) as the notation to describe the book's models. Aimed primarily at software professionals, Advanced Use Case Modeling also includes information that relates use case technique to business processes. This book presents a process for creating and maintaining use case models in a framework that can be fully customized for your organization. The authors, pioneers in the application of use cases in software development, bring their extensive experience to cover topics such as: A process model for applying a use case model How to keep your use case modeling effort on track Tips and pitfalls in use case modeling How to organize your use case model for large-system development Similarities between Advanced Use Case Modeling and the Rational Unified Process framework Effect of use cases on user interface design Guidelines for quality use case modeling

Designing a Data Warehouse: Supporting Customer Relationship Management

The complete guide to building tomorrow's CRM-focused data warehouses. A complete methodology for building CRM-focused data warehouses Planning, ROI, conceptual and logical models, physical implementation, project management, and beyond For database developers, architects, consultants, project managers, and decision-makers Today's next-generation data warehouses are being built with a clear goal: to maximize the power of Customer Relationship Management. To make CRM-focused data warehousing work, you need new techniques, and new methodologies. In this book, Dr. Chris Todman—one of the world's leading data warehouse consultants—delivers the first start-to-finish methodology for defining, designing, and implementing CRM-focused data warehouses. Todman covers all this, and more: Critical design challenges unique to CRM-focused data warehousing A new look at data warehouse conceptual models, logical models, and physical implementation The crucial implications of time in data warehouse modeling and querying Project management: deliverables, assumptions, risks, and team-building—including a full breakdown of work Estimating the ROI of CRM-focused data warehouses up front Choosing software for loading, extraction, transformation, querying, data mining, campaign management, personalization, and metadata DW futures: temporal databases, OLAP SQL extensions, active decision support, integrating external and unstructured data, search agents, and more If you want to leverage the full power of your CRM system, you need a data warehouse designed for the purpose. One book shows you exactly how to build one: Designing Data Warehouses by Dr. Chris Todman.

Oracle Net8 Configuration and Troubleshooting

Net8 is the fundamental Oracle technology that allows Oracle services and clients to communicate with each other over a network. Net8 is most often used to connect client software to Oracle database servers. It may also be used to connect database servers to one another, allowing communication between distributed databases. This practical guide provides the information that readers, especially database administrators, need to know in order to install configure, tune, and troubleshoot Net8. It discusses how Oracle's network architecture, products, and name resolution methods work, and it provides the details of client and server configuration using a variety of Oracle protocols and networking products, including: The Oracle Internet Directory (OID), Oracle's implementation of the standard Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). This directory can be used to maintain a central repository of net service names that can be referenced by all clients. Oracle Names, a networking component used mainly in earlier versions of Oracle, that allows net service names to be defined centrally. Multi-Threaded Server (MTS), an environment in which the client connections share access to a pool of shared server processes. Oracle Connection Manager, a Net8 component that acts much like a router and provides protocol conversion, connection concentration, and access control. The book also describes the utilities Oracle provides to help manage a Net8 environment; these include the Listener Control Utility (lsnrctl), the Oracle Names Control Utility (namesctl), the Oracle Connection Manager Control Utility (cmctl), tnsping, and Net8 Assistant. In addition, it provides a variety of networking troubleshooting techniques and commonly encountered Net8 configuration problems, and provides complete syntax for all networking files and commands.

SQL in a Nutshell

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standardized query language for requesting information from a database. Historically, SQL has been the choice for database management systems running on minicomputers and mainframes. Increasingly, however, SQL is being adapted to PC database systems because it supports distributed databases--databases that are spread out over several computer systems, so that several users on a local-area network can access the same database simultaneously. Although there are different dialects of SQL, it is the closest thing to a standard query language that currently exists. SQL in a Nutshell is a practical and useful command reference to the latest release of the Structured Query Language (SQL99), helping readers learn how their favorite database product supports any standard SQL command. This book presents each of the SQL commands and describes its use in both commercial (Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 8 i) and open source (MySQL, PostgreSQL 7.0) implementations. Each command reference includes the command syntax (by vendor, if the syntax differs across implementations), a description, and informative examples that illustrate important concepts and uses. SQL in a Nutshell is more than a convenient reference guide for experienced SQL programmers, analysts, and database administrators. It's also a great learning resource for novice and auxiliary SQL users such as system administrators, users of packaged client/server products, and consultants who need to be familiar with the various SQL dialects across many platforms.

Database Nation

Fifty years ago, in 1984, George Orwell imagined a future in which privacy was demolished by a totalitarian state that used spies, video surveillance, historical revisionism, and control over the media to maintain its power. Those who worry about personal privacy and identity--especially in this day of technologies that encroach upon these rights--still use Orwell's "Big Brother" language to discuss privacy issues. But the reality is that the age of a monolithic Big Brother is over. And yet the threats are perhaps even more likely to destroy the rights we've assumed were ours. Database Nation: The Death of Privacy in the 21st Century shows how, in these early years of the 21st century, advances in technology endanger our privacy in ways never before imagined. Direct marketers and retailers track our every purchase; surveillance cameras observe our movements; mobile phones will soon report our location to those who want to track us; government eavesdroppers listen in on private communications; misused medical records turn our bodies and our histories against us; and linked databases assemble detailed consumer profiles used to predict and influence our behavior. Privacy--the most basic of our civil rights--is in grave peril. Simson Garfinkel--journalist, entrepreneur, and international authority on computer security--has devoted his career to testing new technologies and warning about their implications. This newly revised update of the popular hardcover edition of Database Nation is his compelling account of how invasive technologies will affect our lives in the coming years. It's a timely, far-reaching, entertaining, and thought-provoking look at the serious threats to privacy facing us today. The book poses a disturbing question: how can we protect our basic rights to privacy, identity, and autonomy when technology is making invasion and control easier than ever before? Garfinkel's captivating blend of journalism, storytelling, and futurism is a call to arms. It will frighten, entertain, and ultimately convince us that we must take action now to protect our privacy and identity before it's too late.

SAP Hardware Solutions: Servers, Storage, and Networks for mySAP.com

Introduction to designing robust, rock-solid SAP hardware infrastructures! Maximize scalability, availability, and value Hardware sizing: review of techniques with examples All you need to know for designing hardware solutions for mySAP.com: Maximizing performance, availability, and value! This is the first SAP book to provide a comprehensive overview of the hardware solutions needed for your mySAP.com implementation! You'll find practical, business-oriented recommendations for maximizing performance, availability, and value, covering every relevant hardware component-servers, storage, front-ends, LAN and WAN infrastructure, backup solutions, even printers. Authored by two of HP's senior consultants specializing in enterprise SAP infrastructure design, SAP Hardware Solutions addresses all this, and more: Review of sizing techniques for servers, storage, LANs, and wide area bandwidth: practical examples and scenarios High availability: zero-down-time backup, remote database mirroring, clustering and other failover solutions, towards fault-tolerance, and more "Best practice" storage design techniques: optimizing database disk layouts, considering SANs, and a unique approach to disk system design for performance Translating business requirements into practical, cost-effective hardware solutions Leveraging the cost and management benefits of server consolidation You'll even find never-before-published guidance on architecting networks for SAP—covering everything from IP address structures to high-availability cabling infrastructures. With SAP Hardware Solutions, your most business-critical application can be designed to deliver every ounce of reliability and performance you've paid for. You can't afford anything less!

Inside XML

The XML explosion hardly needs any introduction-it's everywhere and there just seems to be no end to what can be done with XML. While writing to the W3C standards, and keeping up with the pace for corporate implementation, you, the programmer or web developer, will need a comprehensive guide to get you started and show you what XML and its related technologies can do. A thorough guide is imperative to success because you will need to know and understand the full scope of XML from day one in order to work with it successfully. With your time constraints and impossible project schedules, you need a comprehensive guide that fulfills your needs in one complete book. Inside XML is an anchor book that covers both the Microsoft and non-Microsoft approach to XML programming. It covers in detail the hot aspects of XML; such as, DTD's vs. XML Schemas, CSS, XSL, XSLT, Xlinks, Xpointers, XHTML, RDF, CDF, parsing XML in Perl and Java, and much more.

Mastering Data Modeling: A User-Driven Approach

Data modeling is one of the most critical phases in the database application development process, but also the phase most likely to fail. A master data modeler must come into any organization, understand its data requirements, and skillfully model the data for applications that most effectively serve organizational needs. is a complete guide to becoming a successful data modeler. Featuring a requirements-driven approach, this book clearly explains fundamental concepts, introduces a user-oriented data modeling notation, and describes a rigorous, step-by-step process for collecting, modeling, and documenting the kinds of data that users need. Mastering Data Modeling Assuming no prior knowledge, sets forth several fundamental problems of data modeling, such as reconciling the software developer's demand for rigor with the users' equally valid need to speak their own (sometimes vague) natural language. In addition, it describes the good habits that help you respond to these fundamental problems. With these good habits in mind, the book describes the Logical Data Structure (LDS) notation and the process of controlled evolution by which you can create low-cost, user-approved data models that resist premature obsolescence. Also included is an encyclopedic analysis of all data shapes that you will encounter. Most notably, the book describes The Flow, a loosely scripted process by which you and the users gradually but continuously improve an LDS until it faithfully represents the information needs. Essential implementation and technology issues are also covered. Mastering Data Modeling You will learn about such vital topics as: The fundamental problems of data modeling The good habits that help a data modeler be effective and economical LDS notation, which encourages these good habits How to read an LDS aloud--in declarative English sentences How to write a well-formed (syntactically correct) LDS How to get users to name the parts of an LDS with words from their own business vocabulary How to visualize data for an LDS A catalog of LDS shapes that recur throughout all data models The Flow--the template for your conversations with users How to document an LDS for users, data modelers, and technologists How to map an LDS to a relational schema How LDS differs from other notations and why "Story interludes" appear throughout the book, illustrating real-world successes of the LDS notation and controlled evolution process. Numerous exercises help you master critical skills. In addition, two detailed, annotated sample conversations with users show you the process of controlled evolution in action.