Customer Reviews

Data Modeling for Everyone

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As I was reviewing this book for a class I was teaching on the subject, I could'nt help but think the author's effort was rushed. This book would be good for someone with a strong data modeling background who wants a new perspective. It is a poor choice for novices to the field. Explanations are lacking in clarity. Book is poorly organized. Check out Inside Relational Databases, Whithorn.

I find that Data Modeling is one of those topics that requires half a dozen books because different authors present it from different perspectives. Some explain some topics well, but not others.

This book is one of the half dozen that you would want to collect, particularly if you are new to modeling or uncertain whether you want to become a modeler.

You get a good overview presented in a simple to follow manner; its really a good foundation book that will open your eyes to what modeling is all about.

I have been working with databases for over seven years but always enjoy reading books about data. That is, not how to do this or that in SQL Server or Oracle etc., but better ways on understanding the foundation of any database project, namely, the entities or data we are creating the application around.

This book strikes a nice balance between the Joe Celko books, which are great, but a little over the top and the Database design for Mere Mortals by Hernandez which is good for a complete beginner who wants to learn how to make databases in MS Access.

To recap, if you are looking for a book that tells you how to build a specific database, look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for a book that will train your mind in better ways to see how the person,place or thing we model evolves into a physical database, then this book is for you.

I technically reviewed this book and found the authors style and method of taking you through every point of data modelling a refreshing change. Sharon covers every aspect of data modelling including how to deal with ownership of models and how to work with each area of a corporation to build up a successful model.

Every angle and every aspect of modelling is explained in detail so that developers can easily pick up modelling and make it a successful exercise. There are also plenty of diagrams aiding the explanation so that you are not left confused.

I liked the book however it annoys me that the author uses the outdated data modeling language called IDEF1X which I have never ever seen used in any other project or by any professional data modelers. They all use the IE crows foot method for data modeling. So it became confusing after a while having to switch back and forth between IDEF1X and crows foot syntax in the data modeling. Thats why I only give it 3 stars. Other than that excellent treatment of data modeling and relational design concepts.

Being an old hand at data modeling I thought that I couldnt learn anything from a book like this. How wrong could I have been. A colleague recommended it to me, and I have to say that it helped me a great deal to refocus what I thought was data modeling.

There are many other books out there which offer a dry look at this subject, however some of the authors tales made me wince with recognition having experienced them myself.

All in all well worth the read. I would recommend this to data modelers and general developers alike.

This book provides a solid overview for the beginning Data Analyst. It includes sections on how to interview the client and determine the important components of a good data model. It explains data modeling approaches and commonly used notation styles. In addition to practical techniques, the author includes sections of helpful tips and useful advice on how to avoid common pitfalls of the data modeling process.

I liked the book for its good coverage of the topic and I recommend it to anyone who is getting started in the business of the real world.

I am the sort of guy who hated working with data and databases until I laid my hands on this book. I always believed that Data Modeling is something that "the database guys" do. My role as a programmer restricts my view of Data. This book, I must say has been an eye opener. Not only did I understand the processes of data modeling better, but it made me appreciate the need for it.
Data is indeed what makes the world go around.

This book takes the reader through the various stages of modeling data in the enterprise in a step-by-step manner. It lays the foundation by introducing various models, with a bit of theory, that you may safely skip (if you are an old hand), proceeds to buliding a logical model from a conceptual model and finally transforming the logical model to a physical model in terms of tables and relations.

The topics have been covered quite comprehensively (for a book of its size) and I may say that this book could very well be used as supplementary material for a course on Data and Data modeling.

With its timeless appeal, I can assure you that this book will adorn my bookshelf for decades.

This book gave me the ability to see the data as an integral part of the design of the application rather than simply data that is to be run through the application. I have been writing code since the mid 1970's and being self-taught, have come to rely on my own understanding of database design, which was more limited than I was aware until having read this book. . I suggest this as a good book for new people to the field, or for those with more experience looking for a good overview of the subject.

I was given this book by a colleague and at first I did not think I needed any relearning about how to data model. But this book really helped me to refocus on the important aspects of data modeling. I highly recommend this to new data modelers and existing data modelers alike.