Re: Name/Value pairs pros and cons

Check the archives.
I think there was a long discussion on this topic not long ago.

Yechiel Adar
Mehish
----- Original Message -----
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 6:38 PM

> Hi all.
>
> I am in the midst of designing an ERD for a usage system. The management
> would like to use name/value pairs to store the data since that would be
the
> most flexible. While I agree that it would be the most flexible on the
> surface, I am concerned that it might not be a good idea. It is not clear
> at this point whether this data will be needed for an OLTP solution. The
> most pertinent use of this info at this point is for reporting.
>
> Cons.
> 1. You have to select more records to get 1 'row' of data since a
> name/value record would only hold 1 piece of data. Queries to mine the
data
> would be more complicated.
> 2. No meta-data. So, a zip_code could end up being alpha-numeric and 57
> characters long.
> 3. Can't put on foreign keys.
> 4. Possible performance issues since more inserts have to be done to get
a
> 'row' of data committed.
>
> Could you provide more cons (and pros) to using name/value pairs? Any
good
> resources on the web I might look at? I've poked around out on the web,
but
> didn't have much luck. Thanks.
>
> - Jeff
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> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
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> Author: Young, Jeff A.
> INET: jayoung_at_trilegiant.com
>
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Yechiel Adar
  INET: adar76_at_inter.net.il

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
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