Re: Im stuck in a black hole!

In article <f369a0eb.0205210821.3aadfdd2_at_posting.google.com>, you said (and I quote):
>
> I remember using this phrase "functional dependency" many times in my first
> interview for DBA jobs when I was asked a question on normalizatoin, and my
> answer didn't work very well!
> >

many times you'll find the people dishing out the question don't even understand the issues...
I've gone through one of these a while ago. I won't show here the "question" that was sent to me as being "design" and "FD". Couldn't be further or more basic. Didn't have the slightest problem in answering it, in fact even provided a few alternatives. Only to be told that I was "over-qualified". The usual: if you can't follow, then hide it.

>
> DBAs design databases from their past experience and common sense, instead of
> FD rules. As a result, most of the real world data models look more or less
> like 3NFs. I have not seen a single Boyce Codd NF or beyond.

DBAs should most definitely NOT design databases. That has been a common and global problem of RDBMSs since they started. Database Design is a SEPARATE discipline from administration of databases. Unfortunately, there are still too many people in responsible positions in this industry who don't even have a CLUE as to what the difference is.

-- 
Cheers
Nuno Souto
nsouto_at_optushome.com.au.nospam