关于由ER模型转换为关系模型的方法和步骤

1.    For each strong entity E:

o        Create a new table.

o        Include as its columns, all the simple attributes and simple components of the composite attributes of E.

o        Identify the primary key and the alternate keys. Do not include any multi-valued attribute as a key. If the only unique field of an entity is a multi-valued attribute, introduce an artificial primary key field.

2.    For each weak entity W that is associated with only one 1:1 identifying owner relationship:

o        Identify the table T of the owner entity type.

o        Include as columns of T, all the simple attributes and simple components of the composite attributes of W.

3.    For each weak entity W that is associated with a 1:N or M:N identifying relationship, or participates in more than one relationship:

o        Create a new table T.

o        Include as its columns, all the simple attributes and simple components of the composite attributes of W.

o        Form the primary key of T as follows:

§         In the case of a 1:N owner relationship, by including as a foreign key in T, the primary key of the owner entity. The primary key of T is the combination of W's partial key and the foreign key.

§         In the case of an M:N owner relationship, create a new column that will hold unique values. (In this case, the association between the weak entity and its owner entity will be specified in Step 6.)

4.    For each binary 1:1 relationship R:

o        Identify the tables S and T of the participating entity types.

o        Choose S (preferably the one with total participation).

o        Include as a foreign key in S, the primary key of T.

o        Include as Columns of S, all the simple attributes and simple components of the composite attributes of R.

5.    For each binary 1:N relationship R:

o        Identify the table S (at the N-side) and T of the participating entities.

o        Include as a foreign key in S, the primary key of T.

o        Include as columns of S, all the simple attributes and simple components of composite attributes of R.

6.    For each N-ary relationship (including binary N:M relationship) R:

o        Create a new table T.

o        Include as columns of T, all the simple attributes and simple components of composite attributes of R.

o        Include as a foreign keys, the primary keys of the participating (strong or weak) entity types.

o        Specify as the primary key of T, the list of foreign keys.

7.    For each multi-valued attribute A:

o        Create a new table T.

o        Include as columns of T, the simple attribute or simple components of the attribute A.

o        In table T, include as a foreign key, the primary key of the entity or relationship type that has A.

o        Specify as the primary key of T, the foreign key and the columns corresponding to A.

8.    For each specialization with disjoint subclasses:

o        Create a new table T_i for each subclass S_i.

o        Include as columns of T_i, the simple attributes and simple component attributes of the superclass.

o        Include as columns of T_i, the simple attributes and simple component attributes specific to S_i.

o        Identify the primary key.

9.    For each specialization with overlapping subclasses:

o        Create a new table O for the superclass.

o        Include as columns of O, the simple attributes and the simple component attributes of the superclass.

o        Identify its primary key and alternate keys.

o        Create a new table T_i for each subclass S_i.

o        Include as columns of T_i, the simple attributes and simple component attributes specific to S_i.

o        Include as a foreign key in T_i (to be part of the primary key of T_i), the primary key of O.