2 Objectives • This lesson covers the following objectives: −Identify attributes which belong to many-to-many relationships −Demonstrate the steps to resolve a many-to-many relationship using an intersection entity −Identify the UID of an intersection entity and represent it in the entity relationship diagram
3 Purpose • This lesson will help you complete your model - you may need to create new entities or new relationships based on the business needs • It will also help you define the scope of your data model - you only model what is of importance to the business
5 Relationship Hiding an Attribute • When a student enrolls for a subject, we want to be able to record the grade they attain for that subject −Which entity would the attribute “Grade” belong to? −If we put “Grade” in the STUDENT entity, how would we know which SUBJECT it is for? −If we put “Grade” in the SUBJECT entity, how would we know which STUDENT got that grade?
STUDENT SUBJECT # ID studies # ID * First name * Name * Last name studied by
Since every attribute must belong to an entity, we need a third entity.
7 Intersection Entity • An intersection entity – ENROLLMENT – has been added, including the “Grade” attribute • The original M:M relationship has become ENROLLMENT o Grade two 1:M relationships • What would be for for
the UID of the
intersection entity? STUDENT SUBJECT # ID # ID * First name * name * Last name enrols for subject of
Intersection entity: The product of the resolution of a many to many relationship
Note that the relationships have become mandatory at the side of the Intersection entity, as an ENROLLMENT cannot exist without a corresponding STUDENT and SUBJECT
8 Barred Relationships • The unique identifier (UID) of the intersection entity often comes from the originating relationships and is represented by the bars • In this case, the relationships ENROLLMENT o Grade from the originating entities to the intersection entity are for for called "barred" relationships STUDENT SUBJECT # ID # ID * First name * Name * Last name enrols for subject of
Barred relationship: A relationship that participates in an entity's unique identifier
The UID for ENROLLMENT is the combination of STUDENT id and SUBJECT id. When you draw a barred relationship, you do not add the UID attribute names to the intersection entity, as the bars represent this.
9 M:M Resolution Example TV Shows • Each TV show may be TV SHOW watched by one or watched by TV SHOW PERSON more persons watch • Each person may watch one or more TV Resolution of M:M shows for for VIEWING RECORD
10 M:M Resolution Example Cleaning Services • Each company may CLEANING SERVICES provide one or more provide cleaning services CLEANING CLEANING COMPANY provided by SERVICE • Each cleaning service may be provided by Resolution of M:M one or more companies for for CLEANING SCHEDULE
12 Summary • In this lesson, you should have learned how to: −Identify attributes which belong to many-to-many relationships −Demonstrate the steps to resolve a many-to-many relationship using an intersection entity −Identify the UID of an intersection entity and represent it in the entity relationship diagram
