First Normal Form Assignment Attached Files: Example Data ✓ Solved

First Normal Form Assignment attached Files: exampleData.sql

In this exercise you will:

  1. Run the attached SQL script "exampleData.sql" in your preferred way. This script creates a database named FN1 and a table named "VoterData", and loads three rows of data into the table.
  2. Notice that the data are not stored in First Normal Form because two of the columns: "address" and "email" are used in a way that makes their data nonatomic. A valid address is hierarchical: street number, street name, city/town name, state, zip code, etc. The email field is used to store more than one email address.
  3. Redesign the provided example database so that the email information is in first normal form. This means that you will create a new table called "EmailAddresses" that is specialized for storing email address information, and it has a foreign key relationship with the VoterData table.
  4. When you finish save your work as an SQL file and upload it. I don't want screenshots, Word documents, etc. I will run your SQL file to determine if you did the exercise correctly.

Paper For Above Instructions

The concept of database normalization is pivotal in designing efficient and logical databases. It helps minimize redundancy and dependency by organizing fields and table relations. The First Normal Form (1NF) is the first step in this normalization process. In this assignment, the provided SQL script creates a database, named FN1, with a table that is not in First Normal Form. The table named "VoterData" doesn't adhere to the principles of 1NF primarily because it contains non-atomic values in the 'address' and 'email' columns.

To begin this project, I executed the SQL script, "exampleData.sql," which established the FN1 database and created the "VoterData" table. The table was populated with data that trends towards non-normalization. The non-atomic data makes it difficult to manage and query database information effectively. Each entry in the 'address' column combines multiple aspects of the address (e.g., street number, street name, city, state, and zip code), while the 'email' column often contains multiple email addresses separated by commas or semicolons. Both of these practices are contrary to the principles underlying 1NF, where each column must hold atomic (indivisible) values.

To convert the "VoterData" table into First Normal Form, an appropriate redesign of the database was required. This redesign entails creating a separate table to handle email addresses, aiming to achieve a configuration that adheres to normalization standards.

Redesigning the Database

The redesigned database includes two tables: "VoterData" and "EmailAddresses." The "VoterData" table retains general voter information, while the new "EmailAddresses" table is specifically tailored to handle email data linked to their respective voters. The critical relationship between the two tables is established through a foreign key constraint.

The SQL commands to create the redesigned tables are as follows:

CREATE TABLE VoterData (

VoterID INT PRIMARY KEY,


Name VARCHAR(100),


AddressLine1 VARCHAR(100),


AddressLine2 VARCHAR(100),


City VARCHAR(50),


State VARCHAR(50),


ZipCode VARCHAR(10)


);


CREATE TABLE EmailAddresses (


EmailID INT PRIMARY KEY,


VoterID INT,


EmailAddress VARCHAR(100),


FOREIGN KEY (VoterID) REFERENCES VoterData(VoterID)


);

In this design, "VoterData" houses the voter ID, name, and address components in a hierarchical format that simplifies future queries. For the "EmailAddresses" table, each email is stored separately, maintaining a one-to-many relationship with the "VoterData" table through the foreign key 'VoterID.' This organization ensures that every email is linked to a specific voter, allowing for efficient retrieval and manipulation of data.

Each voter can have multiple email addresses represented in the "EmailAddresses" table. For instance, if a voter has two email addresses, two rows would be entered in the "EmailAddresses" table, each with the same 'VoterID' but different 'EmailAddress' entries. By performing this transformation, all email data is ensured to be atomic, ultimately satisfying the requirements of the First Normal Form.

Next, the already populated "VoterData" entries from the initial script must be migrated to the redesigned structure. This process involves inserting data into 'VoterData' and simultaneously adding corresponding entries to 'EmailAddresses.' Proper care must be taken to retain relationships by using the correct 'VoterID.'

The transition SQL scripts could look like this:

INSERT INTO VoterData (VoterID, Name, AddressLine1, AddressLine2, City, State, ZipCode)

VALUES (1, 'John Smith', '123 Apple St', '', 'Newtown', 'CA', '90210');


INSERT INTO EmailAddresses (EmailID, VoterID, EmailAddress)


VALUES (1, 1, 'john.smith@email.com'),


(2, 1, 'john.smith@yahoo.com');

These statements effectively transfer the initial information to the new structure, illustrating how multiple email addresses can now be accommodated while keeping every entry atomic.

Example Data Population

Upon successfully executing these SQL scripts, the database will now adhere to the principles of the First Normal Form. The created tables will ensure efficient data management while improving query performance and flexibility. For example, querying all email addresses for a particular voter or all voters who possess a specific email will be straightforward thanks to the new table structuring.

This approach provides a clearer pathway to future modifications, such as adding more voter attributes or facilitating user demands for additional information without violating normalization principles.

Conclusion

This assignment serves as an essential exercise in understanding the importance of database normalization, specifically transitioning a schema to meet the criteria of the First Normal Form. By redesigning the "VoterData" table and introducing an "EmailAddresses" table, we ensure that all data adheres to proper formats while maintaining relationships that facilitate seamless database operations.

References

  • Date, C. J. (2004). Database Design and Relational Theory. O'Reilly Media.
  • Hernandez, M. J. (2013). Database Design for Mere Mortals. Addison-Wesley.
  • Rob, P. & Coronel, C. (2018). Database Systems: Design, Implementation, & Management. Cengage Learning.
  • Thompson, D. (2008). Data Modeling Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Business and IT Professionals. Technics Publications.
  • Elmasri, R. & Navathe, S. B. (2015). Fundamentals of Database Systems. Pearson.
  • Gray, J. (1978). The Transaction Concept: Virtues and Fallacies. ACM SIGMOD.
  • Codd, E. F. (1970). A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks. Communications of the ACM.
  • Finkelstein, D. (2020). Database Normalization Basics. Simple Talk.
  • Curry, C. (2021). Understanding Database Normalization. YouTube.
  • Koller, E. (2019). The Importance of Database Normalization. Database Journal.

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