9722d7b6   
   From: genew@ocis.net   
      
   On Tue, 24 May 2011 15:11:56 -0700 (PDT), stapes   
    wrote:   
      
   >I have had to do maintenance work on a number of databases that have   
   >been created using what seems to me a very complex structure.   
   >   
   >For instance, instead of having one table of information on members of   
   >staff, there are 20. Separate tables exist for items which are   
   >compulsory - such as Medical information, Criminal Records, etc. I can   
   >understand this in the case of optional items, which may or may not   
   >exist, such as Interview results, or items which may exist in   
   >multiples, such as References.   
   >   
   >Is there any advantage to this kind of structure?   
      
        Are you sure about the cardinality of the data?  Medical   
   information, for example, does not strike me as something that is   
   just-one-of (unless it is very abbreviated).   
      
   Sincerely,   
      
   Gene Wirchenko   
      
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