ER to Relational Model Conversion

ER to Relational Model Conversion

In this article, we will learn about Mapping constraints in DBMS. Conversion is nothing but converting ER diagram to tabular form. This is done because tables can be easily implemented by RDBMS like MySQL, Oracle etc.
ER to Relational Model Conversion

ER to Relational Model Conversion

  • Conversion is nothing but converting ER diagram to tabular form.
  • This is done because tables can be easily implemented by RDBMS like MySQL, Oracle etc.
Certain rules are to be followed to convert ER diagram to table.They are

Rule-01: For Strong Entity Set With Only Simple Attributes

In relational model only one table is required to represent a strong entity set with simple attributes. In this

  • Attributes are taken as columns of the table
  • Key attribute is declared as primary key of the table
ER to Relational Model Conversion 1

Rule-02: For Strong Entity Set With Composite Attributes

In relational model only one table is required to represent a strong entity set with composite attributes. In this

  •  Simple attributes are taken as columns of the table and
  • Simple attributes of the composite attributes are considered as columns but not composite attributes themselves
  • Key attribute is declared as primary key of the table
ER to Relational Model Conversion 2

Rule-03: For Strong Entity Set With Multi Valued Attributes

In relational model two tables are required to represent a strong entity set with multi-valued attributes. 

  • One table with columns as primary key and multi-valued attributes and
  • One table with columns as primary key and other simple attributes
ER to Relational Model Conversion 8

Rule-04: Translating Relationship Set into a Table

Only one table is required to represent a relationship set with columns as

  • Key attributes of each participating entity set as primary keys
  • Attributes of the relationship if any.

For suppose ,if we consider a relationship set with 2 entity sets , we require totally 3 tables to represent the whole ER diagram

  • One table for first entity set with columns as its attributes
  • Other table for second entity set with columns as its attributes
  • Another table for relationship set with columns as primary keys of both entity sets and attributes of relationship set
ER to Relational Model Conversion 7

Rule-05: For Binary Relationships With Cardinality Ratios

In this model four cases are possible. They are :

  • Case-1: Binary relationship with cardinality ratio 1:1
  • Case-2: Binary relationship with cardinality ratio m:1
  • Case-3: Binary relationship with cardinality ratio 1:n
  • Case-4: Binary relationship with cardinality ratio m:n
ER to Relational Model Conversion 6

Case-1: For Binary Relationship With Cardinality Ratio 1:1

In this case two tables are required , we can combine the relationship set with either of the entity sets.

  • First possible way
    1. PR ( p1 , p2 , q1 )
    2. Q ( q1 , q2 )
  • Second possible way
    1. P( p1 , p2 )
    2. QR ( p1 , q1 , q2 )

Case-2: For Binary Relationship With Cardinality Ratio m:1

In this model two tables are required to represent the ER diagram. They are

  • PR ( p, p2 , q1 )
  • Q ( q1 , q2 )

Case-3: For Binary Relationship With Cardinality Ratio 1:n

In this model two tables are required to represent the ER diagram. They are

  • P( p, p2)
  • QR (p1, q1 , q2 )

Case-4: For Binary Relationship With Cardinality Ratio m:n

In this model three tables are required to represent the ER diagram. They are

  • P ( p, p2 )
  • R ( p1 , q1 )
  • Q ( q1 , q2 )

Rule-06: For Binary Relationship With Both Cardinality Constraints and Participation Constraints

  • In this model foreign key acquires NOT NULL costraint because of total participation constraint
  • Rule 5 is followed to implement cardinality constraints.
  • In this two cases are possible :
ER to Relational Model Conversion 5

Case-01: For Binary Relationship With Cardinality Constraint and Total Participation Constraint From One Side

  • Here we will combine the entity set Q and relationship set R as cardinality ratio is 1:n.
  • Then, two tables will be required-
    1. P( p1 , p2 )
    2. QR ( p1 , q1 , q2 )
  • Foreign key p1 has acquired NOT NULL constraint because of total participation constraint

Case-02: For Binary Relationship With Cardinality Constraint and Total Participation Constraint From Both Sides

Only one table is required to represent a binary relationship when there is a key constraint from both the sides of entity set with total participation. It is

  • PRQ( p1 , p2, q1 , q2 )

Rule-07: For Binary Relationship With Weak Entity Set

  • Whenever a weak entity set appears, it will have identifying relationship set with total participation constraint.
  • This model requires two tables to represent the ER diagram. They are
    1. P ( p1 , p2 )
    2. QR ( p1 , q1 , q2 )
ER to Relational Model Conversion-4

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