Re: Database architecture...

[Thomas G. <to...@ad...>]

On Fri, 4 Jan 2002, John O'Gorman wrote:

> 2. re 3NF
>   This is a sound principle which can easily be pushed past the point of
>   absurdity.
>=20
>   For example, why stop at a separate table for addresses? I could (but
> won't)
>   argue that we should properly normalise addresses into 4 subtables:
>    locations -< streets -< towns -< countries on the grounds that this
>   would eliminate enormous redundancy (especially in countries with
> large
>   population and many towns/cities).=20

John, you've neglected post codes!  And what about "neighborhoods"?
Here in New York we have a different "neighborhood" about every 10
meters.  I can't talk to my neighbor as he resides in lowly West
Brighton whereas I live in (posh) Silver Lake.  The two should not
be grouped together just because they share a zip code.  After all
the grass is greener on the other (my) side of the street.

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