Chapter 7

Relational Database Design by ER-

to-Relational Mapping

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe

Chapter Outline
ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm
Step 1: Mapping of Regular Entity Types
Step 2: Mapping of Weak Entity Types
Step 3: Mapping of Binary 1:1 Relation Types
Step 4: Mapping of Binary 1:N Relationship Types.
Step 5: Mapping of Binary M:N Relationship Types.
Step 6: Mapping of Multivalued attributes.
Step 7: Mapping of N-ary Relationship Types.

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ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm
Step 1: Mapping of Regular Entity Types.
For each regular (strong) entity type E in the ER diagram,
create a relation R that includes all the simple attributes of
E.
Choose one of the key attributes of E as the primary key for
R.
If the chosen key of E is composite, the set of simple
attributes that form it will together form the primary key of R.
Example: We create the relations EMPLOYEE,
DEPARTMENT, and PROJECT in the relational schema
corresponding to the regular entities in the ER diagram.
SSN, DNUMBER, and PNUMBER are the primary keys for
the relations EMPLOYEE, DEPARTMENT, and PROJECT
as shown.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 3

FIGURE 7.1
The ER conceptual schema diagram for the COMPANY database.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 4

FIGURE 7.2
Result of mapping the COMPANY ER schema into a relational schema.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 5

 ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm (contd.)

Step 2: Mapping of Weak Entity Types

For each weak entity type W in the ER schema with owner entity
type E, create a relation R & include all simple attributes (or
simple components of composite attributes) of W as attributes of
R.
Also, include as foreign key attributes of R the primary key
attribute(s) of the relation(s) that correspond to the owner entity
type(s).
The primary key of R is the combination of the primary key(s) of
the owner(s) and the partial key of the weak entity type W, if any.
Example: Create the relation DEPENDENT in this step to
correspond to the weak entity type DEPENDENT.
Include the primary key SSN of the EMPLOYEE relation as a
foreign key attribute of DEPENDENT (renamed to ESSN).
The primary key of the DEPENDENT relation is the combination
{ESSN, DEPENDENT_NAME} because DEPENDENT_NAME is
the partial key of DEPENDENT.
Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 6
ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm (contd.)
Step 3: Mapping of Binary 1:1 Relation Types
For each binary 1:1 relationship type R in the ER schema, identify the
relations S and T that correspond to the entity types participating in R.
There are three possible approaches:
1. Foreign Key approach: Choose one of the relations-say S-and include
a foreign key in S the primary key of T. It is better to choose an entity
type with total participation in R in the role of S.
Example: 1:1 relation MANAGES is mapped by choosing the participating
entity type DEPARTMENT to serve in the role of S, because its participation
in the MANAGES relationship type is total.
2. Merged relation option: An alternate mapping of a 1:1 relationship type
is possible by merging the two entity types and the relationship into a
single relation. This may be appropriate when both participations are
total.
3. Cross-reference or relationship relation option: The third alternative
is to set up a third relation R for the purpose of cross-referencing the
primary keys of the two relations S and T representing the entity types.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 7

ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm (contd.)

Step 4: Mapping of Binary 1:N Relationship Types.

For each regular binary 1:N relationship type R, identify the
relation S that represent the participating entity type at the
N-side of the relationship type.
Include as foreign key in S the primary key of the relation T
that represents the other entity type participating in R.
Include any simple attributes of the 1:N relation type as
attributes of S.
Example: 1:N relationship types WORKS_FOR,
CONTROLS, and SUPERVISION in the figure.
For WORKS_FOR we include the primary key DNUMBER
of the DEPARTMENT relation as foreign key in the
EMPLOYEE relation and call it DNO.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 8

ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm (contd.)
Step 5: Mapping of Binary M:N Relationship Types.
For each regular binary M:N relationship type R, create a new
relation S to represent R.
Include as foreign key attributes in S the primary keys of the
relations that represent the participating entity types; their
combination will form the primary key of S.
Also include any simple attributes of the M:N relationship type (or
simple components of composite attributes) as attributes of S.
Example: The M:N relationship type WORKS_ON from the
ER diagram is mapped by creating a relation WORKS_ON
in the relational database schema.
The primary keys of the PROJECT and EMPLOYEE relations are
included as foreign keys in WORKS_ON and renamed PNO and
ESSN, respectively.
Attribute HOURS in WORKS_ON represents the HOURS attribute of
the relation type. The primary key of the WORKS_ON relation is the
combination of the foreign key attributes {ESSN, PNO}.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 9

 ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm (contd.)

Step 6: Mapping of Multivalued attributes.

For each multivalued attribute A, create a new relation R.
This relation R will include an attribute corresponding to A, plus the
primary key attribute K-as a foreign key in R-of the relation that
represents the entity type of relationship type that has A as an
attribute.
The primary key of R is the combination of A and K. If the
multivalued attribute is composite, we include its simple
components.
Example: The relation DEPT_LOCATIONS is created.
The attribute DLOCATION represents the multivalued attribute
LOCATIONS of DEPARTMENT, while DNUMBER-as foreign key-
represents the primary key of the DEPARTMENT relation.
The primary key of R is the combination of {DNUMBER,
DLOCATION}.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 10

 ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm (contd.)

Step 7: Mapping of N-ary Relationship Types.

For each n-ary relationship type R, where n>2, create a new
relationship S to represent R.
Include as foreign key attributes in S the primary keys of the
relations that represent the participating entity types.
Also include any simple attributes of the n-ary relationship
type (or simple components of composite attributes) as
attributes of S.
Example: The relationship type SUPPY in the ER on the
next slide.
This can be mapped to the relation SUPPLY shown in the
relational schema, whose primary key is the combination of the
three foreign keys {SNAME, PARTNO, PROJNAME}

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 11

FIGURE 4.11
Ternary relationship types. (a) The SUPPLY relationship.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 12

FIGURE 7.3
Mapping the n-ary relationship type SUPPLY from Figure 4.11a.

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Summary of Mapping constructs and
constraints

Table 7.1 Correspondence between ER and Relational Models

ER Model Relational Model

Entity type Entity relation
1:1 or 1:N relationship type Foreign key (or relationship relation)
M:N relationship type Relationship relation and two foreign keys
n-ary relationship type Relationship relation and n foreign keys
Simple attribute Attribute
Composite attribute Set of simple component attributes
Multivalued attribute Relation and foreign key
Value set Domain
Key attribute Primary (or secondary) key

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Mapping Exercise
Exercise 7.4.

FIGURE 7.7
An ER schema for a
SHIP_TRACKING
database.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 15

Chapter Summary
ER-to-Relational Mapping Algorithm
Step 1: Mapping of Regular Entity Types
Step 2: Mapping of Weak Entity Types
Step 3: Mapping of Binary 1:1 Relation Types
Step 4: Mapping of Binary 1:N Relationship Types.
Step 5: Mapping of Binary M:N Relationship Types.
Step 6: Mapping of Multivalued attributes.
Step 7: Mapping of N-ary Relationship Types.

Copyright 2007 Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe Slide 7- 16