Section 7 - Arcs, Hierarchies, and Recursive Modeling

7-1 Arcs
- Constraint = it applies to data modeling
- Diagram an arc constraint to represent an exclusive OR relationship
- Arc vs. subtype
- Arcs in data modeling help designers clarify an exclusive OR across relationships

1. What is a Constraint?
- = restrictions that applies to data, which is often dictated by the business rules
- May refer to a single attribute of an entity, or to relationship between entities

2. Exclusive OR relationship
- = Mutually exclusive relationships between entities known as Exclusive OR
relationship
- = a relationship between one entity and two(or more) other entities where only
one of the relationships can exist at a time
- Exclusive OR = a logical operator that return a true value if one, but not both, of
its operands is true
- Exclusive OR relationship = another term for a mutually exclusive relationship
- In ERD, this type of relationship is modeled with an Arc

- Each TRAINING EVENT must be hosted by one and only one IN HOUSE
TRAINER OR one and only one TRAINING COMPANY ( it cannot be both -: only
one of the relationship can exist at a time)
 3. Representing exclusive OR relationship in the ERD
- Arcs are a way to represent mutually exclusive relationships in the ERD
- Arc is represented on an ERD as a solid line with curved ends
- A circle is drawn on the arc for every relationship that is part of the arc

4. Arcs
- An arc always belongs to one entity
- Arcs can include more than two relationships
- Not all relationships of an entity need to be included in an arc
- An entity may have several acrs
- An arc should always consist of relationships of the same optionality
- All relationships in an arc must be mandatory or all must be optionally
- Relationships in an arc may be different cardinality, although this is rare

5. Acrs, supertypes, and Subtypes

- Arcs and super/subtypes both model mutual exclusiveness
- Certain situations are best modeled as an arc, others as supertype and subtypes
- Super/subtypes are Mutually exclusive – in other words, each instance of a
supertype is an instance of only one possible subtype.
- Arcs represent a Mutually exclusive relationship.
- CHECKING ACCOUNT and SAVING ACCOUNT are “types” of ACCOUNT

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- NOTES: Use supertypes/subtypes when you want to represent classifications or
types of things
 7-2 Hierarchies and Recursive Relationships

- UIDs in hierarchical model

- Recursive relationship
- Often, roles are organized by hierarchy
- Hierarchical data is very common

1. Relationships in an Organizational Chart

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- With UIDs an employee ID or number for each entity
 2. Another Relationships Example
- Cascading UIDs (barred relationships)
- Floor UID=FLOOR number + BUIDING id
- SUITE UID=SUITE number + FLOOR number + BUIDING id
- ROOM UID= ROOM id + SUITE number + FLOOR number + BUIDING id
- This is a long UID and hierarchical structure can changes often, in this case
artificial codes may be more practical

3. Hierarchy vs. Recursive Relationships

Hierarchical structure / recursive relationship

- Hierarchical relationship: A series of relationships that reflect entities organized

into successive levels.
- Recursive relationship: A relationship between an entity and itself.
- The mandatory attributes specific to an entity (bonus plan, car plan, and budget)
become optional in the recursive model.
- A relationship cannot be both hierarchical and recursive at the same time
- Hierarchical relationship are more explicit and are more easier for most people to
understand because they are very similar to an organizational chart.
- Each entity can have its own mandatory attributes and relationships
- Recursive relationship tend to be simpler because you are using only one entity
- Recursive relationship are less specific- you cannot have mandatory attributes or
relationships unless they are mandatory in all instances of the entity
- Often the structure changes, then a recursive relationship is easier to maintain

4. Drawing Convention
- Knows as “pig’s ear”

5. Automobile Manufacturing Business Scenario