Database design document

  • guys,

    Can anyone of you explain elaborately what database design document mean - does this civer database server architecture.

    What are all the details covered in database design document.

    Any suggestions/inputs would help

    Thanks

  • In my experience, it means different things to different people. In a contracting situation, if you're being asked to create one, you should be able to ask for clarification of exactly what your client wants.

    But, 90+% of the ones I've created have included:

    - An overview of the system, executive summary, etc...

    - An ERD

    - A Data Dictionary (including definitions of any stored procedures, triggers, etc, not just table and view objects)

    - Physical Design notes (filegroup/file layout, assignment of DB objects to filegroups, index strategy, Server and DB settings)

    - occasionally the actual DDL, though usually the doc just contains a reference to where the DDL can be found.

    - Recommended backup and maintenance procedures.

    Hope this helps.

  • Check BIDocumenter to document sql server databases it documents SQL Server, SSAS, SSRS and SSIS.

  • To me a design document would include an entity relationship diagram, probably a logical, not a physical model, naming standards, coding standards, descriptions of acceptable data loss for the business, as much information as you can cram in to understand what it is you're going to build so that the next guy has some idea why you made the decisions that you did.

    After you build it you can get into adding a physical model ER diagram and as much documentation as you can pull out of the system. 3rd party tools are good for this. Red Gate makes one, SQL Doc[/url], that's pretty good.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Please note: 4 year old thread

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (5/2/2011)


    Please note: 4 year old thread

    That's weird. It popped up on my RSS feed. I should only see new posts. I didn't even bother to check.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Grant Fritchey (5/2/2011)


    GilaMonster (5/2/2011)


    Please note: 4 year old thread

    That's weird. It popped up on my RSS feed. I should only see new posts. I didn't even bother to check.

    SSIS Guy has been posting on tonnes of old logging and documentation threads. Any post will put them on rss/posts since last visit.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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