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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thanks for your great ppt Mark. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The differences between 1NF, 2NF and 3NF are, as
you suggest, dependent on the theorists involved. </FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial>So if the VCAA is going to be specific about these levels, then
they do need be very specific about their definitions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Robert Hind (Semi-retired) OOF, GOM<BR>Ashwood and
Traralgon<BR><A
href="mailto:robert@yinnar.com">robert@yinnar.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au">Mark KELLY</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=itapps@edulists.com.au
href="mailto:itapps@edulists.com.au">Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing
List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, April 09, 2011 5:13
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Year 12 IT Apps] Holiday
overload</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hi, normalised people,<BR><BR>I woke this morning at 5 of the
clock brimming with vacation lethargy and - dammit - thoughts of database
normalisation. I'm sure <I>you</I> did too. If you didn't, you
obviously are <B>not</B> fully normalised. I have done some research
into the pit of normalisation and developed an equally pitiful theory
slideshow of normalisation theory:<BR><BR>http:/<A
href="http://vceit.com/slideshows/Database-Normalisation.ppt">vceit.com/slideshows/Database-Normalisation.ppt</A><BR><BR>I
still have to flesh out 3NF, but the main problem is clearly delineating 1NF
from 2NF since no-one amongst the original normalisation theorists seems to
agree what 1NF really <I>means</I>. e.g. does 1NF include tables within tables
or not? I can only trust that the examiners do NOT try a question on the
real exam similar to the one in the practice questions which requires tertiary
IT qualifications and boxing gloves for which to to even <I>venture</I> an
answer. Normalisation theory is not merely a set of guidelines: it is a
battlefield of conflicting ideologies, and the more research one does, the
less certain any answer becomes. <BR><BR>Examiners beware! I reckon the
best you will get for an ITA exam question on normalisation is something like,
"Is normalisation good? Why?" instead of delving into the differences between
1NF, 2NF and 3NF which are still argued by database theory experts, and are
peripheral to the bigger, basic question of good basic database design.
<BR><BR>All I know is the great joke about 3NF: "so help me Codd". You
have to view the 3NF theory to get the joke. Honestly, it's worth a 30 minute
lecture to get to the punchline. Well, it <I>might</I> be worth it. Your
mileage might vary. I'm on holidays. <I>Bare feet</I> amuse me at
the moment.<BR><BR>I did my 30 minutes of theory on NF1-3 with my kids. They
got the gist of <I>degrees</I> of normalisation. They even laughed at the "so
help me Codd" line. They got the <I>need</I> for normalisation, but I
couldn't pluck out the toenails of my best kid to clearly tell me the basic
difference between 2NF and 3NF... It's <I>there</I>, but it's not ITA
territory, IMO.<BR><BR>I completely understand your stoic indifference to
database normalisation at this stage in the blessed annual term 1 recuperative
cycle. <BR>I'd rather be fishing (or cutting my toenails - I might
schedule that for tomorrow) than doing normalisation theory. <BR>I'd rather be
lion taming, but I lack lions. And I lack normality, but thankfully I
can blame that on my parents.<BR><BR>Enjoy the holidays, and please end up
<B>5NF</B> - fully normalised (as long as you accept the premise of 4NF and
5NF) by the start of term 2<BR><BR>Basking in the Saturday evening holiday
rain,<BR>Mark<BR><BR>-- <BR>Mark Kelly<BR>Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT
Learning Area<BR>McKinnon Secondary College<BR>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204,
Victoria, Australia<BR>Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085, Fax +613 9578
9253<BR><A href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au"
target=_blank>kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</A><BR>VCE IT Lecture Notes: <A
href="http://vceit.com" target=_blank>http://vceit.com</A><BR>Moderator: IT
Applications Edulist<BR><BR><FONT size=+0>All generalisations are false,
except this one.</FONT><BR><BR>
<P>
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