the datatype

[John Kevien]

hello !

I got some problems here. I have an attribute that determines the unit
of something,e.g. the size of using "mm" , the length of using "seconds"
and something others may using "n-page", so ,which data type should I
use. the "nvarchar" or others?
thank you very much!

*** Sent via Developersdex http://www.developersdex.com ***

[--CELKO--]

>> I have an attribute that determines the unit of something,e.g. the size of using "mm" , the length of using "seconds" and something others may using "n-page", so ,which data type should I use. the "nvarchar" or others? <<

You need to learn how a relational design works. What meaningful name
could you give such a column? "some_kind_of_unit" or "don't_know_unit"
or "could_be_anything" is a bit vague. Since seconds cannot be
transformed into volts, etc. this column is in violation of !NF -- it
holds several totally different things, like field in a file system.

Units of measure are part of an attribute's value, not an attribute.
You are confusing data and meta-data. Get of a copy of SQL PROGRAMMING
STYLE or SQL FOR SMARTIES and read the chapters on scales and
measurements, and the design of encoding schemes.

[Tony Rogerson]

If you are just storing the description, eg...

mm
seconds
n-page

then I'd hold them using nvarchar and size it according to the maxium length
you expect, if its just the above then nvarchar(7).

If you are talking about the units themselves then i'd go down this
route....

create table unit_type (
id int not null identity constraint sk_unit_type unique clustered,
name nvarchar(7) not null constraint pk_unit_type primary key
nonclustered
)

create table measurement (
unit_type_id int not null references unit_type( id ),
unit decimal( 10, 5 ) not null
)

Hope that helps.

Tony.

--
Tony Rogerson
SQL Server MVP
http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/tonyrogerson - technical commentary from a SQL
Server Consultant
http://sqlserverfaq.com - free video tutorials
"John Kevien" <ke*********@163.com> wrote in message
news:mJ*************@news.uswest.net...

hello !

I got some problems here. I have an attribute that determines the unit
of something,e.g. the size of using "mm" , the length of using "seconds"
and something others may using "n-page", so ,which data type should I
use. the "nvarchar" or others?
thank you very much!

*** Sent via Developersdex http://www.developersdex.com ***

[Neil]

Just curious: why nvarchar instead of varchar?

"Tony Rogerson" <to**********@sqlserverfaq.com> wrote in message
news:e4*******************@news.demon.co.uk...

If you are just storing the description, eg...

mm
seconds
n-page

then I'd hold them using nvarchar and size it according to the maxium
length you expect, if its just the above then nvarchar(7).

If you are talking about the units themselves then i'd go down this
route....

create table unit_type (
id int not null identity constraint sk_unit_type unique
clustered,
name nvarchar(7) not null constraint pk_unit_type primary key
nonclustered
)

create table measurement (
unit_type_id int not null references unit_type( id ),
unit decimal( 10, 5 ) not null
)

Hope that helps.

Tony.

--
Tony Rogerson
SQL Server MVP
http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/tonyrogerson - technical commentary from a
SQL Server Consultant
http://sqlserverfaq.com - free video tutorials
"John Kevien" <ke*********@163.com> wrote in message
news:mJ*************@news.uswest.net...

hello !

I got some problems here. I have an attribute that determines the unit
of something,e.g. the size of using "mm" , the length of using "seconds"
and something others may using "n-page", so ,which data type should I
use. the "nvarchar" or others?
thank you very much!

*** Sent via Developersdex http://www.developersdex.com ***

[Tony Rogerson]

Hi Neil,

Its the Microsoft recommendation for string data types, use the N (unicode)
versions, there are a few things that require unicode if you use SSIS too.

I'm finding it a hard habbit to get into!

Tony.

--
Tony Rogerson
SQL Server MVP
http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/tonyrogerson - technical commentary from a SQL
Server Consultant
http://sqlserverfaq.com - free video tutorials
"Neil" <no****@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:wp****************@newsread3.news.pas.earthli nk.net...

Just curious: why nvarchar instead of varchar?

"Tony Rogerson" <to**********@sqlserverfaq.com> wrote in message
news:e4*******************@news.demon.co.uk...

If you are just storing the description, eg...

mm
seconds
n-page

then I'd hold them using nvarchar and size it according to the maxium
length you expect, if its just the above then nvarchar(7).

If you are talking about the units themselves then i'd go down this
route....

create table unit_type (
id int not null identity constraint sk_unit_type unique
clustered,
name nvarchar(7) not null constraint pk_unit_type primary key
nonclustered
)

create table measurement (
unit_type_id int not null references unit_type( id ),
unit decimal( 10, 5 ) not null
)

Hope that helps.

Tony.

--
Tony Rogerson
SQL Server MVP
http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/tonyrogerson - technical commentary from a
SQL Server Consultant
http://sqlserverfaq.com - free video tutorials
"John Kevien" <ke*********@163.com> wrote in message
news:mJ*************@news.uswest.net...

hello !

I got some problems here. I have an attribute that determines the unit
of something,e.g. the size of using "mm" , the length of using "seconds"
and something others may using "n-page", so ,which data type should I
use. the "nvarchar" or others?
thank you very much!

*** Sent via Developersdex http://www.developersdex.com ***