> Why would you name tables singular? I can give many > reasons why they should be plural, but that aside, are the > existing SQL Server System tables singular or plural? > Plural.
> http://www.cit.cornell.edu/atc/materials/old/dbdesign/erd. > pdf It's a style decision. I personally prefer singular table names because the form of plurals is inconsistent. contact(s)/address(es)/octop(i)-us/pe(ople)-rson/addend(a)-um ... and because when the column names are written out it more closely approximates natural language. I don't say "fetch me that addresses label" (addresses.label) I say "fetch me that address label" (address.label). I don't say "I want to know this people's name" (people.name) I say "I want to know this person's name" (person.name). While the system tables for SQL Server are plural that doesn't really say much (if anything) for or against using plurals in your table names... The system tables for Oracle iirc are singular. "select * from col". The fact that the pdf you cited is on the Cornell server doesn't impress me much. The author provides no justification for the decision one way or the other, so there's no way to evaluate from the document whether he has a pragmatic reason or is merely making the decision purely as a flight of fancy. Personally I suspect his reasoning is similar to the reasoning behing not splitting infinitives. p.s. I read your other post after this one and was realising this could be construed as somewhat confrontational. It's really not intended to be, I was just voicing my opinion. :) It's been said that I appear to have a knee-jerk response to the subject of frameworks, and I suppose that could be applied to other things also. :) s. isaac dealey 954.522.6080 new epoch : isn't it time for a change? add features without fixtures with the onTap open source framework http://macromedia.breezecentral.com/p49777853/ http://www.sys-con.com/author/?id=4806 http://www.fusiontap.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:200622 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
