Re: Database structure

I would go for the second one. I think the size of the table is not a
problem. You will have just to write the right indexes for easy joins.

OBS: " For one assessment, I'll store 60 rows with only two useful integers
in it" ... why? Better make a "lab_test" table where you have the tab tests
and you write in the results(#assessment_nr, labtest_nr, p, d) only those
datas that you have. For example if you have the assesment no. 3000 and you
have only the results for lab_test 10->40 then why to write in the DB also
the lab_test from 40->70(if you don't have it)???
(if I didn't understand this clear, sorry for the observation).

The second option is better if you change one time the lab_test list(have to
think also this option --- if making the database for at least 10 years).
Because in the first solution you will have to add always a new column...
and that is not the "best" option. In the second way you just add a new ID
in the lab_test list and finish. No problems.

If you go for the first option and you have to change something in the
result table... it won't be easy.

The alter table is not so tragical as it seems... use constrains...don't
ever erase from DB.

So... my final answer: the second option.

Best regards,
Andy.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alain Reymond" <alain(dot)reymond(at)ceia(dot)com>
To: <pgsql-sql(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 6:06 PM
Subject: [SQL] Database structure

> Hello,
>
> I would like an advise on the following problem :
>
> I have a table of patients.
> Each patient can make different biological assessments.
> Each assessment is always decomposed into different laboratory tests.
> A laboratory test is made of a test number and two values coming from
analysers.
>
> The schema is :
> Patients(#patient_nr,name,etc...)
> Assessment(#assessment_nr, #patient_nr, assessment_type, other usefull
values).
> Assessment_types(assessment_type, labtest_nr)
> An assessment is composed of different tests, let's say assessment type 1
is
> composed of lab test 1,2,3,5 and assessment type 2 of lab test number 10
to 70.
>
> I have an assessment with 60 different lab tests (always the same). I have
two ways
> for storing the values :
>
> 1 - a table with 120 columns for the two values.
> results(#assessment_nr, p10,d10, p11,d11, .....,p70,d70).
> where 10 to 70 represents the lab test number.
>
> 2 - a table with 60 rows for one assessment :
> results(#assessment_nr, labtest_nr, p, d) where p and d are my two
results.
>
> Here comes my question. Which of the two would you choose?
>
> The firsrt solution has the advantage of returning one single row for one
complete
> assessment. If I have to make statistics, it is easy. But, if I have to
modify the
> composition of an assessment (which occurs very rarely), I shall have to
use an alter
> table instruction. As I have 4 different assessment types, I have to
create five
> different tables, one per assessment type.
>
> The second solution is normalized and more elegant. But I am preoccupied
by the
> size of the table. For one assessment, I'll store 60 rows with only two
useful integers
> in it. And you must add the size of the index. With 25.000 assessments a
year, it
> makes 1.500.000 rows with only 4 columns amoung them 2 only for the
results and 2
> for identification. I would like to store 10 years online, so 15.000.000
rows. What
> about the size of index ?
>
> Any advise ? I thank you in advance.
>
>
> Alain Reymond
>
> (I hope that it is clear enough with my bad English).
>
>
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