Re: Custom Fields Database Architecture

On Monday 15 June 2009, Gnanam wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm designing a database schema in which I should allow user to create
> custom fields at the application level. My application is a web-based
> system and it has multiple companies in a single database. So this means
> that each company can create their own custom fields. A custom field
> created in a company should not be visibile to the other company. Also, we
> don't want to restrict the number of fields allowed to create.
>
> I also read some article which talks about the type of patterns:
> 1. Meta-database
> 2. Mutating
> 3. Fixed
> 4. LOB
>
> My question here is, what is the best approach to define the architecture
> for custom fields. Performance should not be compromised.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
> Regards,
> Gnanam.
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/Custom-Fields-Database-Architecture-tp24034270p240342
>70.html Sent from the PostgreSQL - general mailing list archive at
> Nabble.com.

It depends a bit how you want to use the data. If you are not wedded to the
RDMS model, you might look at CouchDB which is a schema-less DB. But
do not expect to run SQL against it - it takes a rather different approach.
There are others around, some of them proprietary, Lotus Notes/Domino
is probably the best know of these.

David