Database Design Tips

Many organizations use tools such as Microsoft® Access® and Microsoft® SQL Server® to design their own custom database applications. If these custom applications are used on a regular basis, they may grow into large, multi-featured applications, used by many people within the organization. As an application grows, the original developer(s), who in many instances started developing applications in addition to their normal duties for the organization, may find it increasingly difficult to maintain and improve the application.

Here are 10 tips that you can use to develop applications that are user-friendly, more manageable and easier to hand-off to another developer should that time come. Click on the links to see additional details for each tip and keep in mind that every developer has a slightly different way of doing things.

10 Tips for successful database development

• Only Store One Data Element Per Field
• Only Use Alphanumeric Characters for Object Names
• Avoid Spaces in Object Names
• Use a Naming Convention
• Never Use Reserved Words for Object Names
• Use Descriptive Object Names
• Use a Relational Structure in Your Database
• Use Lookup Tables Wherever Possible
• Keep Detailed Documentation of Your Work
• Be Consistent