Database Design
I have been working on my database design this week for storing all the data for my application. I have based my design around my own current needs so it’s still draft 1. For a while now I have been using a spreadsheet to manage my macronutrition which is in the first image below. This spreadsheet works remarkably well and it has to be asked why I need anything else? The main reason is that it’s another chore to use, even though I have become really good at it, it does take time and sometimes I forget to fill it in.
Based on the above I drafted a first design of a database to record what I need it to and to support some of the functionality that I will want from my application. I have taken a photo of it here so you get the general idea.
The next stage was to create the database. I used the free Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition (Used to be called MSDE). I already had the grown up SQL Server 2005 Management Studio installed on my work tablet so I used that to create everything. I recreated my initial paper design into SQL choosing what I thought were the best data types (for now). I then created my relationships and foreign keys using the diagram tool which will feel familiar to Access DB people. The finished draft can be seen in the screen shot below.
I know that what I have here will probably be only around 50% of the design work, however it’s a start, and something to build on which is important. Trying to capture everything at this time and create the perfect schema would result in nothing being completed. This is based on what I already do using the spreadsheet but doesn’t cover everything I want it to do. Mockup’s will help me to decide on how to structure extra features.
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