In this article, we will explore the concepts of entities and attributes in SQL Server. These concepts are fundamental to understanding how data is organized and stored in a database.

Entities

In SQL Server, an entity is equivalent to a data table. It represents a collection of related data. For example, an “Invoice” entity may contain attributes such as balance, due date, customer, and overdue status. Entities provide a way to organize and structure data in a meaningful way.

Attributes

Attributes, on the other hand, are the columns or fields within an entity. They define the characteristics or properties of the data. In our “Invoice” example, the balance and due date would be considered attributes of the entity. Attributes provide the details and specifics of the data stored in an entity.

When working with entities and attributes in SQL Server, it is important to have the necessary privileges and rights. Speak to your system administrator to ensure that you have the necessary access to create and modify entities and attributes.

Creating Entities and Attributes

To create entities and attributes in SQL Server, we can use the Master Data Manager. This tool allows us to manage and organize our data models.

First, open the Master Data Manager and select System Administration. From there, navigate to the “Manage” section and click on “Model”. A model is like a database and contains one or more entities with their respective attributes.

Next, click on the green plus sign to add a new model. Give the model a name and save it. This establishes the foundation for our data structure.

Now, we can start creating our entities. There are two types of entities we will be working with: core entities and domain-based entities.

Core entities are the tables that users interact with on a day-to-day basis. These entities contain the data that users need to work with and update. On the other hand, domain-based entities are descriptive tables that provide additional information and context to the core entities.

For example, let’s consider a “Product” entity as a core entity and a “Color” entity as a domain-based entity. The “Color” entity can be used to categorize products based on their color. By creating a domain-based entity, we can ensure data consistency and prevent user errors.

To create an entity, go back to the Master Data Manager home screen and click on “System Administration”, then “Manage”, and finally “Entities”. Click on the green plus sign to add a new entity. Give it a name and save it.

Once the entity is created, we can add attributes to it. Attributes define the specific fields or columns within the entity. For example, we can add attributes like “stockbalance” and “color” to our “Product” entity.

When adding attributes, we can specify the data type, format, and other properties. This helps to ensure data integrity and consistency within the entity.

Conclusion

Understanding entities and attributes is crucial for designing and managing databases in SQL Server. Entities represent the tables or collections of data, while attributes define the characteristics and properties of the data within those entities.

By organizing data into entities and defining attributes, we can create a structured and efficient database system. This allows for easier data management, retrieval, and analysis.

In the next article, we will explore how to load data into our entities and perform basic reporting. Stay tuned!