Introduction

Database Design Studio (DDS) is a powerful relational database modeling tool. As such, it enforces referential integrity to ensure that the physical database is stable, functional and maintainable. In coming to terms with relational modeling, the designer must understand referential integrity and how the software uses the relationship Connectivity and Participation to constrain the relationship in the conceptual model, and the resultant foreign key constraint in the logical model and physical database.

We recommend that you first review the Foreign Key Rules chart that explains the internal operations of DDS, then Connectivity, Participation and finally Referential Constraints. You may also wish to view the Rules Matrix to understand how your relationships control the behavior of the software.

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