Database Management Systems-

ER MODEL: POINTS TO
PONDER
By: Ritika Wason
Assistant Professor, IT

1 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason

 Topics to be Covered
1. Chen and Crow Foot Notation
2.Exsistence Dependent
3. Problems with ER Model

2 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason

 ER NOTATIONS
• Relational Model forms the basis for ER design.
• An ERD represents the conceptual database as viewed by the end user.
• There are three notations for an ERD:
• The original Chen notation: Conceptual Modeling
• Crow Foot Notation: Implementation Modeling
• UML Notation: Conceptual & Implementation Modeling

Stu_Name Student
Roll_No Phone
Roll_No
E_Mail Stu_Name
STUDENT Phone
E-Mail
Chen Notation
3 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason Crow Foot Notation
 Existence Dependent
• An entity is said to be existence dependent if it can
exist in the database only when it is associated with
another related entity occurrence.
• In implementation terms, an entity is existent
dependent if it has a mandatory foreign key attribute
that cannot be null.
• For Example: Employee has Dependents
• In this dependents is clearly existence dependent on
employee because it is impossible for a dependent
to occur in the database apart from the employee
4 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason
 PROBLEMS WITH ER MODEL
• Some problems called connection traps may arise
when creating an ER model due to misinterpretation
of the meaning of certain relationships. There are
mainly two types of connection traps:
1.FAN TRAPS
A model represents a relationship between entity
types but the path between certain entity
occurrences is ambiguous.It may exist where two
or more 1 to N relationships fan out from the same
entity.

5 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason

 FAN TRAP EXAMPLE: PROBLEM
Q. Which member of persons works at a counter?
PERSON
1
has
N 1 N
operates COUNTER
BANK

PERSON has BANK operates COUNTER

101 R1 R4 Cash
B1
102 Teller
R2 R5

6 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason

 FAN TRAP EXAMPLE: SOLUTION
BANK
1
operates

N 1 N
has PERSON
COUNTER

BANK operates COUNTER has PERSON

R1 R4
Cash 101
B1
Teller 102
R2 R5

7 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason

 CHASM TRAP
• A model suggests the existence of a relationship
between entity types, but the pathway does not
exist between certain entity occurrences.
• Chasm trap may occur where there are one or
more relationships with a minimum multiplicity of
zero forming part of the pathway between related
entities.
• For Ex: Which loan enquiries are available at each
counter?

8 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason

 CHASM TRAP EXAMPLE: PROBLEM

COUNTER
1
has
N 1 N
overseas LOAN
PERSON

COUNTER has PERSON overseas LOAN

R1 R4 Home
Cash 101 Loan

Teller Car Loan

R2 102
Enquiry 103 Study Loan
R3 R5
9 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason
 CHASM TRAP EXAMPLE: SOLUTION

1
COUNTER offers
1
has 1
N 1 N
overseas LOAN
PERSON

10 DBMS UNIT I by Ritika Wason