Enhancing the Quality of Conceptual Database Specifications through Validation

In this article, we present a validation approach and method to support the development of database applications. We explain how validation can cope both with the need for a formalized evaluation of correctness as well as the need for prototyping of conceptual database schemata. We define different levels of correctness for such schemata and show how these levels can be achieved through validation methods. Furthermore, we describe how our validation framework can be applied to other conceptual specifications. Keywords: consistency, correctness, database application, database schema, database specification, extended ER model, test data, validation 1 Introduction One of the main questions for the development of database specifications is: How can we ensure that our specification is correct and reflects the desired portion of reality? In times of increasingly complex specifications of database applications, we need well-structured approaches to handle this complexity and guarantee qua..