FACTS for a Database for an Auction Web Site

The design of this Database has been created by following our General Approach.

PURPOSE OF THESE FACTS :-
These FACTS define business requirements which the Database must support.
They form the basis for agreement between the User and the Database Designer and are
written in a form of structured English which is clear and unambiguous.
The Draft FACTS have been defined and are detailed here ...

A. The Area being Modelled is :-
An Auction Web Site.

B. The Things of Interest, ('THINGS'), include :-
B.1 Auction Items
B.2 Auction Item Categories
B.3 Auction Item Status Codes
B.4 Bids
B.5 Bidders
B.6 Payment Methods
B.7 Payment Status
B.8 Sellers
B.9 Shipments

C. These THINGS are Related as follows :-
C.1 A BIDDER can place zero or many BIDS.
C.2 A BID is always associated with one and only one BIDDER.
C.3 A SELLER can provide one or more AUCTION ITEMS.
C.4 An AUCTION ITEM can be in one or many AUCTION ITEM_CATEGORIES.
C.5 An AUCTION ITEM can have zero or one PAYMENT METHODS.
C.6 An AUCTION ITEM can have zero or one PAYMENT DATES.
C.7 An AUCTION ITEM can have zero or one SHIPMENT METHOD.
    Before it is shipped, this field would be blank or NULL, 
    and would be populated after it is shipped.
C.8 An AUCTION ITEM can have zero or one SUCCESSFUL BIDDER.
    Before a successful Bidder is identified, this field would 
    be blank or NULL, and would be populated after it is shipped.

D. Other Characteristics of these THINGS include :-
D.1 An AUCTION ITEM always has a RESERVED PRICE 
D.2 An AUCTION ITEM has zero or one ACTUAL SELLING PRICE.


E. Sample Data includes :-
To be determined

F. Typical Enquiries include :-
F.1 To be defined if required.


Barry Williams
Principal Consultant
Database Answers
25th. February 2001