Performing logical database design using an E-R graph rewriting system

The authors present a formalism which restricts the freedom of connecting different entity-relationship constructs so that only syntactically and semantically well-formed diagrams can be designed. The methods used in this formalism are graph rewriting for the generation of conceptual structures, string rewriting for graph markings, and assertions for establishing the semantic correctness of the generated diagram. The main purpose of this research work is the formal specification of a design tool which supports relational database design with different design goals. Further goals are the ease of application of the resulting methodology, even without tool support, and the possibility of changing the behavior of the design tool easily.<>