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> >>Two databases may
> >>use different identifiers for what is in fact the same
> concept, such as
> >>zip code. A program that wants to compare or combine
> information across
> >>the two databases has to know that these two terms are
> being used to
> >>mean the same thing.
It's much more common for two databases to use the same term for
different concepts.
In fact if you can find the same identical concept in two different
databases then you're on to a winner. Even something simple like
"date-of-birth" tends to mean "date of birth, as asserted by the
employee" in one database, and "date of birth, as verified by production
of a certificate" in another.
Michael Kay
Software AG
home: Michael.H.Kay@ntlworld.com
work: Michael.Kay@softwareag.com
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