Showing Optionality in a Relationship Diagram   

I am trying to create an ERD for an existing Access database.  I've imported 
the tables, and I am now trying to create the relationships I want.  I can 
see how you set cardinality (1-1, 1-many, etc.), but I can't see how you can 
set optionality and show it on the diagram (e.g., "Each COMPANY may have one 
or more ORDERS" vs. Each ORDER must have one and only one TRACKING RECORD").  
In the Database Design course I'm taking, my instructor says that it should 
be shown using either a dotted line on the "may" end or a solid line on the 
"must" end.  So between COMPANY and ORDERS, there would be a line that is 
dotted on the COMPANY end, but solid on the ORDER end, while in the second 
example, the line would be solid all the way across.  How would I do this in 
Visio?
-- 
Amy E. Baggott

"I''m going crazy and I''m taking all of you with me!" -- Linda Grayson

date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:17:07 -0700   author:   Amy E. Baggott

Re: Showing Optionality in a Relationship Diagram   

Did you try "Database=>Options=>Document=>Relation" ?

Enjoy with Visio
"Amy E. Baggott"  a écrit dans le 
message de news:FF506520-6132-4D1D-BB7C-1459928EC8A7@microsoft.com...
>I am trying to create an ERD for an existing Access database.  I've 
>imported
> the tables, and I am now trying to create the relationships I want.  I can
> see how you set cardinality (1-1, 1-many, etc.), but I can't see how you 
> can
> set optionality and show it on the diagram (e.g., "Each COMPANY may have 
> one
> or more ORDERS" vs. Each ORDER must have one and only one TRACKING 
> RECORD").
> In the Database Design course I'm taking, my instructor says that it 
> should
> be shown using either a dotted line on the "may" end or a solid line on 
> the
> "must" end.  So between COMPANY and ORDERS, there would be a line that is
> dotted on the COMPANY end, but solid on the ORDER end, while in the second
> example, the line would be solid all the way across.  How would I do this 
> in
> Visio?
> -- 
> Amy E. Baggott
>
> "I''m going crazy and I''m taking all of you with me!" -- Linda Grayson

date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:35:14 +0200   author:   Michel LAPLANE \(MVP\)

Re: Showing Optionality in a Relationship Diagram   

I looked there, but didn't see anything for optionality.

-- 
Amy E. Baggott

"I''m going crazy and I''m taking all of you with me!" -- Linda Grayson


"Michel LAPLANE (MVP)" wrote:

> Did you try "Database=>Options=>Document=>Relation" ?
> 
> Enjoy with Visio
> "Amy E. Baggott"  a écrit dans le 
> message de news:FF506520-6132-4D1D-BB7C-1459928EC8A7@microsoft.com...
> >I am trying to create an ERD for an existing Access database.  I've 
> >imported
> > the tables, and I am now trying to create the relationships I want.  I can
> > see how you set cardinality (1-1, 1-many, etc.), but I can't see how you 
> > can
> > set optionality and show it on the diagram (e.g., "Each COMPANY may have 
> > one
> > or more ORDERS" vs. Each ORDER must have one and only one TRACKING 
> > RECORD").
> > In the Database Design course I'm taking, my instructor says that it 
> > should
> > be shown using either a dotted line on the "may" end or a solid line on 
> > the
> > "must" end.  So between COMPANY and ORDERS, there would be a line that is
> > dotted on the COMPANY end, but solid on the ORDER end, while in the second
> > example, the line would be solid all the way across.  How would I do this 
> > in
> > Visio?
> > -- 
> > Amy E. Baggott
> >
> > "I''m going crazy and I''m taking all of you with me!" -- Linda Grayson 
> 
>

date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:48:00 -0700   author:   Amy E. Baggott

Re: Showing Optionality in a Relationship Diagram   

Well i think optionality is cardinality with a relation of 0 to 1 or 0 to n.
You can choose to have the display of cardinality or Crow's feet that 
display dotted line.
Don't forget you have also the possibility to use IDEF1X 
notation(Database=>Options=>Document=>General) that can also display the 
optionality in the table near the column name 
(Database=>Options=>Document=>Table)

Enjoy with visio.
"Amy E. Baggott"  a écrit dans le 
message de news:9D15E045-E06B-4966-8527-0DC4ABEF8F56@microsoft.com...
>I looked there, but didn't see anything for optionality.
>
> -- 
> Amy E. Baggott
>
> "I''m going crazy and I''m taking all of you with me!" -- Linda Grayson
>
>
> "Michel LAPLANE (MVP)" wrote:
>
>> Did you try "Database=>Options=>Document=>Relation" ?
>>
>> Enjoy with Visio
>> "Amy E. Baggott"  a écrit dans le
>> message de news:FF506520-6132-4D1D-BB7C-1459928EC8A7@microsoft.com...
>> >I am trying to create an ERD for an existing Access database.  I've
>> >imported
>> > the tables, and I am now trying to create the relationships I want.  I 
>> > can
>> > see how you set cardinality (1-1, 1-many, etc.), but I can't see how 
>> > you
>> > can
>> > set optionality and show it on the diagram (e.g., "Each COMPANY may 
>> > have
>> > one
>> > or more ORDERS" vs. Each ORDER must have one and only one TRACKING
>> > RECORD").
>> > In the Database Design course I'm taking, my instructor says that it
>> > should
>> > be shown using either a dotted line on the "may" end or a solid line on
>> > the
>> > "must" end.  So between COMPANY and ORDERS, there would be a line that 
>> > is
>> > dotted on the COMPANY end, but solid on the ORDER end, while in the 
>> > second
>> > example, the line would be solid all the way across.  How would I do 
>> > this
>> > in
>> > Visio?
>> > -- 
>> > Amy E. Baggott
>> >
>> > "I''m going crazy and I''m taking all of you with me!" -- Linda Grayson
>>
>>

date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:07:56 +0200   author:   Michel LAPLANE \(MVP\)