Developing a Conceptual Model › Overview

Overview

You use the conceptual data model to identify and record the specific data elements needed to store and retrieve information. The data and data connections described by your model will be used to create files in the database serving your application system. Your conceptual model will be used to create a model later in CA 2E.

You can build a conceptual data model with pencil and paper. You can also use a variety of design tools to develop your data model and bring it into CA 2E. If you use design tools, see Considerations topic in this chapter.

In this chapter, you will

• Identify the entities, attributes, and relations to represent the business information you want to describe in your data model.
• Normalize your model to prepare for entering it into CA 2E.

When you have successfully completed these tasks, you are ready to use CA 2E to create a data model or to maintain an existing one.

See the chapters "Understanding Your Data Model" and "Creating/Defining Your Data Model" for more information.

See the chapter "Introducing Data Modeling" for more information about basic concepts on data modeling and examples of a CA 2E data model.