refdb handbook: covers version 0.8.5
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Chapter 17. Reference database design

Table of Contents
The table t_refdb
The table t_author
The table t_keyword
The table t_periodical
The table t_user
The table t_xauthor
The table t_xkeyword
The table t_xuser

This section gives an overview over the design of the reference database with MySQL as the database server.

The requirements of the database necessitate some tables which hold the data proper and some tables which cross-reference these tables.

The table t_refdb

This table is the main table of the database and holds all fields which are unique to one reference entry and not different between users.

This table contains the following columns:

refdb_id

The unique identifier for a entry in t_refdb is stored as an INT value.

refdb_type

This indicates the type of the document. This six-character string must be one of the following:

  • ABST (abstract reference)

  • ADVS (audiovisual material)

  • ART (art work)

  • BILL (bill/resolution)

  • BOOK (whole book reference)

  • CASE (case)

  • CHAP (book chapter reference)

  • COMP (computer program)

  • CONF (conference proceeding)

  • CTLG (catalog)

  • DATA (data file)

  • ELEC (electronic citation)

  • GEN (generic)

  • ICOMM (internet communication)

  • INPR (in press reference)

  • JFULL (journal - full)

  • JOUR (journal reference)

  • MAP (map)

  • MGZN (magazine article)

  • MPCT (motion picture)

  • MUSIC (music score)

  • NEWS (newspaper)

  • PAMP (pamphlet)

  • PAT (patent)

  • PCOMM (personal communication)

  • RPRT (report)

  • SER (serial - book, monograph)

  • SLIDE (slide)

  • SOUND (sound recording)

  • STAT (statute)

  • THES (thesis/dissertation)

  • UNBILL (unenacted bill/resolution)

  • UNPB (unpublished work reference)

  • VIDEO (video recording)

refdb_pubyear

This numerical value (SMALLINT) indicates the publication year.

refdb_secyear

This numerical value (SMALLINT) indicates the secondary year information.

refdb_startpage

This alphanumeric string (up to 255 characters) contains the start page information.

refdb_endpage

This alphanumeric string (up to 255 characters) contains the end page information.

refdb_abstract

This variable-length string contains the abstract or table of contents of the entry.

refdb_title

This alphanumeric field of variable length contains the title of the entry.

refdb_volume

This alphanumeric field (up to 255 characters) contains the volume number or identifier of the periodical.

refdb_issue

This alphanumeric field (up to 255 characters) contains the issue number or specifier.

refdb_booktitle

This alphanumeric field of variable length contains the book title (book chapter or whole book reference).

refdb_city

This alphanumeric field (up to 255 characters) contains the city where the periodical or book was published.

refdb_publisher

This alphanumeric field (up to 255 characters) contains the name of the publisher.

refdb_title_series

This alphanumerical field of variable length contains the title of a series of books or publications.

refdb_address

This alphanumeric field of variable length holds the address of the corresponding author and other contact information.

refdb_url

This alphanumeric field (up to 255 characters) holds a URL related to the entry, e.g. the homepage of an author or a link to an electronic reprint.

refdb_issn

This alphanumeric field with a maximum of 255 characters stores the ISSN or ISBN number of the publication.

refdb_pyother_info

This alphanumeric field with a maximum of 255 characters stores the additional information of a PY field after the publication year. The format is "/MM/DD/otherinfo", with MM being the month and DD being the day of the publication. If either of these is missing, the corresponding slash "/" still has to be entered. The other information is free alphanumeric information.

refdb_secother_info

This alphanumeric field with a maximum of 255 characters provides the same additional information for the refdb_secyear field as the refdb_pyother_info field for refdb_pubyear.

refdb_periodical_id

This INT variable points to the periodical_id in t_periodical which corresponds to the periodical the given article appeared in.

refdb_user1 through refdb_user5

These alphanumeric fields with a maximum of 255 characters provide space for user-defined information.

refdb_misc1 through refdb_misc3

These alphanumeric fields with a maximum of 255 characters provide space for user-defined information.

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