[thelist] Important Database Design note
Tyme
nopun at bellsouth.net
Wed Apr 10 10:02:01 CDT 2002
<tip type="Database Design; Accessability" author="Tyme">
Please, please, please people...when you design a database, allow for a null
value for the middle _and_ first name fields! Not everyone has a
traditional name. Design for what is legal rather than for what is most
popular. You can set a form validation script to alert the user to the blank
field. E.g., "This field has been left blank. Is that correct? [OK]
[CANCEL]" If a user cannot enter their name into your system as it appears
on their legal documentation, you have a defective database.
...Alternatively, or even better still, allow for a hyphen and add a form
note on using the "-". This accommodates those who require a null field(s)
and those who use a hyphenated name, which is very common today. Your
ill-conceived databases not only restrict some of us from using your
site/services, but they also disrespect us. At least dare to get your
customers name right.
</tip>
*sigh*
Tyme
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