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I am looking for metadata specifications (data dictionary) for SQL Server and Oracle databases.

By metadata map, I mean a definitive description of what objects make up database model and their relationships (i.e. a server has 0:n databases, a table has 1:n columns, a column has 0:n constraints).

Any versions of these DBMS platforms would be useful.

2 Answers 2

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I've Community Wiki'd this

Oracle

  • Storage can hold multiple databases
  • Databases can be opened by multiple instances
  • Server can run run multiple instances
  • A server can only run a single instace for any given database
  • Data is stored in tablespaces
  • A tablespace may be made up of multiple data files
  • Tables/indexes/Materialized Views can be partitioned across multiple segments
  • A segment lives on a tablespace
  • A database object (table, index, stored program unit...) is owned by a user
  • A table may be be referenced (through a foreign key constraint) by another table, including a table owned by another user
  • A table may have at most one primary key constraint
  • A table may have zero or more unique constraints
  • A primary key or unique constraint is logically enforced by exactly one index (though you could have a multi-column unique constraint which is backed up by multiple unique indexes with the columns in a differing order)
  • An index may be unique or non-unique. A unique constraint may be enforced by a unique or non-unique index.
  • A table must have at least one column
  • Each column has a datatype (and optionally a length or precision/scale)
  • A trigger may relate to at most a single table. (Some triggers, such as SERVERERROR, don't relate to a table).
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  • Thanks, why the cw? It wasn't a definitive answer, however it was certainly useful and deserving a +1
    – johnc
    Mar 8, 2011 at 4:19
  • Databases can only be opened by multiple instances in RAC...
    – Gaius
    Mar 8, 2011 at 20:46
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For SQL Server, the Sybase poster will largely apply. The Oracle Interactive Quick Reference may also help.

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  • Cheers, both very useful
    – johnc
    Mar 8, 2011 at 20:56
  • I have a real poster of the Sybase one, 15 years old now :-)
    – Gaius
    Mar 8, 2011 at 22:13

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