generalization/specialization

I have a db design which includes generalization/specialization. How can I implement this in sql server?

thanks so much!

I think that you are just referring to a Parent-Child relationship, or a hierachical data model.

You 'should' be ok with using SQL Server for data storage.

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OO Gen/Specs can often be modeled as SuperTypes/SubTypes in relational databases. The key in the SuperType is carried down to the subtype, the subtype has the "specialized" attributes, supertype has the common attributes. In some cases, especially with busy OLTP systems, you may want to consider a single table with nullable columns for the subtype attributes that may not apply to all rows in the table. But database design isn't address very well in forums, newsgroups. You'd probably want to read up on supertypes/subtypes in relational database artcles and books and figure the best approach for you particular business needs.

I think Louis Davidson handles the subject in a simple, straight forward manner in his book from Apress:

Pro SQL Server 2005 Database Design and Optimization.

-Sue