davidm@uunet.UU.NET (David S. Masterson) (08/14/90)
Has the Nijssen's Information Analysis Methodology (NIAM) caught on at all in semantic data modeling? I saw it described in "Conceptual Schema and Relational Database Design: A Fact Oriented Approach" by G.M. Nijssen and T.A. Halpin. The book discusses NIAM and seems to be a good step by step approach to data modeling that stays away from theory and instead focuses on the practical. Because the book's target is the database designer in the field, however, there is a certain lack of depth on NIAM which makes it difficult to go beyond the basics that the book outlines. Also, the book presents NIAM as a graphical approach to semantic data modeling, but, with more depth, a user might make use of it textually until a CASE tool arrives to handle it. Does anyone know of more information on NIAM and making use of it? -- ==================================================================== David Masterson Consilium, Inc. uunet!cimshop!davidm Mtn. View, CA 94043 ==================================================================== "If someone thinks they know what I said, then I didn't say it!"
davidjb@ibmpcug.co.uk (David J Blakey) (08/15/90)
NIAM is certainly used extensively in the Netherlands, and has been implemented as part of Cap Gemini Sogeti's SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT WORKBENCH. I would be happy to supply further information about the NIAM CASE tool by mail. Please note that, although I am an employee of CGS (UK), this is not an attempt to represent the company or the CGS group, nor to market the workbench. -- Automatic Disclaimer: The views expressed above are those of the author alone and may not represent the views of the IBM PC User Group. -- DAVID J BLAKEY Tel: +44 (895) 31316 Fax: +44 (895) 74037 Email: davidjb@ibmpcug.co.uk