Chapter 3:

The Enhanced E-R Model

Chapter 3 3-1
 Objectives

• Define terms
• Understand use of supertype/subtype relationships
• Use specialization and generalization techniques
• Specify completeness and disjointness constraints
• Develop supertype/subtype hierarchies for realistic business
situations
• Develop entity clusters
• Explain universal (packaged) data model
• Describe special features of data modeling project using
packaged data model

Chapter 3 3-2
 Supertypes and Subtypes
§ Enhanced ER model: extends original ER model with new
modeling constructs
§ Subtype: A subgrouping of the entities in an entity type
that has attributes distinct from those in other
subgroupings
§ Supertype: A generic entity type that has a relationship
with one or more subtypes
§ Attribute Inheritance:
• Subtype entities inherit values of all attributes of the supertype
• An instance of a subtype is also an instance of the supertype

Chapter 3 3-3
 Figure 3-1 Basic notation for supertype/subtype notation

a) EER
notation

Chapter 3 3-4
 Figure 3-1 Basic notation for supertype/subtype notation (cont.)

b) Microsoft
Visio
Notation

Different modeling tools may have different notation for the same
modeling constructs.

Chapter 3 3-5
 Figure 3-2 Employee supertype with three subtypes

All employee subtypes

will have employee
number, name, address,
and date hired

Each employee subtype

will also have its own
attributes

Chapter 3 3-6
Relationships and Subtypes

§ Relationships at the supertype level indicate that all

subtypes will participate in the relationship
§ The instances of a subtype may participate in a relationship
unique to that subtype. In this situation, the relationship is
shown at the subtype level

Chapter 3 3-7
Figure 3-3 Supertype/subtype relationships in a hospital

Chapter 3 3-8
Generalization and Specialization

• Generalization: The process of defining a more

general entity type from a set of more specialized
entity types. BOTTOM-UP

• Specialization: The process of defining one or

more subtypes of the supertype and forming
supertype/subtype relationships. TOP-DOWN

Chapter 3 3-9
 Figure 3-4 Example of generalization
a) Three entity types: CAR, TRUCK, and MOTORCYCLE

All these types of vehicles have common attributes

Chapter 3 3-10
 Figure 3-4 Example of generalization (cont.)
b) Generalization to VEHICLE supertype

So we put
the shared
attributes in
a supertype

Note: no subtype for motorcycle, since it has no unique attributes

Chapter 3 3-11
 Figure 3-5 Example of specialization
a) Entity type PART

Only applies to
manufactured parts

Applies only to purchased parts

Chapter 3 3-12
 Figure 3-5 Example of specialization (cont.)
b) Specialization to MANUFACTURED PART and PURCHASED PART

Created 2
subtypes

Note: multivalued composite attribute was replaced

by an associative entity relationship to another entity
Chapter 3 3-13
Constraints in Supertype/ SUBTYPE
RELATIONSHIPS
§ Completeness Constraints: Whether
an instance of a supertype must also be
a member of at least one subtype
§ Total Specialization Rule: Yes (double line)
§ Partial Specialization Rule: No (single line)

Chapter 3 3-14
 Figure 3-6 Examples of completeness constraints
a) Total specialization rule

Chapter 3 3-15
 Figure 3-6 Examples of completeness constraints (cont.)
b) Partial specialization rule

Chapter 3 3-16
Constraints in Supertype/Subtype
Relationships
• Disjointness Constraints: Whether an
instance of a supertype may simultaneously be a
member of two (or more) subtypes
• Disjoint Rule: An instance of the supertype can be
only ONE of the subtypes
• Overlap Rule: An instance of the supertype could be
more than one of the subtypes

Chapter 3 3-17
Disjoint vs Overlap Rules

Disjoint Set Overlapping Set

Chapter 3 3-18
 Figure 3-7 Examples of disjointness constraints
a) Disjoint rule

Chapter 3 3-19
 Figure 3-7 Examples of disjointness constraints (cont.)
b) Overlap rule

Chapter 3 3-20
Constraints in Supertype/Subtype
Relationships
• Subtype Discriminator: An attribute of the
supertype whose values determine the target
subtype(s)
• Disjoint – a simple attribute with alternative values to
indicate the possible subtypes
• Overlapping – a composite attribute whose subparts
pertain to different subtypes. Each subpart contains a
Boolean value to indicate whether or not the instance
belongs to the associated subtype

Chapter 3 3-21
Figure 3-8 Introducing a subtype discriminator (disjoint rule)

Chapter 3 3-22
 Figure 3-9 Subtype discriminator (overlap rule)

Chapter 3 3-23
 Figure 3-10 Example of supertype/subtype hierarchy

Chapter 3 3-24
Packaged Data Models

• Predefined data models

• Could be universal or industry-specific
• Universal data model = a generic or template data
model that can be reused as a starting point for a
data modeling project (also called a “pattern”)

Chapter 3 3-25
 Advantages of Packaged Data Models
• Use proven model components
• Save time and cost
• Less likelihood of data model errors
• Easier to evolve and modify over time
• Aid in requirements determination
• Easier to read
• Supertype/subtype hierarchies promote reuse
• Many-to-many relationships enhance model flexibility
• Universal models support inter-organizational systems

Chapter 3 3-26
 27

Summary

• EER: extension of basic E-R model to include

supertype/subtype relationships.
• Supertype/subtype relationships
• Generalization/Specialization techniques
• Total v.s. partial specialization
• Disjoint v.s. overlap rule

Chapter 3 3-27