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Re: Question on Addresses and Not Null constraints



Chris Travers wrote:
One thing that is remarkably hard to model relationally is address
data.  In particular different places have different semantics.  Some
countries have mail codes while some do not.  Some places it makes
sense to track states and provinces while in some countries this
doesn't make sense.  And this is not even trying to track things like
street addresses in cities like Managua....

So, I am wondering if we should track some additional data in the
application.  For example, we could track which countries should
require states data, or we could simply keep with a minimal of
not-null constraints.

What do people think?
Since I'm just getting started with LedgerSMB (after years away from 
SQL-Ledger) I'm not sure what the installation base is nor what is it 
going to be.
If there is a need to send /reliably/ via. a postal service (or even 
delivery services) to non North American addresses all the correct 
pieces needed to do this should be there.  Depending on how quickly this 
needs to be in place (v1.3, v1.4) either a low-hanging fruit approach 
(less NOT NULL constraints), with a ladder waiting, or just build it 
with all the right parts which may include less NOT NULL attributes.
I got dragged off to other projects and I haven't had a chance to look 
at the model so this may be totally off target.
  At least two tables, the main address table would have the common 
stuff plus an address type identifier.  Other table(s) with address type 
specific attributes. These might be pretty sparse if all the /other/ 
address fields are included in one table but there would only be one 
tuple/row if it is needed for the address.
Of course I may be making this too complicated as my address experience 
is with bulk mailing, high quality, direct mailed magazines, in the 
range of 1/4 to 1/2 million every two months.

Rod
--
Best Wishes,
Chris Travers

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