Data Dictionary

[chun]

I would like to be able to define a set of columns/elements for my database eg cust_id, cust_name, amt_value etc.

Then when I define my table, I want to be able to select from this list of defined columns/elements.  In this way, I can ensure that cust_id is always called cust_id and is 10 characters etc.

In a way, it is similar to existing tags but a special kind that can be called upon forwhere columns are needed.  I think of them as 'data tags'.  Each tag has a unique label but could have different label.   As an example, 'status' could be such a tag, but could have different set of values, depending on which table/object it is attached to.

The power of this is that when I define interfaces, if I use these pre-defined  columns/elements, I have a good way of doing impact analysis of changes required etc.