Inheritance in database?

Question

Is there any way to use inheritance in database (Specifically in SQL Server 2005)?

Suppose I have few field like CreatedOn, CreatedBy

Answer 1

If you are using GUIDs you could create a CreateHistory table with columns GUID, CreatedOn, CreatedBy. For populating the table you would still have to create a trigger for every table or handle it in the application logic.

Answer 2

Ramesh - I would implement this using supertype and subtype relationships in my E-R model. There are a few different physical options you have of implementing the relationships as well.

Answer 3

You do NOT want to use inheritance to do this! When table B, C and D inherits from table A, that means that querying table A will give you records from B, C and D. Now consider...

DELETE FROM a;

Instead of inheritance, use LIKE instead...

CREATE TABLE blah (
    blah_id     serial       PRIMARY KEY
    , something text         NOT NULL
    , LIKE template_table    INCLUDING DEFALUTS
);